WEBVTT - The Sit-Down with Andre Sa

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<v Speaker 1>Hello, and welcome to the Sitdown. I'm Viv Christie, managing

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<v Speaker 1>editor of Australian Tennis magazine.

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<v Speaker 2>And I'm Matrolop, writer for oz open dot com. And Viv,

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<v Speaker 2>why are we sitting down this week with Andre Sar.

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<v Speaker 1>We're sitting down with Andre Matt because he is a

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<v Speaker 1>four time Olympian, including in his home nation of Brazil.

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<v Speaker 1>He's had some great experiences in tennis and he continues

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<v Speaker 1>to do so through some of our really innovative events.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, and you were lucky enough to chat to him.

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<v Speaker 2>I wasn't here for this interview, so I'm really looking

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<v Speaker 2>forward to hearing it now.

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<v Speaker 1>Andre. Thank you for joining us today on the sit Down.

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<v Speaker 1>Let's start by maybe you could tell us where we

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<v Speaker 1>find you at the moment.

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<v Speaker 3>Oh, hello, thanks for inviting me. I'm at home right

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<v Speaker 3>now in real in Brazil.

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<v Speaker 1>Great. It's obviously a very busy time in sport. A

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<v Speaker 1>lot of guys on the Olympics, and you participated in

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<v Speaker 1>four Olympic Games. Yeah, what are your memories of those?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I mean it's it's first of all, it's just

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<v Speaker 3>a pleasure for its ad a dream for any athlete

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<v Speaker 3>to participate in the Olympics and to be part of

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<v Speaker 3>four of them was great. And probably the last one

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<v Speaker 3>was the most special one because it was at home

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<v Speaker 3>in Rio, you know, in front of all I'm all

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<v Speaker 3>my family and family, and that's probably the one, I

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<v Speaker 3>mean Olympics that it's always going to be so special

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<v Speaker 3>because it was at home. But I you know, the

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<v Speaker 3>others were great as well. My first one was in

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<v Speaker 3>Athens in Greece. That's two thousand and four. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>I was very young kid, just just happy to be there.

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<v Speaker 3>I did the whole thing, you know, stay in the

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<v Speaker 3>Olympic village, she do, you know, go with with the

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<v Speaker 3>delegation and they're opening ceremony, and spend as much time

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<v Speaker 3>as I could with other athletes that we knew, because

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<v Speaker 3>I mean I was I was young, and these guys

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<v Speaker 3>were superstars. And now we had the number one player

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<v Speaker 3>in the world with Gustavo Quirity and he was a

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<v Speaker 3>Zealian player as well, so that was also special. A

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<v Speaker 3>lot of eyes were on the on the tennis team

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<v Speaker 3>at that time, and it was just great. It was

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<v Speaker 3>a great time, very special to be part of it.

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<v Speaker 3>The first one. You always get the goosebumps when the

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<v Speaker 3>first because I didn't get in initially, so I on

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<v Speaker 3>the first when the first lets came out, I wasn't in.

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<v Speaker 3>And then I made it in and and it was

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<v Speaker 3>it was just such a great surprise, and I was

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<v Speaker 3>just so happy to be there. That was that made

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<v Speaker 3>it so special. The second one in Beijing it was

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<v Speaker 3>also great. I mean, the infrastructure there was was amazing.

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<v Speaker 3>The Chinese people were so friendly and happy to welcome

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<v Speaker 3>all the athletes, and uh, you know, being the second

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<v Speaker 3>one playing doubles with with Marcello Mellow at the time,

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<v Speaker 3>and we felt like we were we had a good chance,

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<v Speaker 3>a decent chance to to to go for metal. It

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<v Speaker 3>didn't happen, but it was it was just a different

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<v Speaker 3>mindset approaching that Olympics that we were so focused on.

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<v Speaker 3>It was just not about you know, going to the

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<v Speaker 3>open ceremony or hanging out the other pig village all

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<v Speaker 3>the time. We were much more focused. And then the

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<v Speaker 3>third one in twenty twelve in London at Wimbledon, it

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<v Speaker 3>was that's very different as well, because usually you just

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<v Speaker 3>go to a tennis venue somewhere. That's that's what happened

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<v Speaker 3>in Athens and in Beijing and then to play at Wimbledon,

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<v Speaker 3>it was it was just different. We were you know,

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<v Speaker 3>we knew the place, we knew our way around, but

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<v Speaker 3>at the same time, it was so different to walk

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<v Speaker 3>in there and see, you know, the whole place dressed

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<v Speaker 3>up in purple, which you know, and then everyone and

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<v Speaker 3>then everyone can you know, wear the team uniforms and

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<v Speaker 3>not the whites that you're so used to. So that

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<v Speaker 3>was a little shock, but at the same time it

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<v Speaker 3>was a fun experience. We had a tough draw. We

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<v Speaker 3>drew the Brian brothers in the first round on so

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<v Speaker 3>it wasn't I mean, they were the best team at

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<v Speaker 3>the time and maybe the best team ever today and

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<v Speaker 3>it wasn't you know, it was quick I guess, uh

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<v Speaker 3>to lose in the first round, but you know it was.

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<v Speaker 3>It was a close match. It was good, It was

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<v Speaker 3>fun and being part of the Brazilian team is always special.

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<v Speaker 1>Of course you have a very unique experience and that

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<v Speaker 1>you've got to play the Olympics in your home nation.

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<v Speaker 1>How much does having an Olympic event change a city.

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<v Speaker 3>It changes a lot. I mean, especially you know at

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<v Speaker 3>that time I did not live in Rio, which was

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<v Speaker 3>I do now. It's that I've been living here for

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<v Speaker 3>the last four years, but you you certainly can see

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<v Speaker 3>the change. You can see the vibe is completely different

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<v Speaker 3>being being Brazilian and being in real many times before

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<v Speaker 3>because we have an eighty five hundred here and UH

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<v Speaker 3>and then you could just feel the atmosphere was so different.

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<v Speaker 3>A lot of foreigners, a lot of you know, people

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<v Speaker 3>coming to see and UH and our sport in tennis,

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<v Speaker 3>you individual, but when you're part of the team, and

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<v Speaker 3>then when everyone is just you can tell that the

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<v Speaker 3>people there, they're not tennis fans. They just wanted to

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<v Speaker 3>cheer for for a Brazilian or a Brazilian team, or

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<v Speaker 3>a Brazilian pair or Brazilian player. So the vibe and

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<v Speaker 3>the atmosphere was was so different, and the city was buzzy.

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<v Speaker 3>It was buzzing, even even though in every Olympic, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>the village is far away, sometimes the events are far

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<v Speaker 3>away from from the center of the city, but you

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<v Speaker 3>could still field the vibe and the TV and the

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<v Speaker 3>and the coverage here for the broadcasting is it's so intense,

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<v Speaker 3>So then it's yeah, it was, it was very very special.

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<v Speaker 1>I feel like you've actually just as answered my next

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<v Speaker 1>question actually, but I'll ask it anyway. Tennis at the

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<v Speaker 1>Olympics it shouldn't be there.

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<v Speaker 3>It's a tough one. It's a tough one. I think yes.

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<v Speaker 3>I think the straight answer is yes, it's it's a

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<v Speaker 3>it's a very special moment for for any athlete and

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<v Speaker 3>it's a massive deal for for the sport to be

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<v Speaker 3>part of the Olympics. So so then the answer is yes.

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<v Speaker 3>Now if we go deeper and say, is it more

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<v Speaker 3>important then a Grand Slam or is it more important

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<v Speaker 3>the gold medal? I think opinions vary depends on how

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<v Speaker 3>you grew up and the culture you're in, but they

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<v Speaker 3>are both definitely very special.

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<v Speaker 1>And what in your view makes team tennis different.

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<v Speaker 3>Just the individuality of the sport, Like you have to

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<v Speaker 3>figure everything out on your own, you have to make decisions,

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<v Speaker 3>you have to you know, challenge yourself all the time,

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<v Speaker 3>and then when it goes into a team environment like

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<v Speaker 3>the Olympics, it becomes I think more relaxed environment to

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<v Speaker 3>be honest, because we're so used to being responsible for everything,

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<v Speaker 3>to having to figure out the whole thing, our whole

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<v Speaker 3>journey throughout every tournament. But once we get there, we

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<v Speaker 3>have a team manager. We have other teammates part of

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<v Speaker 3>the of the competition as well, and that and that

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<v Speaker 3>makes it special. But in ten it's just the petitiveness,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, like being out there on your own for

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<v Speaker 3>hours and hours having to figure everything out. That's that's

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<v Speaker 3>what makes it so special.

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<v Speaker 1>Team events have evolved in recent years. We now have

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<v Speaker 1>the Live A Cup and the United Cup. How much,

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<v Speaker 1>in your view, has that changed the outlook on team events.

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<v Speaker 3>I think it changed to a poitive thing. I think.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean the experience we had with the United Cup,

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<v Speaker 3>especially getting the feedback from players working that I work

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<v Speaker 3>at those events, the team bond, it's completely different. No,

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<v Speaker 3>I mean it never happened before that a man and

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<v Speaker 3>a woman could compete equal terms at one competition, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>everything the same. So that's that made the really special

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<v Speaker 3>for the sport. And I can tell you like the

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<v Speaker 3>Italians or the Germans or even the Greeks, they're like

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<v Speaker 3>and we didn't really watch each other's matches like throughout

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<v Speaker 3>the year. We are from the same country, we probably

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<v Speaker 3>share a lot of the same tournaments all along the year,

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<v Speaker 3>but you will never disclose. And all of a sudden

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<v Speaker 3>you have Paulini watching very teeny play and and and

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<v Speaker 3>you know it's Vera Evan Kerber there the week after

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<v Speaker 3>they go to Melbourne and they're like sometimes practicing with

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<v Speaker 3>each other, and that bond really came together because of

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<v Speaker 3>the of the United Cup. So that's that's another positive

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<v Speaker 3>thing and something special for the sport and for the

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<v Speaker 3>players and a.

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<v Speaker 1>Great experience for the fans as well.

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<v Speaker 3>I'm sure, Oh yeah, for sure, for sure. I mean

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<v Speaker 3>I remember some matches we watched Greece against Italy I

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<v Speaker 3>think last year, and it was it was like a

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<v Speaker 3>Billy Jean King Cup match or a Davis Cup match,

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<v Speaker 3>like they were so intense. In Australia. It brings that

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<v Speaker 3>because there are so many internationals in foreigners in Australia

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<v Speaker 3>and in communities from every single country that that's that

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<v Speaker 3>played the United Cup. So the fans were so excited

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<v Speaker 3>to be able to see and those plays compete as

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<v Speaker 3>a team.

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<v Speaker 1>For sure. Looking back on your tennis journey, what was it.

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<v Speaker 1>I know I believe that you followed your brother into tennis,

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<v Speaker 1>but you know, how did you start your professional journey?

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<v Speaker 3>My professional journey, well, that was that's a long story,

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<v Speaker 3>I'll make it short. When I was fourteen, I moved

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<v Speaker 3>to America to go to tennis Academy in Florida. And then,

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<v Speaker 3>of course, when I finished high school, I had the

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<v Speaker 3>decision to well, do I go to college or do

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<v Speaker 3>I try to become a professional tennis player. And sitting down,

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<v Speaker 3>I remember sitting down with my parents and making that

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<v Speaker 3>tough decision, and I said, listen, let me let me

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<v Speaker 3>try the professional way, and I can try. I made

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<v Speaker 3>a deal with my dad, like, you know, let's try

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<v Speaker 3>for one year. If things are moving in the right direction,

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<v Speaker 3>we'll keep going. If not, then I'll I'll turn around

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<v Speaker 3>and go to college. But then this is nineteen ninety six.

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<v Speaker 3>And then ninety seven I started playing better, and then

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<v Speaker 3>things started to connect, and then I never stopped since

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<v Speaker 3>I'm happy. My dad kept his end of the deal

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<v Speaker 3>and he said, I just keep going, keep going with

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<v Speaker 3>your professional career. And that's that's how basically how it started.

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<v Speaker 3>Then that first year, I finished in the top two

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<v Speaker 3>hundred in the world in singles and start playing you know,

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<v Speaker 3>bigger tournament, start playing the qualifying of Grand Slams. And

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<v Speaker 3>then yeah, I never never really turned back. And then

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<v Speaker 3>when I was thirty one, I made the move to

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<v Speaker 3>play doubles only, and that extended my career to another

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<v Speaker 3>eight nine years, which was which was great as well

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<v Speaker 3>to have that longevity.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, it's a great story. From that sort of decision

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<v Speaker 1>and that conversation with your dad, you went on to

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<v Speaker 1>reach a Wimbledon quarter final in singles and in doubles,

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<v Speaker 1>you were a top twenty player with seven titles. What

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<v Speaker 1>do you look back on most fondly.

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I just think it's it's the relationships and the

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<v Speaker 3>people that I I got to know through tennis. No

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<v Speaker 3>I understood right away, like, not not right away, but

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<v Speaker 3>later on in my career, Like the platform the tennis

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<v Speaker 3>gives you, as you know, as an ability to to

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<v Speaker 3>make friends and to network with people from all over

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<v Speaker 3>the world and from all different cultures. So that that's

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<v Speaker 3>something that I really when I look back, I said,

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<v Speaker 3>I'm so glad I got involved. You know, I was

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<v Speaker 3>there playing tennis, competing and having my career as a

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<v Speaker 3>tennis player. But at the same time I cherished so

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<v Speaker 3>much that the friendships and the relationships and the people

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<v Speaker 3>I got to know along along that journey. So I

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<v Speaker 3>think that's the most special thing that I keep.

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<v Speaker 1>That journey of course continues for you. What what's been

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<v Speaker 1>your journey since retiring from the tour. No that you

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<v Speaker 1>stayed in the sport.

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<v Speaker 3>I would say I was lucky enough to be recruited

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<v Speaker 3>by TA when I when I when I stopped, I

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<v Speaker 3>retired in my last season full season was twenty seventeen.

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<v Speaker 3>Twenty eighteen, I played a couple of tournaments, but then

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<v Speaker 3>after that in twenty nineteen, I started with with Tia

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<v Speaker 3>on display relations job that I still have today, which

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<v Speaker 3>is it's challenging, but it's great at the same time,

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<v Speaker 3>I still get to be in the tennis world around

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<v Speaker 3>the people that I know, and a job that I

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<v Speaker 3>feel I can do, which you know, is to bring

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<v Speaker 3>the play just closer to tennis Australia, keep the communications

0:12:35.600 --> 0:12:39.440
<v Speaker 3>going with them, the relationships going, so then we can improve,

0:12:40.000 --> 0:12:42.520
<v Speaker 3>we can improve our events in Australia.

0:12:42.760 --> 0:12:45.280
<v Speaker 1>What are you most looking forward to over the next

0:12:45.320 --> 0:12:47.480
<v Speaker 1>few months and leading into the Australian Open.

0:12:47.840 --> 0:12:49.880
<v Speaker 3>I think the whole summer of tennis again. I mean

0:12:50.080 --> 0:12:53.040
<v Speaker 3>United Cup is getting is getting better and better every year,

0:12:53.360 --> 0:12:55.440
<v Speaker 3>so we always look forward to that. I mean, I

0:12:55.480 --> 0:12:58.800
<v Speaker 3>think we got the format right this year, so I

0:12:58.840 --> 0:13:01.440
<v Speaker 3>think it's there's a massive chance that is going to

0:13:01.480 --> 0:13:04.920
<v Speaker 3>be even better in twenty twenty five, and then all

0:13:05.000 --> 0:13:07.839
<v Speaker 3>of the other challenges that we have and exciting things

0:13:07.840 --> 0:13:10.480
<v Speaker 3>coming up Opening week now, it's going to be something

0:13:10.520 --> 0:13:12.640
<v Speaker 3>great that we look forward to, you know, the week

0:13:12.640 --> 0:13:16.440
<v Speaker 3>of Qualities and then the big show. The Big Show

0:13:16.480 --> 0:13:20.079
<v Speaker 3>and the AO means every year, Craig wants us to

0:13:20.679 --> 0:13:24.079
<v Speaker 3>become better and to deliver a better experience to players

0:13:24.120 --> 0:13:28.360
<v Speaker 3>and that's the plan. And then just to make to

0:13:28.440 --> 0:13:30.600
<v Speaker 3>make them feel so comfortable and happy to be in

0:13:30.640 --> 0:13:33.240
<v Speaker 3>Australia and be able to compete the best way that

0:13:33.240 --> 0:13:33.600
<v Speaker 3>they can.

0:13:34.120 --> 0:13:38.080
<v Speaker 1>Absolutely well, thank you, Andre. That sounds like a great

0:13:38.240 --> 0:13:40.560
<v Speaker 1>place for us to finish. It's been really great chatting

0:13:40.559 --> 0:13:41.080
<v Speaker 1>with you today.

0:13:41.320 --> 0:13:42.960
<v Speaker 3>Thank you, Thanks again for inviting me.

0:13:43.080 --> 0:13:45.520
<v Speaker 1>Thank you so much. Andre, really appreciate that.

0:13:49.000 --> 0:13:51.360
<v Speaker 2>Well we've congratulations. That was a great interview. I really

0:13:51.440 --> 0:13:53.720
<v Speaker 2>enjoyed listening to that. I got to chat to Andre

0:13:54.040 --> 0:13:57.040
<v Speaker 2>last year at Roland Garross when his fellow Brazilian Beatrice

0:13:57.040 --> 0:13:59.559
<v Speaker 2>had Admired made her historic run to the semi finals,

0:13:59.559 --> 0:14:01.960
<v Speaker 2>and I remember just being really struck by how passionate

0:14:01.960 --> 0:14:04.440
<v Speaker 2>he was about tennis and him reliving kind of her

0:14:04.559 --> 0:14:07.040
<v Speaker 2>journey in his connection to that and that passion came

0:14:07.080 --> 0:14:08.440
<v Speaker 2>through in the chat today as well.

0:14:08.640 --> 0:14:12.160
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, thanks, Matt. I really enjoyed talking to Andrea. I

0:14:12.200 --> 0:14:15.559
<v Speaker 1>think he's built some really special relationships through tennis and

0:14:15.760 --> 0:14:17.960
<v Speaker 1>we're lucky to have him still involved in the sport.

0:14:18.120 --> 0:14:20.080
<v Speaker 2>Yeah for sure. As always, we'll be back again next

0:14:20.160 --> 0:14:22.720
<v Speaker 2>Monday with another episode of the sit Down, and in

0:14:22.760 --> 0:14:24.760
<v Speaker 2>the meantime, don't forget to listen to John and the

0:14:24.800 --> 0:14:26.920
<v Speaker 2>team this Thursday on the Aoshow Weekly.

0:14:27.320 --> 0:14:29.600
<v Speaker 1>Details for how to contact us are in the show notes,

0:14:29.640 --> 0:14:32.080
<v Speaker 1>and please subscribe, rate and review.

0:14:32.320 --> 0:14:33.960
<v Speaker 2>See you next week, Matt, See then, vib