1 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,360 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of The sit Down. 2 00:00:05,600 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Trolo, a writer for ozopen dot. 3 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:11,040 Speaker 2: Com, and I'm viv Christie, Australian tennis magazine managing editor. 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 2: And Matt. Why are we sitting down this week with 5 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 2: Jolena Dockicch. 6 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 1: We're sitting down with Jolna because it's almost twenty five 7 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:20,120 Speaker 1: years to the day when she burst onto the scene 8 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: with her first round win at Wimbledon nineteen ninety nine 9 00:00:22,880 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: over world number one Martina Hingis, so we've got a 10 00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:27,479 Speaker 1: chance to ask her about all her memories from that 11 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,280 Speaker 1: incredible result and then the career that took off in 12 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: a golden age of women's tennis. Elena Dockitch, thank you 13 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: so much for joining us in the studio today on 14 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:41,559 Speaker 1: the sit Down. It's great to see you, pleasure, thank 15 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: you for having me. This is a great time of 16 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 1: year to chat to you. I mean, it's always great 17 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,880 Speaker 1: to pick your brain, given you your tennis experience and 18 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: career and your involvement in the media now, but we're 19 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: in the middle of the grass court season, Wimbledon's just 20 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: about to begin, and certainly when you emerged on tour 21 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 1: in the late nineties. Your results on grass were so 22 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 1: good so quickly you won twenty of your first twenty 23 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: four matches at Wimbledon, which is amazing. That's an amazing 24 00:01:07,800 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: strike rate. Sounds like you kind of hit the ground running. 25 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 3: I did well. I first played juniors as well, so 26 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 3: I played the year before in nineteen ninety eight when 27 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 3: I became junior well number one. I actually played lead 28 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 3: up tournaments going into Wimbledon, and then I played Winmweden 29 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 3: juniors as well. I got to the Semis, so yeah, 30 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 3: I already had a bit of that taste of what 31 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 3: Wimbledon was like and what kind of the site was like, 32 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 3: and what it was like to play on grass, even 33 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:37,920 Speaker 3: though even though I played juniors in Australia quite a 34 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 3: bit on grass as well. But yeah, I just loved 35 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 3: winmwed and I liked the tradition of it as well. 36 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 3: I have to be honest. I like the whole tournament, 37 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 3: the whole feel, and yeah, for me, it's just a 38 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 3: very special place. As much as Australian Open for me 39 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 3: is like the Holy Grail. Nothing beats that, but Wimwedon 40 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 3: is right there, right after the Australian Open. There's just 41 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 3: it's unique, it's special. There's not a little thing out 42 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 3: of water. I loved wearing the white for example, it's 43 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:07,880 Speaker 3: not something we would wear. We would wear often to 44 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:10,239 Speaker 3: be honest, that you're in all white. And yeah, I 45 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 3: liked playing on grass and I liked that kind of 46 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: it had a tradition. It was so respected. Even the 47 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 3: crowd is different at Wilwood and they are a little 48 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 3: bit more kind of I would say, subdued and respectful. 49 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,160 Speaker 3: So you kind of have a whole, very different feel 50 00:02:26,639 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 3: to any other Grand Slam. 51 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 2: Can you remember that experience of walking through the gates 52 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: at the All England Club for the first time. 53 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I remember it was a few of us with 54 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 3: going through with the juniors and it was kind of 55 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 3: like wow for me, that's all we kind of hear 56 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:44,520 Speaker 3: about when you're growing up, especially in Australia. That was 57 00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 3: our goal to get to Wimbleden and to get to 58 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 3: Wimwooden Juniors and then hopefully to play there one day. 59 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 3: Same with the Australian Open for us at home. So 60 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 3: it was special. And yeah, I found my footing pretty quickly. 61 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 3: I was still on the fifteen, but did well on 62 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 3: grass and even one the lead ups going into Wimbledon 63 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 3: as well. But it was special. But if you told 64 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 3: me that a year later I would make the quarters 65 00:03:07,480 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 3: from qualifying, I wouldn't have believed you. So yeah, I 66 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 3: always had a special relationship with grass. I think because 67 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 3: of the way that I played, I could use my 68 00:03:15,600 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 3: game to my advantage. Again, lucky that the coaches taught 69 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 3: me what is kind of the best way to serve 70 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 3: and how to use your slice serve grass to make 71 00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 3: it kind of skid away as well. And those few 72 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 3: little things that you learned from the legends of the 73 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 3: game and the greats of the game really helped me 74 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 3: early on. And that's why I think I had a 75 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 3: big love for playing on the grass, because I've got 76 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 3: some really good tips early on. 77 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: You alluded to ninety nine. Obviously the result we're almost 78 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: twenty five years to the day where you beat Martina 79 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: Hingis in the first round of Wimbledon, and that well, 80 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: certainly in Australia your profile exploded after that. Actually remember 81 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: a story. It would have happened overnight when in Australia 82 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:59,520 Speaker 1: for us, and I remember my mum calling down the hallway. 83 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: She must have woken up before me and It was 84 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: the lead story on the ABC News that this Australian 85 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: teenage qualifier had stuned Martine Hingkis in the first round. 86 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 1: Matt get up Elainey Docs. I remember that really vividly, 87 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: and that was that was a huge, a huge result, 88 00:04:14,960 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: and what do you remember about it twenty five years on? 89 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 3: Look? It was the match in a way was almost 90 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 3: a blur because it went by quite quick and you're 91 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,480 Speaker 3: so focused. I already went through a couple of matches 92 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 3: of qualifying. I got to the third round of Australian 93 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,440 Speaker 3: Open just five months before as a fifteen year old, 94 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 3: and I actually lost to Martin in the third round. 95 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 3: And then we had a practice week going into Roland 96 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 3: Garross and she was always lovely and we used to 97 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 3: practice together, so I remember I did feel a little 98 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 3: bit more comfortable going into this match, but still Martina 99 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 3: can do anything on the court that you just didn't 100 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 3: know what was coming next. She was so crafty. But 101 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 3: I went out there and I had I was on 102 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 3: a mission and I knew exactly how I wanted to 103 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 3: play and what I needed to do, and I needed 104 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 3: to take the match out of her hands. On grass, 105 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:01,480 Speaker 3: she would come in a lot. She would also use 106 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 3: the drop shot as well, just like I would. But 107 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 3: I needed to keep her back and that was the 108 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 3: main goal. Take take that match out of her hands, 109 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 3: be aggressive, try and dictate those points. And I knew 110 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 3: I needed to serve well, not have to hit too 111 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 3: many second serves because she would put pressure on me. 112 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 3: So I had a very very kind of clear game 113 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 3: plan and I was very focused. But I remember walking 114 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 3: out on court was very special, but at the same time, 115 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 3: you are like a sixteen year old qualified, it's also 116 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:31,839 Speaker 3: daunting to play a world number one, right, So I 117 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 3: remember that. But then when I got into the match 118 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 3: and I started to feel comfortable after about two or 119 00:05:36,400 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 3: three games, and after one of the first set, there 120 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:42,719 Speaker 3: was this kind of like shock around the stand, like 121 00:05:42,760 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 3: you can you could literally hear and you know when 122 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 3: you're a player and you can just hear people and 123 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 3: that feeling and that noise going. It's like a mermaid 124 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 3: yeah yeah, yeah, going, oh wow. A qualifier is just 125 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 3: taking the first set like as you could feel it 126 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 3: as a player, you could feel it. And then when 127 00:06:01,120 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 3: I got on top in the second set, the crowd 128 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 3: was kind of extra. I felt like on my side, 129 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 3: which I kind of thought, oh, maybe you would switch 130 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 3: a bit, which would be absolutely normal. They were very fair, 131 00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 3: but once you kind of got to the more towards 132 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 3: the end of the match, you could see like they 133 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,640 Speaker 3: were just yeah, I was probably because I looked like 134 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 3: I was about ten, but yeah, they were really like 135 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 3: excited for me to actually win this match. And when 136 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 3: I won, it was just like this raw that. Yeah, 137 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 3: I could I could sense or I could feel those 138 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 3: kind of emotions still today if I go back and 139 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 3: if I go back to court number one of what 140 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,279 Speaker 3: that kind of sounded like. So we didn't used to 141 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,320 Speaker 3: have sit downs that sets. It was always on the uneven, 142 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 3: so the first set finished on it even so we 143 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 3: didn't sit down. You stay on your side. But I 144 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,359 Speaker 3: remember people were like, oh, like you could hear like 145 00:06:51,520 --> 00:06:54,279 Speaker 3: you could literally hear people go, wow, what are we 146 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 3: watching here? So I remember I could distinctly like feel 147 00:06:58,320 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 3: that and see it on people's faces. 148 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I love all the details that you're remembering that. 149 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, so do I. In two thousand at Wimbledon, 150 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: you went one better at Wimbledon and you made the 151 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: semi finals. Yeah, and I just wonder how satisfying that 152 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:12,680 Speaker 1: was for you to back up what you've done because 153 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: a lot of the you know, the way the rankings work, 154 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: there's pressure to defend points and all that, and you 155 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: actually went better. Did that feel especially satisfying to do that? 156 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 3: It did. I had a bit of a after that 157 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:24,880 Speaker 3: when wood On quarterfinal. I had a bit of a 158 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:30,119 Speaker 3: kind of let's say, growing year where I was now 159 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 3: ranked inside the top forty thirty, and yeah, I was 160 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 3: playing on the tour, big tournaments every single week, but 161 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 3: I was still only sixteen. Just about the next year 162 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 3: actually turned seventeen, so I was not actually fully physically 163 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 3: and mentally and emotionally ready to be on top in 164 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 3: those certain parts of the year and Grand Slams because 165 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: I had still no experience. So for me, it was 166 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,560 Speaker 3: a bit of a growing i would say year and 167 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:57,920 Speaker 3: an experience year where I had some losses in the 168 00:07:57,960 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: first round of Grand Slams, including the US Open, but 169 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,520 Speaker 3: then I also had some wins as well, and then 170 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 3: I had a lot of pressure going into that wind 171 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:09,240 Speaker 3: Wooden in two thousand because we used to have bonus 172 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 3: points based on players that you beat by ranking, and 173 00:08:12,800 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 3: me alone by beating Martina at a Grand Slam, she 174 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 3: was number one in the world plus double points at 175 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 3: Grand Slams. Even if I got I think I had 176 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 3: to get to the final or something like that to 177 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 3: be able to defend that. 178 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:26,840 Speaker 1: So I knew you'd also beaten ps as well, who. 179 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 3: Was a top ten player exactly. Yeah, so oh wow. 180 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:35,080 Speaker 3: And when you're young, it's all about kind of defending. 181 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 3: That's the mindset, and later you learn it's a bit different. 182 00:08:38,520 --> 00:08:40,439 Speaker 3: So yeah, I had a bit of a up and 183 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 3: down up and down year, had some great things, but 184 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,880 Speaker 3: then had some you know, tough losses as well. So 185 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 3: I went into that wind wouldn't kind of yeah, under 186 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: a lot of pressure. But I was able to get 187 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:52,680 Speaker 3: to the semi's pretty much defend all of it. But 188 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:54,959 Speaker 3: it was more about the fact that I had another 189 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 3: great result at a Grand Slam. I went one further 190 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,680 Speaker 3: as well, and yeah, it was really satisfying to be 191 00:09:01,760 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 3: able to not just go one better at Wimbledon, but 192 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:08,520 Speaker 3: just another proof that I can play at that level, 193 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 3: especially on the big stage. I think as tennis players, 194 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 3: you want to be able to perform on the big 195 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 3: stage just as much as you have to be able 196 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:19,400 Speaker 3: to get through those stuff weeks when the tournaments are 197 00:09:19,440 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 3: smaller and they're not covered by the media. You don't 198 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 3: have big crowds, and sometimes you play tournaments when not 199 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,840 Speaker 3: a lot of people were watching, and that's important, but 200 00:09:27,880 --> 00:09:30,040 Speaker 3: it's also important to be able to deal with pressure 201 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 3: and expectation on the big stage like the Grand Slams. 202 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:38,680 Speaker 3: So for me that was massive in terms of, well, 203 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 3: it's not a fluke type of thing, just for myself 204 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 3: as well, my expectations. And I got to a semi 205 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 3: final of Wimbeden. 206 00:09:46,679 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was going to ask the last bit about Wimbledon. 207 00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: So when we talked about you winning twenty of your 208 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,760 Speaker 1: twenty four matches and that took you through to three, 209 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: you played you made the third round in O three 210 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: and you played Maria sharpover Yes, and twelve months later 211 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,959 Speaker 1: she won. Yes, And think everybody knew what a talent 212 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 1: she was, Like what was she like to face? And yeah, 213 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: what do you remember? I was tough. 214 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 3: I remember that match and I wasn't in the best 215 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 3: for myself, not taking anything away from her, nothing at all. 216 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 3: I still think I played a pretty okay match, decent 217 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:22,479 Speaker 3: match against her, but I remember, yeah, she actually overpowered 218 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,840 Speaker 3: me already a little bit in that match and yeah, 219 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 3: I came off the court and I said, this girl's 220 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 3: winning Wimbeddon in the next two or three years. 221 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. 222 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:34,679 Speaker 3: It was just unbelievable, and just the way that she played. 223 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 3: She was very focused and consistent. Her forehands and back 224 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 3: hands were like laser sharp, and she had a lot 225 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 3: of power. She was tall, big reach as well, and 226 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:46,199 Speaker 3: even though she got better with her servant her movement, 227 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:48,840 Speaker 3: even at that time, she had incredible accuracy with her 228 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 3: cross courts and with her down the lines, and she 229 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 3: was really brave with going for it and taking the 230 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 3: ball out of the air when she hit good shots. 231 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 3: But I was more so i'll tell you this one. 232 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 3: So she comes back and she wins, right, But I 233 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 3: actually even thought actually in that match that I lost 234 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 3: to her, I was like, okay, I actually played some 235 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 3: decent tennis. I just couldn't close. Yeah, I couldn't hold 236 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 3: my So it was one break of serve in each set, 237 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 3: and I was like, yeah, she's playing well. But I'll 238 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 3: tell you what. Years later. This was in two thousand 239 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,920 Speaker 3: and nine, I think after I made that austral Open run, 240 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 3: I practiced with her at Wimwooeden. So two days before Wimwoeden. 241 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 3: We organized a practice I know exactly which court it was, 242 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,520 Speaker 3: and we said, okay, we'll practice. We had a hit 243 00:11:31,600 --> 00:11:35,720 Speaker 3: and we'll play two sets. Right, So I was like, 244 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 3: oh my god, now I see even more so why 245 00:11:38,920 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 3: she's so good and why she's won Winmweden and all 246 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 3: the other Grand Slams, because it's been a while since 247 00:11:44,960 --> 00:11:49,360 Speaker 3: I practiced or played against her. I mean, I don't 248 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:52,079 Speaker 3: think that there is anyone in the world. And I've 249 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 3: practiced with some amazing players and champions and greats of 250 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 3: the game like Sellas and Capriati and stephie Graff and 251 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 3: Lindid Davenport. I've never faced a ball that comes flatter 252 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 3: and deeper and harder, especially on grass, that shoots that way. 253 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 3: And I was like, oh, now I get it, like 254 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 3: even more so, you know what I mean. But it 255 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:17,320 Speaker 3: was amazing because she was We had a great practice 256 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:20,040 Speaker 3: and it was actually once at all I was really 257 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:24,760 Speaker 3: proud of myself. But it was great because yeah, I 258 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 3: just saw she was so focused, just like she is 259 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 3: in her matches. It was interesting to see that. So 260 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 3: as soon as she stepped on the court, I was 261 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 3: pretty focused and intense myself. I like that also, So 262 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:38,840 Speaker 3: there wasn't much talking when we sat down. We had 263 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 3: a quick drink and it was like a little bit, 264 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:43,920 Speaker 3: but it was all about busy. Were out there like 265 00:12:44,000 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 3: to We had a court for two hours and yeah, 266 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 3: it was amazing to see exactly what she does in 267 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 3: matches is exactly what she does in practice. So it 268 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 3: was great to have that experience. 269 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,480 Speaker 1: That sounds amazing and that actually I'm just going to 270 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 1: list some of the people that you beat. So we've 271 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: talked about Hingus, you beat Clasters, you beat Capriati, you 272 00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: beat Venus, you beat Maresmo, Piers, Hennan and Sellers. All 273 00:13:08,480 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: of them have won multiple majors. And in that period 274 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: you got to world number four. That's considered, like I 275 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:17,520 Speaker 1: think a lot of people considered this like the golden 276 00:13:17,559 --> 00:13:20,000 Speaker 1: age of women's tenners. It were so many stars all 277 00:13:20,040 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: at the top at the same time, all doing such 278 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 1: great things. How proud are you to have reached the 279 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,400 Speaker 1: top five in the strength of that era? And also 280 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:29,719 Speaker 1: what was it like to be at the top in 281 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: that era? 282 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 3: Oh, very proud, because some people might say, oh, unlucky 283 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,559 Speaker 3: or unfortunate, but no, I actually look at it as 284 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 3: being very fortunate. Because I got to be on the 285 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,439 Speaker 3: tour at the same time with his amazing legends, champions 286 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 3: of the game. Some of them were my childhood role 287 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,439 Speaker 3: models and heroes like Stephie Graff and Monica Sellis. All 288 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 3: I wanted to do was meet them and practice with 289 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 3: them and play against them. That was that was my 290 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,959 Speaker 3: goal from the age of six, and yeah, I got 291 00:13:57,960 --> 00:13:59,960 Speaker 3: the opportunity to do that. But with so many other 292 00:14:00,000 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 3: they're amazing players, like you said, from Davenport to Capriati 293 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,960 Speaker 3: to Hingus to Moresmo, They've all everyone's wan Grand Slams. 294 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:11,520 Speaker 3: I've been well number one, and yeah, it's quite quite 295 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 3: an error that we kind of went there through. And yeah, 296 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,679 Speaker 3: it was very very Serena and Venus, very very competitive. 297 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 3: But I'm lucky. I think I'm lucky to have been 298 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:23,480 Speaker 3: able to experience that, to know those players, to play 299 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 3: against them, and just to have that experience on tour. 300 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 3: Some of them are my friends still today. And yeah, 301 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 3: I still highlight though that I'm very fortunate to have 302 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 3: been able to practice and play against Stephie and Monica. 303 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 3: That was my goal as a child, and I got 304 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:43,840 Speaker 3: to do that, and I've got to talk to them 305 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:47,120 Speaker 3: and yeah, have some great matches against them, especially in 306 00:14:47,160 --> 00:14:50,200 Speaker 3: Monica because she retired a little bit later than Stephie, 307 00:14:50,600 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 3: and we had some great matches and that was amazing. 308 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 3: As much as I hated to play against them because 309 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,160 Speaker 3: there were a nightmare of play against, but are still 310 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,160 Speaker 3: at the same time loved that. It was always I 311 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 3: was always very proud to go out there on the 312 00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 3: court and go, oh my god. I used to watch them. 313 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 3: I used to dream about this. There used to be 314 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 3: my role models when they were winning Grand slams. I 315 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 3: was just kind of starting to play tennis. So it 316 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 3: was amazing to be able to experience that. 317 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:18,520 Speaker 1: And was of all of those names we discussed, was 318 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: one of them the toughest for you to face. Yeah. 319 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 3: Look, Davenport was stuff for me to play against. I 320 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 3: never beat her. There was something about her game. We 321 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 3: just my game did not match up well with hers. 322 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:32,520 Speaker 3: For me. It was a nightmare with a serve and 323 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,000 Speaker 3: just with the way that she played. Yeah, I still 324 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:38,920 Speaker 3: to this day can't tell you why. It just just 325 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,600 Speaker 3: didn't suit me. I had a very hard time reading 326 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 3: her game and maybe we do play kind of similar, 327 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,479 Speaker 3: but she had a bigger serf, so that was always 328 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 3: kind of Yeah, a little bit of a tough one 329 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 3: for me. Tough, well, I would say, I would say Serena, 330 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,880 Speaker 3: and I would say sell Us as well. I had 331 00:16:00,880 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 3: some Sellison, Stephie, two very different game styles, all three 332 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 3: of those. So those three would be the toughest in 333 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 3: their different ways. Whereas Monica was so intense, didn't let 334 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 3: you breathe would take the ball so early. She had 335 00:16:12,280 --> 00:16:15,280 Speaker 3: the best angles in the world by far, and the 336 00:16:15,320 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 3: most accuracy is Stephie had the bestand off fourhand ever 337 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 3: a great serve. The slice was a lot tougher than 338 00:16:23,520 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 3: people think. That thing stayed this slow off the ground, 339 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 3: Like you literally had to get your back knee on 340 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 3: the ground every single time to dig that one up. 341 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:36,920 Speaker 3: And yeah, extremely smart. And then Serena best serve in 342 00:16:36,960 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 3: the world probably ever, that was tough, so you already 343 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,960 Speaker 3: went into it. Yeah, really on the back foot. It 344 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,920 Speaker 3: was really hard to break Serena, especially. I played her 345 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 3: quite a bit in that really peak era of Serena 346 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,320 Speaker 3: when she was winning a lot of Grand Slams as well, 347 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:57,120 Speaker 3: and just her sheer power and athleticism and physicality. But yeah, 348 00:16:57,160 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 3: I would say those. 349 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:02,720 Speaker 2: Three, so you had another burst on grass In twenty eleven, 350 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:06,400 Speaker 2: you reached the Denbosh final and you pushed she've only 351 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 2: two three sets, just after she'd reached the rolling grass final. 352 00:17:10,840 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 2: What was that period like for you? 353 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 3: That was that bit of a resurgence period from me. 354 00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:19,920 Speaker 3: But yeah, at the same time, I retired not too 355 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:24,360 Speaker 3: long after that with injuries and yeah, with a resurgery, 356 00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:29,320 Speaker 3: and then yeah, just in general with mental health struggles 357 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 3: that I was facing and battling already for ten years. 358 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 3: So it was yeah, I wish, not I wish. I 359 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:39,159 Speaker 3: think everyone has their own story and there's a reason 360 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 3: for kind of our paths, but yeah, it would have 361 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,159 Speaker 3: been nice to play and a few more times and 362 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:46,200 Speaker 3: on the grass, but just in general on the tour, 363 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 3: because I had no plans of retiring yet. That was 364 00:17:48,359 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 3: only twenty nine when I retired, so yeah, that was 365 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:53,320 Speaker 3: something for me that I had to navigate. But it 366 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 3: was great. HERTG and Bosh was amazing. I used to 367 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:58,960 Speaker 3: play that tournament all the time and getting to the 368 00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 3: final was was great. And they still kind of have 369 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 3: that old school grass courts where they are fast and 370 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 3: low balancing, so that hasn't changed there and in yeah, 371 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:11,080 Speaker 3: it's a really lovely tournament, So it was nice. It 372 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 3: was really nice to Yeah, to get that kind of 373 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 3: result there when I still when I was going through 374 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:20,200 Speaker 3: kind of a bit of a tough period and turbulent period, 375 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,400 Speaker 3: and to still be able to get on the grass 376 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 3: and play well was really lovely. Yeah. 377 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 2: Can you describe what it's like to play on center court? 378 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,920 Speaker 3: Oh, I don't know what. You're more worried about doing 379 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,639 Speaker 3: something wrong if you have to, because we used to 380 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 3: have to curtsey, so we don't have that today anymore. 381 00:18:39,920 --> 00:18:42,879 Speaker 3: So I was more worried about that than anything, to 382 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 3: be honest. So when we were told that, I know 383 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 3: it's quite simple, but I was like, where do I look? 384 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 3: We both so where the players are as looking at 385 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 3: each other? Do we turn now together? Because it was 386 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:57,280 Speaker 3: like on the service line, between a service line and 387 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 3: the net, when you're walking on that side. Where do 388 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,959 Speaker 3: we look? Who is there? How do we curtsy? Smile? 389 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 3: It was like this whole thing. And I did it 390 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,080 Speaker 3: for the first time when I was when I was sixteen, 391 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 3: so that was kind of very special at the same 392 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 3: time as well, and you pretty much always when you 393 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:19,800 Speaker 3: were on center called there's someone from in the Royal watching. 394 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 3: So yeah, it's special. I really find the walk from 395 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 3: the locker room to center Court amazing and it's the 396 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:36,919 Speaker 3: longest walk we have, and it's just it just speaks 397 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:40,760 Speaker 3: for itself. Where you go through the corridors and the 398 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 3: big windows are there where you see a big part 399 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 3: of Wimwood, and then you get to the members area. 400 00:19:47,080 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 3: Then there's all of the different stories and trophies in 401 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 3: the glass what do you call them those glasses, yeah, cabinets. Yeah, 402 00:19:57,000 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 3: then you just when you get to that area before 403 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:03,480 Speaker 3: you walk out, it's just special. It's just yeah, that 404 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 3: role Swatch will never get out of my head. Yeah. 405 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,159 Speaker 3: And the wood it's all in wood as well, so 406 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 3: it's very different. And then there's obviously the green that 407 00:20:13,040 --> 00:20:15,679 Speaker 3: goes with Windwood, and but then yeah, it's special to 408 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:20,400 Speaker 3: walk onto that grass because it's almost like, yeah, it's 409 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:23,080 Speaker 3: very different to walk onto Center Court at Windward and 410 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 3: then even caught one or even any other court, you 411 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 3: kind of walk onto it from a from a bit 412 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:31,720 Speaker 3: of a cement surface onto it and then you kind 413 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:33,959 Speaker 3: of go, ah, Windwood and Center Court. I don't know. 414 00:20:34,040 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 3: That's how I always felt, and yeah, it's different, it's 415 00:20:38,000 --> 00:20:40,520 Speaker 3: I love the number one court, but center court is 416 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 3: obviously bigger. I like how the player boxes are. Yeah, 417 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 3: I don't know. I just it's special every I think 418 00:20:50,520 --> 00:20:53,479 Speaker 3: for everyone. Different tournaments or different Grand Slams are special 419 00:20:53,480 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 3: for me. Austraight and open and Rod Label, you know, 420 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 3: special for different reasons. But this is just unique. And 421 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 3: the treaty. I can never go past wearing white. That 422 00:21:02,600 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 3: that's just we just never do that. We would never 423 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,440 Speaker 3: wear white or pick to wear white, or neither would 424 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 3: our sponsors. So you just, yeah, everything kind of comes together. 425 00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 3: But I love that walk, and especially in that second week, 426 00:21:17,480 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 3: that's where you kind of know, okay, all eyes are 427 00:21:20,640 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 3: on us. Now this is a special moment and no 428 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:26,320 Speaker 3: matter what happens, you know, you've been in a second 429 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 3: week of Wimbledon and you've been in a quarterfinal, semifinal, 430 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 3: so it's always special. 431 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 2: We are in an Olympic. Yeah, and that was another 432 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 2: great result for you. You reached the metal rounds at Sydney 433 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 2: in two thousand. What do you remember about that time? 434 00:21:40,920 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 3: I loved my experience at the Sydney Olympics. It was great. 435 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 3: To this day, I always it's the best, best two weeks. 436 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:49,879 Speaker 3: I had. It was amazing. It's something special we don't have. 437 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 3: No sport has anything like it. It's so different to 438 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:57,679 Speaker 3: be a part of such a massive team, not just 439 00:21:57,960 --> 00:22:00,960 Speaker 3: in your own kind of sport, but the whole country. 440 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:05,240 Speaker 3: And there is no other event that's going where you're 441 00:22:05,280 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 3: going to feel and want to play for your country 442 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:10,840 Speaker 3: more than that. It's not for you, it's all of 443 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:14,639 Speaker 3: that pride. And for me, I remember getting my tops 444 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 3: and having Australia written at the back. That was amazing, 445 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,040 Speaker 3: and yeah, it will stay with me forever. I still 446 00:22:22,040 --> 00:22:25,960 Speaker 3: have my backpack from the Sydney Olympics in two thousand 447 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:30,200 Speaker 3: and Yeah, it was amazing. I just missed out and yeah, 448 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 3: but still it's the sell Us in the playoff for 449 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:38,600 Speaker 3: that bronze. But yeah, it stays with you as something 450 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,399 Speaker 3: very special. And I know that we as tennis players, 451 00:22:41,480 --> 00:22:44,560 Speaker 3: we have Grand Slams and that's our focus and we 452 00:22:44,640 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 3: are maybe not as much reliant like maybe swimming or 453 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 3: some other sports on Olympics and events like that. But 454 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:56,920 Speaker 3: at the same time I know that every single tennis 455 00:22:56,960 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 3: player and I know I was, there is so much 456 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:04,320 Speaker 3: pride with it. There is no ifs or nos. It's 457 00:23:04,400 --> 00:23:06,719 Speaker 3: even if you are on one leg but you somehow 458 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,480 Speaker 3: can get on the court and play, you go and 459 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:11,879 Speaker 3: you just go and you give two hundred percent for 460 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:16,719 Speaker 3: your country. I remember I played, and yeah, I was 461 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:20,760 Speaker 3: looking at the coaches as part of our team. Leslie 462 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 3: Barry was our coach as well, and the other players 463 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:26,840 Speaker 3: that would come. I remember Pat Raft came to watch. 464 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:30,359 Speaker 3: I don't know if I was more nervous or more 465 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 3: I don't know what, but yeah, it was amazing. Though. 466 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:36,199 Speaker 3: It's such an amazing experience because we go and we 467 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:39,560 Speaker 3: all support each other, and you would never have that 468 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 3: to that extent where we're all together other athletes coming 469 00:23:42,600 --> 00:23:45,199 Speaker 3: from other sports as well, where we bond like that. 470 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:47,679 Speaker 3: I love going into the cafeteria every day, I have 471 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,200 Speaker 3: to say it. It's like huge and you see all 472 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,560 Speaker 3: of these different athletes, which is exciting, and then the 473 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:57,000 Speaker 3: pins that you collect as well, so those things stay 474 00:23:57,040 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 3: with you forever and nothing, nothing can replace that, even 475 00:24:00,880 --> 00:24:02,920 Speaker 3: though for us as tennis players, we have so many 476 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:06,199 Speaker 3: goals with Grand Slams and different things we want to accomplish. 477 00:24:06,240 --> 00:24:08,919 Speaker 3: But if I could do if someone asked me, I 478 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 3: don't know if I could do something or the Olympics. 479 00:24:12,840 --> 00:24:16,080 Speaker 3: I would say the Olympics, yeah wow, for sure, if 480 00:24:16,119 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 3: I could, if I could go to one more Olympics, 481 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 3: yeah wow. 482 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 2: Elena was so generous with her time there. I just 483 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,720 Speaker 2: love all the details that she can recall. And yeah, 484 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:32,879 Speaker 2: imagine being a teenager having to curtsey to the Royal 485 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:34,400 Speaker 2: Box on Center Court at Wimbledon. 486 00:24:34,680 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: It was I've always wanted to ask Elaana questions like 487 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:39,640 Speaker 1: that and I could have listened to her talk for 488 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: hours more. 489 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 2: It was great, It was wonderful. We'll be back next 490 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:45,679 Speaker 2: week with another episode of the sit Down when we 491 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 2: catch up with another Australian storm hunter. 492 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:50,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and in the meantime, you can listen to John 493 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 1: on the Team this Thursday on the Aoshow Weekly. Details 494 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:55,160 Speaker 1: for how to contact us are in the show notes, 495 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:58,119 Speaker 1: and as always, please subscribe, rate and review. See you 496 00:24:58,200 --> 00:24:58,960 Speaker 1: next week, vib. 497 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:01,360 Speaker 2: Look forward to it. Mat Hey he