1 00:00:02,400 --> 00:00:04,900 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to The Sit Down. I'm Viv Christie 2 00:00:04,960 --> 00:00:06,380 Speaker 1: from Australian Tennis Magazine. 3 00:00:06,670 --> 00:00:09,389 Speaker 2: And I'm Matt Trollope from AusOpen.com. And Viv, this week 4 00:00:09,410 --> 00:00:12,350 Speaker 2: we're bringing you a chat from Italy with the great 5 00:00:12,430 --> 00:00:17,430 Speaker 2: Francesca Schiavone, Grand Slam singles champion, when she won 2010 6 00:00:17,430 --> 00:00:22,349 Speaker 2: Roland Garros over Australian Sam Stoza. Now, as people that 7 00:00:22,390 --> 00:00:26,790 Speaker 2: work in Australian tennis, Viv, we obviously were captivated by 8 00:00:26,810 --> 00:00:29,270 Speaker 2: this match and Sam making the final. What do you 9 00:00:29,330 --> 00:00:32,030 Speaker 2: remember about that match and what eventually unfolded in Paris? 10 00:00:32,710 --> 00:00:36,390 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was a very exciting time for Australian tennis. Sam, 11 00:00:36,409 --> 00:00:39,020 Speaker 1: of course, had beaten Justine Hennon on her way to 12 00:00:39,030 --> 00:00:41,220 Speaker 1: the final. And I remember watching that with many of 13 00:00:41,260 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 1: my friends, my tennis friends on a Saturday night at 14 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,500 Speaker 1: a pub in Richmond. And we were all super excited. 15 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,099 Speaker 1: But in the end, it was an incredible performance and 16 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: milestone from Francesca. 17 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:52,390 Speaker 3: It was. 18 00:00:52,729 --> 00:00:56,190 Speaker 2: For anyone that's listening to this podcast that's not from Australia, 19 00:00:56,450 --> 00:00:58,890 Speaker 2: they might not know just how big a deal this 20 00:00:59,030 --> 00:01:03,390 Speaker 2: was to have an Australian in the French Open singles final. 21 00:01:03,410 --> 00:01:04,850 Speaker 2: I think that was the first time that had happened 22 00:01:04,890 --> 00:01:08,149 Speaker 2: since the 1970s. And so naturally, and you know, the 23 00:01:08,190 --> 00:01:12,050 Speaker 2: match got brought onto free-to-air TV when Roland Garros was 24 00:01:12,090 --> 00:01:15,210 Speaker 2: normally on cable TV. And it was all over the 25 00:01:15,250 --> 00:01:17,450 Speaker 2: front page of the newspaper and Sam had gone on 26 00:01:17,490 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 2: to beat Serena as well. So yeah, kind of the 27 00:01:20,459 --> 00:01:23,660 Speaker 2: signs were there that, you know, we were all behind Sam. 28 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,420 Speaker 2: But I just remember thinking, even though the Australian in 29 00:01:27,459 --> 00:01:31,460 Speaker 2: me was supporting Sam, I was so impressed with Francesca 30 00:01:32,050 --> 00:01:35,830 Speaker 2: Skiavone's approach to the match, how tactically well she played. 31 00:01:36,230 --> 00:01:39,050 Speaker 2: And then when it got to that tiebreak, she just 32 00:01:39,300 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 2: went for it and just played like the dream tiebreak 33 00:01:42,380 --> 00:01:44,780 Speaker 2: and just looked destined to win. Like she arrived at 34 00:01:44,819 --> 00:01:47,610 Speaker 2: her moment. It was her dream. It was incredible to see. 35 00:01:48,190 --> 00:01:49,590 Speaker 2: And I think she goes into a little bit of 36 00:01:49,630 --> 00:01:52,090 Speaker 2: detail about those exact moments and her memories, right? 37 00:01:52,410 --> 00:01:55,190 Speaker 1: Yeah, all these years later, I mean, she talks about 38 00:01:55,250 --> 00:01:57,809 Speaker 1: the passion and the focus that it took. She'd always 39 00:01:57,850 --> 00:02:00,790 Speaker 1: had that goal to win Roland Garros and she did. 40 00:02:00,890 --> 00:02:04,260 Speaker 1: And yeah, it's wonderful also to hear about the respect 41 00:02:04,420 --> 00:02:06,880 Speaker 1: that she has for Sam and how warmly she speaks 42 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: about her. 43 00:02:07,540 --> 00:02:09,980 Speaker 2: So Francesca caught up with our colleague Shannon Davis in 44 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: Milan and begun the interview by recalling her win over 45 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,020 Speaker 2: Serena Williams way back in Rome in 2005. 46 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,660 Speaker 4: Tell me about that moment and how amazing it was 47 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,130 Speaker 4: in your home country. You taking on and beating in 48 00:02:25,169 --> 00:02:27,010 Speaker 4: the second round, Sabrina. 49 00:02:27,030 --> 00:02:32,290 Speaker 3: It was been fantastic. Of course, past already 20 more years. 50 00:02:32,470 --> 00:02:37,310 Speaker 3: So it's a long, long time ago. But I remember 51 00:02:37,340 --> 00:02:43,100 Speaker 3: that I was blonde. I was very on fight. Doesn't 52 00:02:43,139 --> 00:02:47,019 Speaker 3: matter who could be in front of me. My goal 53 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 3: was to beat her. I was shaking. I remember I say, wow, 54 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:57,910 Speaker 3: I play against Serena. I was very respectful for my opponent. 55 00:02:58,090 --> 00:03:02,429 Speaker 3: Always I was being like this because my parents teach 56 00:03:02,470 --> 00:03:06,550 Speaker 3: me how much it's important to be respectful to yourself, 57 00:03:06,610 --> 00:03:10,990 Speaker 3: but also to the opponent. But to play against Serena 58 00:03:11,830 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 3: was something special. And I say, if I want to 59 00:03:16,419 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 3: catch her and beat her I have to bring her 60 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:24,620 Speaker 3: in a long rally I have to bring her where 61 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 3: I have to bring her where she doesn't like so 62 00:03:29,100 --> 00:03:33,810 Speaker 3: and is my space my space was to run my 63 00:03:33,870 --> 00:03:38,170 Speaker 3: word was to suffer and to bring my opponent to 64 00:03:39,830 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 3: to go over the limits. And I did that. I 65 00:03:43,140 --> 00:03:46,630 Speaker 3: remember that was a great match for me. First set 66 00:03:46,710 --> 00:03:53,270 Speaker 3: was 7-6 for me. was very tough, tight, every point. 67 00:03:53,370 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 3: She was surfing very good and 20 kilos of difference 68 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 3: between a body to another body, I was feeling that. 69 00:04:01,580 --> 00:04:06,290 Speaker 3: But I was very determined. That one is my home, 70 00:04:06,370 --> 00:04:10,830 Speaker 3: I say. This is my surface, is Roma and clay. 71 00:04:11,390 --> 00:04:15,250 Speaker 3: So I put everything together. I play with the courage. 72 00:04:15,650 --> 00:04:20,570 Speaker 3: She mistakes some balls important and when she missed something, 73 00:04:20,589 --> 00:04:24,270 Speaker 3: I say, oh, it's time for me to catch the 74 00:04:24,310 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 3: match and try to win. And I did it. 75 00:04:26,950 --> 00:04:30,740 Speaker 4: So tell me about you and Clay have a special affinity. 76 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:32,660 Speaker 3: At the age of 17, between 17 and 18, I 77 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:40,990 Speaker 3: went to my mental coach, then Giovanni. I keep it 78 00:04:41,029 --> 00:04:45,110 Speaker 3: for the rest of my career. And I ask him, no, 79 00:04:45,270 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 3: he asked me, what do you want to do in 80 00:04:47,950 --> 00:04:51,020 Speaker 3: your life? What's your goal? What do you have in 81 00:04:51,140 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 3: your heart? And I say, I want to win Roland Garros. 82 00:04:56,740 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 3: And I want to become top 10 in the world. 83 00:05:01,440 --> 00:05:04,430 Speaker 3: That was the key for me to work and to 84 00:05:04,550 --> 00:05:11,359 Speaker 3: reach the goal that I dreamed. And after several times 85 00:05:11,420 --> 00:05:16,979 Speaker 3: that I played Roland Garros, I arrived in a moment, 2007, 86 00:05:16,980 --> 00:05:22,510 Speaker 3: 2008 and 2009, I was close, not by results, but 87 00:05:22,570 --> 00:05:29,229 Speaker 3: I felt that that one was my tournament. In 2009, 88 00:05:29,230 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 3: I played good, but something was missing. Then happened that 89 00:05:36,860 --> 00:05:41,620 Speaker 3: I prepared very well. the season, I find a good balance. 90 00:05:42,220 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 3: Sometimes maybe someone say, okay, you have 30 years old, 91 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 3: you had 29. So why did you wait so long? 92 00:05:51,210 --> 00:05:55,050 Speaker 3: But I was like this. I always took my time. 93 00:05:55,070 --> 00:06:01,230 Speaker 3: I always did my, my growth was a little bit 94 00:06:01,350 --> 00:06:05,940 Speaker 3: slower than others. Or now that everybody give you the 95 00:06:05,980 --> 00:06:09,700 Speaker 3: solution and the input. Before was a little bit slower. 96 00:06:10,370 --> 00:06:17,390 Speaker 3: So when I arrived in 2010 in Roland Garros and 97 00:06:17,470 --> 00:06:20,930 Speaker 3: I won the first round, 6-4 in the third, I said, 98 00:06:21,910 --> 00:06:26,170 Speaker 3: oh my God, I think something is happening to me 99 00:06:26,370 --> 00:06:29,910 Speaker 3: because I played very bad and I could win. That's 100 00:06:30,190 --> 00:06:34,750 Speaker 3: very good step for a champion. Then second round, I 101 00:06:35,330 --> 00:06:42,580 Speaker 3: played amazing. So something was changing. Physically, I felt very good. 102 00:06:43,940 --> 00:06:50,150 Speaker 3: My team was in good balance. Many things together were attached. 103 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 3: Around the third round, I remember against Lina, that match 104 00:06:58,220 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 3: did the click to me more because we played, both 105 00:07:02,380 --> 00:07:06,780 Speaker 3: of us played very well. We fight and at the 106 00:07:06,820 --> 00:07:14,900 Speaker 3: end I won. So more confidence, more attitude. I felt 107 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,940 Speaker 3: that I could, I could do it. And that's very 108 00:07:17,960 --> 00:07:22,540 Speaker 3: important for an athlete. Then step by step, quarter final, 109 00:07:22,580 --> 00:07:26,050 Speaker 3: I didn't play good and I could win. Wow, semifinal, 110 00:07:26,890 --> 00:07:32,290 Speaker 3: very good, respectable. And the final changed a lot because 111 00:07:32,390 --> 00:07:39,510 Speaker 3: before the final, I felt very scared. I was very scared. 112 00:07:39,750 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 3: I cried a lot. I think from eight in the 113 00:07:45,900 --> 00:07:53,030 Speaker 3: morning until noon, I couldn't stop. This scared, when someone 114 00:07:53,090 --> 00:07:55,850 Speaker 3: now is coming to me and say, I'm scared of 115 00:07:55,910 --> 00:08:03,510 Speaker 3: this match, I can understand what's happened inside the body, 116 00:08:03,610 --> 00:08:09,070 Speaker 3: inside the heart. I couldn't find the courage to go 117 00:08:09,130 --> 00:08:15,030 Speaker 3: to play the final. So I sit, I spoke with 118 00:08:15,130 --> 00:08:18,750 Speaker 3: my mental trainer and he said to me very clear, 119 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:23,430 Speaker 3: don't do it if you don't feel good. Why do it? 120 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 3: Tennis is a game. Game is mean to love, to 121 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 3: go over the limits, to be strong, but also to enjoy, 122 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:39,730 Speaker 3: to feel that you are there in the right moment, 123 00:08:39,970 --> 00:08:44,089 Speaker 3: in the right condition. So don't worry, don't play. I said, 124 00:08:44,590 --> 00:08:49,570 Speaker 3: how can I not play? And he left and he said, 125 00:08:49,630 --> 00:08:53,890 Speaker 3: stay alone, don't worry about it. If it's time to cancel, 126 00:08:53,929 --> 00:09:00,300 Speaker 3: we cancel. Good. After, I think, some hours like this, 127 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:06,500 Speaker 3: I think I took off everything from my body because 128 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 3: I was crying and crying. no phone, no mobile phone, 129 00:09:11,100 --> 00:09:17,370 Speaker 3: no contact with other people, just me. I analyzed this 130 00:09:17,470 --> 00:09:23,770 Speaker 3: moment and I put all my past together with my 131 00:09:23,870 --> 00:09:32,410 Speaker 3: present and the dream that I had. This dream, it depends. 132 00:09:34,220 --> 00:09:38,250 Speaker 3: You can see the dream amazing fantastic that we are 133 00:09:38,340 --> 00:09:41,319 Speaker 3: close to reach you can see that is heavy it 134 00:09:41,340 --> 00:09:44,900 Speaker 3: depends how you you see this how you feel it 135 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:47,960 Speaker 3: and then in a moment I say I'm leaving this 136 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,900 Speaker 3: one that is heavy what does it mean if I 137 00:09:50,980 --> 00:09:54,830 Speaker 3: leave this part what does it mean it takes hours 138 00:09:56,150 --> 00:09:59,690 Speaker 3: to to take this one and throw away and to 139 00:09:59,790 --> 00:10:03,630 Speaker 3: leave this moment like a present like wow thanks God 140 00:10:03,650 --> 00:10:06,550 Speaker 3: that you give me this opportunity and I arrived there 141 00:10:06,610 --> 00:10:10,500 Speaker 3: with my potential with my power so if I arrived 142 00:10:10,620 --> 00:10:14,860 Speaker 3: there why not to go to to play and win 143 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:18,900 Speaker 3: so I give to myself the the chance to do 144 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:24,670 Speaker 3: it And I was lucky, I was good. I don't know, 145 00:10:24,690 --> 00:10:29,130 Speaker 3: it happened. And I won Roland-Gros. How is that lucky 146 00:10:29,190 --> 00:10:29,550 Speaker 3: and good? 147 00:10:29,610 --> 00:10:33,750 Speaker 4: Because your protagonist in that match, Sam Stoza, she was 148 00:10:33,950 --> 00:10:38,140 Speaker 4: often crippled with nerves too, like very constricted. 149 00:10:39,220 --> 00:10:43,620 Speaker 3: Sam was a fantastic athlete. I love Sam, like person, 150 00:10:43,720 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 3: like athlete. Very big example for everybody of us and 151 00:10:48,059 --> 00:10:52,480 Speaker 3: I think for Australia and all the world. But I 152 00:10:52,550 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 3: felt that she was very tight. When I was playing 153 00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 3: in the correct spot, she couldn't defense very good. And 154 00:11:03,950 --> 00:11:08,010 Speaker 3: when I was missing and she had the opportunity, she 155 00:11:08,090 --> 00:11:13,050 Speaker 3: was not coming against me very strong, like usually she 156 00:11:13,110 --> 00:11:16,839 Speaker 3: was doing. And I say, something is happening. I was 157 00:11:16,910 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 3: reading very well the emotion and the tactic, how to 158 00:11:21,780 --> 00:11:27,140 Speaker 3: manage this to find a way to attack her in 159 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,740 Speaker 3: the moment that she couldn't understand. 160 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 4: So it. 161 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,660 Speaker 3: Was like the cat and the mouse, a little bit 162 00:11:35,700 --> 00:11:38,980 Speaker 3: like this, when time to go, because she was 10 163 00:11:38,980 --> 00:11:44,060 Speaker 3: times bigger than me and stronger and everybody was waiting 164 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 3: her win. I found a way, like I said before, 165 00:11:53,980 --> 00:11:59,319 Speaker 3: dreaming that moment. I was totally into the match. There 166 00:11:59,380 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 3: was nobody around. I remember that. I remember exactly that 167 00:12:07,540 --> 00:12:14,270 Speaker 3: when I was 6-4 for me and 4-3 that I 168 00:12:14,309 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 3: did the break, you know? I won her serve In 169 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,819 Speaker 3: that moment, I turned to my team. I looked at 170 00:12:23,460 --> 00:12:26,470 Speaker 3: everybody that was there, like 100 people, and I saw 171 00:12:26,570 --> 00:12:29,410 Speaker 3: them for the first time. I saw the stadium for 172 00:12:29,450 --> 00:12:40,970 Speaker 3: the first time, 6-4-4-3. In that moment, I understand many 173 00:12:41,050 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 3: things that I was there, that was a right place, 174 00:12:44,620 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 3: that was my moment. Doesn't matter win or lose, you 175 00:12:48,460 --> 00:12:53,050 Speaker 3: have to give everything that you have. And I was 176 00:12:53,130 --> 00:12:57,370 Speaker 3: playing always better and better and better. So the pressure 177 00:12:57,890 --> 00:13:03,130 Speaker 3: was not, was there, but was not so much important 178 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 3: than the game. So the game was important in the 179 00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:10,040 Speaker 3: same way than the pressure and then the life in 180 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:15,030 Speaker 3: that moment. I mixed up everything. I didn't split so much. 181 00:13:16,100 --> 00:13:20,510 Speaker 3: everything was pressure the crowd that was with me crowd 182 00:13:20,550 --> 00:13:26,770 Speaker 3: against me was match point how did you feel in 183 00:13:27,030 --> 00:13:31,450 Speaker 3: rush or anxiety yeah there was anxiety there was enjoying 184 00:13:31,490 --> 00:13:34,630 Speaker 3: that if I do this point I can win everything 185 00:13:34,700 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 3: was together it was fluid when you give opportunity to 186 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:47,390 Speaker 3: yourself you already win something And that's very important. And 187 00:13:47,470 --> 00:13:51,910 Speaker 3: in that moment, I learned these things and I could win. 188 00:13:51,970 --> 00:13:55,500 Speaker 4: Your fighting spirit was always something that was always on display. 189 00:13:56,290 --> 00:13:59,290 Speaker 4: Come to the Australian Open in 2011 and you play 190 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 4: the longest Grand Slam match in history against Kuznetsova. 191 00:14:03,780 --> 00:14:05,179 Speaker 3: Yeah. Tell me about that. 192 00:14:05,260 --> 00:14:07,640 Speaker 4: That was insane. 193 00:14:07,660 --> 00:14:13,320 Speaker 3: 16-14 in that third set. Si. What the hell? That 194 00:14:13,420 --> 00:14:19,570 Speaker 3: match was... was long we couldn't I spoke with her 195 00:14:20,290 --> 00:14:23,330 Speaker 3: at the end some days after because she was literally 196 00:14:23,810 --> 00:14:29,310 Speaker 3: pissed but it's okay and they say how did you 197 00:14:30,990 --> 00:14:34,540 Speaker 3: manage after the the match what did you do and 198 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,040 Speaker 3: she said I was dead and I say me too 199 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:43,030 Speaker 3: I was off fine finish For our 44 minutes, I 200 00:14:43,050 --> 00:14:46,570 Speaker 3: become four in the world. Incredible. Everything with the four. 201 00:14:48,500 --> 00:14:54,860 Speaker 3: It was a fantastic match because she expressed everything. And 202 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:59,580 Speaker 3: I did the same in a different way until the 203 00:14:59,660 --> 00:15:03,530 Speaker 3: moment that I could catch two, three times more the 204 00:15:03,590 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 3: net or two, three passing shots more. the level was 205 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:13,780 Speaker 3: very equal. We finished like, if I can say that, 206 00:15:13,980 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 3: like Roger and Rafa, when they were finished 6-4 in 207 00:15:19,220 --> 00:15:25,540 Speaker 3: the fifth set, was emotions, was tennis, was respect, because 208 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:32,040 Speaker 3: I respect a lot her, like very a lot. Was game, 209 00:15:32,730 --> 00:15:37,370 Speaker 3: was fight. Over the limits, both of us, because the 210 00:15:37,410 --> 00:15:40,540 Speaker 3: day after I couldn't walk. I went to the bicycle, 211 00:15:40,900 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 3: I did two minutes and something, and I say, I 212 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:49,350 Speaker 3: can't go anywhere. I don't know what's going on. I 213 00:15:49,420 --> 00:15:53,470 Speaker 3: can't go with the legs. And my physio say, don't worry, 214 00:15:54,230 --> 00:15:57,110 Speaker 3: we stop, you go to sleep again and eat again 215 00:15:57,810 --> 00:16:04,620 Speaker 3: and do your things. So long the match for women 216 00:16:04,760 --> 00:16:08,810 Speaker 3: are a lot. And we could enjoy that match that 217 00:16:08,890 --> 00:16:10,330 Speaker 3: will be historic. 218 00:16:11,350 --> 00:16:14,610 Speaker 4: Now you have the mantle forever going forward of being 219 00:16:14,650 --> 00:16:18,450 Speaker 4: the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam title. 220 00:16:19,670 --> 00:16:23,910 Speaker 4: You now have the newest member of the Grand Slam club, 221 00:16:24,510 --> 00:16:27,550 Speaker 4: a young Italian who's flying at the moment, who shows 222 00:16:27,610 --> 00:16:30,070 Speaker 4: some fight. He came back from two sets down in 223 00:16:30,110 --> 00:16:32,710 Speaker 4: that match. Tell me, what do you make of his progress? 224 00:16:32,730 --> 00:16:40,370 Speaker 3: Okay. First of all, he's a fantastic person because to 225 00:16:40,410 --> 00:16:43,210 Speaker 3: be a champion, you can't be just an athlete. You 226 00:16:43,230 --> 00:16:48,610 Speaker 3: have to understand what's happened to you, to work on yourself, 227 00:16:48,850 --> 00:16:53,050 Speaker 3: to your limit, to listen to the people that you 228 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:58,560 Speaker 3: have around, to understand the game and to understand what 229 00:16:59,080 --> 00:17:02,940 Speaker 3: is outside like a business. And I think he is 230 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:10,159 Speaker 3: very smart on this. because he is ordered. There is 231 00:17:10,180 --> 00:17:16,070 Speaker 3: an order of what he does. So when he's in 232 00:17:16,090 --> 00:17:21,969 Speaker 3: the court, he wants to improve every day. Very preciso 233 00:17:23,310 --> 00:17:29,890 Speaker 3: in English. Very molto puntiglioso, you can translate. And this 234 00:17:29,970 --> 00:17:39,370 Speaker 3: characteristic of work hard over the minutes, fight, improve every shot, 235 00:17:39,750 --> 00:17:44,310 Speaker 3: single shots. So small things can make of him a 236 00:17:44,890 --> 00:17:49,780 Speaker 3: very good athlete. Then he is smart. He can find 237 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:55,980 Speaker 3: the way, the solution with his game. He was ready 238 00:17:57,500 --> 00:18:02,500 Speaker 3: two years ago, three years ago, knock. Because he was 239 00:18:02,580 --> 00:18:08,740 Speaker 3: not completely conscious of his body and where he could go. 240 00:18:09,300 --> 00:18:14,939 Speaker 3: Now he is conscious. And every single moment he lives 241 00:18:17,380 --> 00:18:23,310 Speaker 3: consciously that he can do something or not. It's like 242 00:18:23,350 --> 00:18:27,050 Speaker 3: a way that he decides what to do. And that's 243 00:18:27,130 --> 00:18:32,490 Speaker 3: great because the champion does this. So when he was 244 00:18:32,890 --> 00:18:40,130 Speaker 3: too set to zero down for Medvedev, they changed, he changed, 245 00:18:40,290 --> 00:18:43,850 Speaker 3: and with the team, they changed one thing very important. 246 00:18:44,590 --> 00:18:48,850 Speaker 3: He couldn't find the way to attack, to use his rhythm, 247 00:18:49,390 --> 00:18:52,330 Speaker 3: so he went back a little bit, that is a 248 00:18:52,410 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 3: big step for him, then to attack the other one. 249 00:18:56,630 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 3: This change that looks... very simple but is not, could 250 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:09,070 Speaker 3: give him the opportunity to produce what he has like 251 00:19:09,109 --> 00:19:13,929 Speaker 3: a power to go into, to go to. And he 252 00:19:14,010 --> 00:19:19,369 Speaker 3: worked very well. He listened, they found together a solution 253 00:19:19,869 --> 00:19:23,730 Speaker 3: and he could do it. Fantastic, it's a chapeau. Then 254 00:19:23,790 --> 00:19:26,750 Speaker 3: the other one went a little bit down and Yannick 255 00:19:26,810 --> 00:19:31,679 Speaker 3: went up, fantastic. I saw the match and I said, 256 00:19:32,660 --> 00:19:36,530 Speaker 3: this boy, because he's a boy, he's a man, but 257 00:19:36,690 --> 00:19:41,690 Speaker 3: he's a boy, can win much more slam for this reason. 258 00:19:42,330 --> 00:19:44,689 Speaker 4: Okay, so predict for me his year in 2025. Number 259 00:19:44,770 --> 00:19:47,270 Speaker 4: one in the world. 260 00:19:50,320 --> 00:19:59,480 Speaker 3: And some slams more. And I hope that he will 261 00:19:59,580 --> 00:20:03,919 Speaker 3: have a lot of healthy. That's the most important things 262 00:20:04,060 --> 00:20:06,330 Speaker 3: in tennis, in a sport. 263 00:20:07,150 --> 00:20:09,899 Speaker 4: And so tell me what you predict for Francesca Schiavoni 264 00:20:09,940 --> 00:20:11,500 Speaker 4: in this next 12 months. 265 00:20:13,380 --> 00:20:18,320 Speaker 3: To be a good coach for young or for the 266 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:23,310 Speaker 3: opportunity that will arrive. To respect always the life of 267 00:20:23,410 --> 00:20:29,169 Speaker 3: the person that I meet. And to enjoy my life. 268 00:20:29,510 --> 00:20:33,629 Speaker 3: Sometimes also to relax. That is not easy because I 269 00:20:33,710 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 3: run a lot and I work a lot. 270 00:20:36,350 --> 00:20:38,530 Speaker 4: And what are the things that you are passionate about 271 00:20:38,650 --> 00:20:41,910 Speaker 4: in your day-to-day life here? I can see why you 272 00:20:41,930 --> 00:20:42,750 Speaker 4: want to be in Milan. 273 00:20:42,790 --> 00:20:45,630 Speaker 3: It's beautiful. How do you let go to travel? 274 00:20:46,450 --> 00:20:46,900 Speaker 4: No, no, no. 275 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:51,800 Speaker 3: I like Milano. I was born here, but I'm building 276 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:58,550 Speaker 3: a club just for me, for members, to give a line, 277 00:20:58,690 --> 00:21:04,410 Speaker 3: Italian style. and to give to some guys and girls 278 00:21:04,450 --> 00:21:09,630 Speaker 3: the opportunity to work in my way, to express themselves 279 00:21:09,690 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 3: at the best, but always in this way of passion, 280 00:21:14,820 --> 00:21:18,700 Speaker 3: work over the limits and go in this direction. But 281 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:24,460 Speaker 3: I'm building a club. That's an amazing experience because I'm 282 00:21:24,580 --> 00:21:27,899 Speaker 3: learning from zero. Now I am two. We have to 283 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 3: arrive to 10. maybe to invite you to visit it. 284 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 4: So tell me what's the Schiavone Italian style that you'll 285 00:21:36,980 --> 00:21:37,399 Speaker 4: be having? 286 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,630 Speaker 3: This one is very similar. We are elegant. We are 287 00:21:43,109 --> 00:21:51,109 Speaker 3: very passionate. We have a fantastic architect. We have a talent. 288 00:21:51,270 --> 00:21:54,250 Speaker 3: It's a good food. You can find always a good 289 00:21:55,350 --> 00:22:00,649 Speaker 3: hotel where to spend the week. So, I love Australia. 290 00:22:01,350 --> 00:22:04,210 Speaker 3: I love Australia. First time that I came there, I 291 00:22:04,750 --> 00:22:08,550 Speaker 3: think in 1999, I said, I want to have a 292 00:22:08,630 --> 00:22:12,630 Speaker 3: house here. Because I love that place. I don't know why. 293 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:17,760 Speaker 3: I know why. Melbourne is green. There are some Italian, 294 00:22:18,119 --> 00:22:22,169 Speaker 3: because there is a stylish... There is a lot of 295 00:22:22,250 --> 00:22:26,969 Speaker 3: respect for sports, for the culture, for the art. And 296 00:22:27,050 --> 00:22:31,210 Speaker 3: I love this. When I came there, I found the 297 00:22:31,369 --> 00:22:36,109 Speaker 3: people fantastic. Big opportunity to work, to express yourself. It 298 00:22:36,130 --> 00:22:42,710 Speaker 3: doesn't matter in which way. And I love that place. 299 00:22:42,750 --> 00:22:46,190 Speaker 3: They keep going to grow. People love tennis. When I 300 00:22:46,250 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 3: come to Australia, I want to come Soon. I hope so, 301 00:22:50,460 --> 00:22:53,219 Speaker 3: to find a good talent to come soon and to 302 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 3: enjoy Melbourne. When can we get you down there? 303 00:22:55,940 --> 00:22:58,020 Speaker 4: You need to be able to bring someone from the 304 00:22:58,119 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 4: Schiavone Tennis Lab. 305 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:02,200 Speaker 3: It's coming, it's coming. Some years I will be there. 306 00:23:05,980 --> 00:23:08,300 Speaker 2: Wow, it's always great to hear when a player loves 307 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:10,380 Speaker 2: the city and the country where you're from. We would 308 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,350 Speaker 2: welcome Francesca back to Australia any time because that was 309 00:23:13,390 --> 00:23:15,350 Speaker 2: a brilliant interview and I could have listened to her 310 00:23:15,390 --> 00:23:16,330 Speaker 2: talk all day, Viv. 311 00:23:16,869 --> 00:23:20,290 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely. And I loved hearing her recollections of her 312 00:23:20,450 --> 00:23:24,390 Speaker 1: amazing Australian Open match in 2011 when she beat Svetlana 313 00:23:24,410 --> 00:23:27,430 Speaker 1: Kuznetsova 16-14, I think it was, in the third set, 314 00:23:27,470 --> 00:23:29,740 Speaker 1: a match that went for four hours and 44 minutes. 315 00:23:30,020 --> 00:23:32,820 Speaker 2: An absolute epic. And, of course, we'll be back again 316 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,020 Speaker 2: next Monday when we sit down with esteemed French photographer 317 00:23:36,140 --> 00:23:38,840 Speaker 2: Corinne Dubreuil, who we caught up with ahead of her 318 00:23:38,900 --> 00:23:42,530 Speaker 2: working her 38th Roland Garros, her first one dating back 319 00:23:42,570 --> 00:23:43,350 Speaker 2: to 1987. So that was a great chat. 320 00:23:45,460 --> 00:23:47,199 Speaker 1: In the meantime, you can tune in to John and 321 00:23:47,220 --> 00:23:50,740 Speaker 1: the team on the AO Show Weekly on Thursday. Details 322 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:52,460 Speaker 1: for how to contact us are in the show notes. 323 00:23:52,540 --> 00:23:56,380 Speaker 1: Remember to subscribe, rate and review. See you next week, Matt. 324 00:23:56,580 --> 00:23:57,340 Speaker 3: Look forward to it, Viv.