WEBVTT - The Sit-Down with Alex Michelsen 0:00:02.400 --> 0:00:05.320 Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Sitdown. 0:00:05.440 --> 0:00:08.280 I'm Matt Trolope, a writer for ozopen dot com. 0:00:07.920 --> 0:00:11.240 And I'm Viv Christian, managing editor of Australian Tennis magazine and. 0:00:11.240 --> 0:00:14.280 Viv why are we sitting down this week with Alex Michelson. 0:00:14.640 --> 0:00:17.480 We're sitting down with Alex Matt because he has had 0:00:17.480 --> 0:00:21.400 a fantastic season in twenty twenty four. He's reached two 0:00:21.520 --> 0:00:25.640 ATP finals, cracked the world's top fifty and he's one 0:00:25.680 --> 0:00:28.800 of the eight young players competing in the ATP next 0:00:28.840 --> 0:00:30.120 Gen Finals this week. 0:00:30.320 --> 0:00:32.199 Yeah, and we were lucky enough to catch Alex just 0:00:32.240 --> 0:00:34.280 a few weeks before he headed off to Jedda. We 0:00:34.280 --> 0:00:36.040 got him when he was in a training week in 0:00:36.080 --> 0:00:38.519 California and we got to meet someone who was He 0:00:38.600 --> 0:00:40.400 was a great talker, he had a really good story, 0:00:40.440 --> 0:00:43.239 he was really generous with his time, and yeah, we 0:00:43.280 --> 0:00:45.159 really enjoyed it and learned a lot about him. So 0:00:45.280 --> 0:00:49.280 we hope you guys do enjoy it too. 0:00:50.479 --> 0:00:52.360 Alex, thank you for joining us on the sit Down. 0:00:52.440 --> 0:00:54.480 It's great that you're joining us so I think from 0:00:54.480 --> 0:00:57.000 your home in California, it must be nice to have 0:00:57.040 --> 0:00:58.480 a week or so off from the tour. 0:00:59.000 --> 0:01:00.960 Yeah, yeah, did. 0:01:00.360 --> 0:01:01.800 Okay in the last term and over it METS and 0:01:01.800 --> 0:01:04.959 then I took about ten days off and yeah today 0:01:05.000 --> 0:01:07.760 it has been today's my second day back training. So 0:01:08.400 --> 0:01:10.040 I had to get going pretty quick again because I 0:01:10.040 --> 0:01:12.560 got to go to Saudi Arabia pretty soon, so I 0:01:12.720 --> 0:01:14.399 had to uh had to get started quickly. 0:01:14.959 --> 0:01:17.800 It's been an incredible season for you. You've peaked just 0:01:17.880 --> 0:01:20.240 outside the top forty and I think you're currently sitting 0:01:20.280 --> 0:01:22.840 at number forty two. What's been the highlight for you 0:01:22.920 --> 0:01:23.360 this year. 0:01:24.440 --> 0:01:26.160 It's been a good season, a lot of a lot 0:01:26.160 --> 0:01:27.840 of ups and downs. I know that's a very cliche 0:01:27.840 --> 0:01:29.160 thing to say, but I mean at the clay the 0:01:29.200 --> 0:01:31.000 clay season, I barely wont any matches. 0:01:31.560 --> 0:01:31.760 It was. 0:01:31.840 --> 0:01:33.240 It was tough for me. Even in the grass season, 0:01:33.240 --> 0:01:35.319 which I like grass, I didn't do great. And then 0:01:35.319 --> 0:01:37.679 I came back over to America Final than Newport. That 0:01:37.760 --> 0:01:40.120 was that was a highlight. Defending my points and highlighting 0:01:40.760 --> 0:01:44.360 defending my points. And finally was because I final Master 0:01:44.440 --> 0:01:45.959 as well, so that that was that was really good 0:01:45.959 --> 0:01:48.280 for the confidence as well. And then I kind of 0:01:48.280 --> 0:01:52.680 took that had a great American summer record, DC got 0:01:52.720 --> 0:01:54.440 the finals of doubles and Sincy. That was a lot 0:01:54.440 --> 0:01:58.400 of fun. Yeah, I think just the whole American swing 0:01:58.440 --> 0:02:00.320 for me was was was great. I was in Europe 0:02:00.320 --> 0:02:03.160 for three months, so coming back home and playing, playing 0:02:03.160 --> 0:02:05.680 in front of the home crowd was nice to do 0:02:05.760 --> 0:02:07.280 for a while for sure. 0:02:07.680 --> 0:02:08.120 Amazing. 0:02:08.240 --> 0:02:10.000 And so as you said, you're about to head to 0:02:10.200 --> 0:02:12.400 jet Up for the next Gen Final. So this is 0:02:12.400 --> 0:02:14.560 the second time you're going, but you, I guess, arrive 0:02:15.160 --> 0:02:17.239 in a bit of a different place in your career 0:02:17.240 --> 0:02:18.680 where it was all new last year and you were 0:02:18.720 --> 0:02:20.880 just inside the top hundred. Now you're where you are 0:02:20.919 --> 0:02:23.040 and you'll be the second set. So yeah, what does 0:02:23.040 --> 0:02:24.799 it mean to qualify for that again? And what will 0:02:24.840 --> 0:02:26.720 you take into into this experience? 0:02:28.000 --> 0:02:29.880 Yeah, well, well we'll obvious hit the experience of playing 0:02:29.919 --> 0:02:31.800 last year. It's going to help me out this year 0:02:31.800 --> 0:02:34.040 because last year I was you, I just turned prone 0:02:34.120 --> 0:02:36.200 like August, and it all kind of came very quickly 0:02:36.240 --> 0:02:39.360 at me and I wasn't ready to perform at a 0:02:39.360 --> 0:02:42.520 stage like that. And I think now you know, got 0:02:42.520 --> 0:02:44.680 a whole year of experience, well a whole year like 0:02:44.720 --> 0:02:48.000 on the main tour to use this experience, and when 0:02:48.040 --> 0:02:50.000 I go to Saturday with this year, so I can 0:02:50.040 --> 0:02:51.600 only do better. I went owing through last year. I 0:02:51.600 --> 0:02:54.200 can only do better this time around. So I'm really 0:02:54.240 --> 0:02:56.120 looking forward to going back and giving it my all. 0:02:56.160 --> 0:02:57.920 I have some unfitished busits over there for sure. 0:02:58.160 --> 0:03:00.600 Awesome, and it's got a pretty impressing on a roll 0:03:00.680 --> 0:03:03.200 of champions. So like Sinner El Karez sits a pass, 0:03:03.240 --> 0:03:05.160 they've all won it before. What would it mean for 0:03:05.240 --> 0:03:08.120 you for you to join them potentially. 0:03:07.919 --> 0:03:09.800 Yeah, that would be He'll be absolutely epic. I mean, 0:03:09.800 --> 0:03:12.359 those guys are all stick at tennis. I mean that 0:03:12.400 --> 0:03:14.560 would be awesome. If I got to put my name 0:03:14.600 --> 0:03:16.120 on that list with them, that would be That means 0:03:16.160 --> 0:03:18.760 I'm doing something right. So I think that would just 0:03:18.760 --> 0:03:20.040 the opposode on honor if I can to put my 0:03:20.080 --> 0:03:20.720 name on that list. 0:03:21.280 --> 0:03:23.360 It's also pretty amazing the names that are kind of 0:03:23.360 --> 0:03:25.480 around you on the Race to Jedda, so that you 0:03:25.560 --> 0:03:27.679 know the twenty one and under list. It's led by 0:03:29.000 --> 0:03:33.200 Art Fees and there's also Yaka Mensig, Jerry Shang Lernati 0:03:33.320 --> 0:03:36.720 and Luca n ash Dua Fonseca like and you, that's 0:03:36.720 --> 0:03:39.440 a pretty cool crop of players that have gotten lots 0:03:39.440 --> 0:03:40.760 of fans excited. 0:03:40.800 --> 0:03:42.600 What do you think of this current generation that you're 0:03:42.640 --> 0:03:43.240 coming up with. 0:03:44.440 --> 0:03:46.960 Yeah, I mean everyone you said is is very good. 0:03:47.600 --> 0:03:49.520 I haven't played Fees yet, but obviously I think he's 0:03:49.560 --> 0:03:51.360 what a couple of five hundreds of series playing sick. 0:03:52.920 --> 0:03:55.680 I played Mensik and Jerry I played him in junior's 0:03:55.720 --> 0:03:58.160 actually and on the I haven't played Mensik on the 0:03:58.160 --> 0:03:59.880 main con tour, but I've played. I've played them both 0:03:59.880 --> 0:04:04.040 in juniors plenty of times when they were very, very good. 0:04:04.560 --> 0:04:06.320 And then I just train. I train with Murner. 0:04:06.320 --> 0:04:07.880 I just got done training with them Urdier today, So 0:04:08.800 --> 0:04:10.400 you know that'll be that'll be fun to play that 0:04:10.440 --> 0:04:11.840 and play that. But that'll be interesting if we get 0:04:11.840 --> 0:04:14.800 to play each other, so well, we'll see. But yeah, 0:04:14.800 --> 0:04:16.960 I'm super happy he did that. He's doing great as well. 0:04:16.960 --> 0:04:19.080 You know, he's very close friend for me, so to 0:04:19.120 --> 0:04:21.919 see him doing great is amazing. And then fan Seca 0:04:21.960 --> 0:04:23.680 absolutely waxed me in Madrid stuff. 0:04:24.080 --> 0:04:25.800 Yeah, I know, I know you can play. So I mean, 0:04:25.880 --> 0:04:27.120 he's gonna be He's gonna be sick. 0:04:27.440 --> 0:04:30.039 He rids me of like a like a mini sitter, 0:04:30.200 --> 0:04:31.680 like he the way he hits the ball is kind 0:04:31.680 --> 0:04:33.359 of the say I put them both. The way they 0:04:33.440 --> 0:04:35.280 hit the ball is just you don't. You don't come 0:04:35.279 --> 0:04:37.039 by that very often. So yeah, I mean this, uh, 0:04:37.400 --> 0:04:39.200 this group of this group of guys is. 0:04:39.200 --> 0:04:39.800 Uh is good. 0:04:39.839 --> 0:04:41.520 It's gonna be tough to to do well this year, 0:04:41.560 --> 0:04:43.000 for sure, but I'm looking forward to it. 0:04:43.320 --> 0:04:46.159 Do you see that group of players as your main 0:04:46.279 --> 0:04:48.120 rivals or are you looking at like other people to 0:04:48.160 --> 0:04:50.760 like compare yourself against all that you're targeting like a 0:04:50.800 --> 0:04:52.760 good record against. So I'm not sure how you approach that. 0:04:53.920 --> 0:04:55.280 I mean, I don't really think of like two many 0:04:55.320 --> 0:04:57.560 people as my rivals just because I haven't played too 0:04:57.600 --> 0:05:01.719 many people more than like twice, you know. I mean, 0:05:02.080 --> 0:05:03.880 I guess you could say to my arrivals just because 0:05:03.920 --> 0:05:07.360 we're close in age, and I'll probably be seeing plenty 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:08.760 of these guys for the next ten years, and I'll 0:05:08.760 --> 0:05:10.960 probably play them all, you know, I'll probably play. 0:05:10.800 --> 0:05:12.119 Them all like seven times at least. 0:05:12.160 --> 0:05:15.680 So I mean I think now, no, but I think 0:05:15.720 --> 0:05:17.880 in the future that plenty of them will be my rivals. 0:05:17.960 --> 0:05:21.240 Yeah, cool, Alex. 0:05:21.360 --> 0:05:25.440 It's obviously a pretty exciting time for American tennis right now. 0:05:26.279 --> 0:05:28.679 Are you close to to many of the other American 0:05:28.720 --> 0:05:29.200 players on. 0:05:29.160 --> 0:05:33.280 Tour, Well, yeah, I would say so. I mean closer 0:05:33.480 --> 0:05:36.360 with them than anyone else. You know, Fritz is also 0:05:36.440 --> 0:05:38.800 from Sokow, so I, you know, hit with them a 0:05:38.839 --> 0:05:40.280 little bit when I was like when I was a 0:05:40.360 --> 0:05:42.920 kid and say, just being around I was really cool. 0:05:42.960 --> 0:05:44.080 And now I was four in the world, which is 0:05:44.240 --> 0:05:47.360 which is amazing. I'm glad he's doing so good. And 0:05:47.400 --> 0:05:49.400 then I'm definitely I played doubles with a bunch of 0:05:49.480 --> 0:05:53.279 very like Corda and Mackie. Those guys are great that 0:05:53.320 --> 0:05:55.640 they're all also again and you got Ben who is 0:05:55.680 --> 0:05:57.800 playing great. You got tommyho's playing great, you got Francis. 0:05:57.839 --> 0:05:59.479 All those guys are kind of knocking on the door 0:05:59.520 --> 0:06:01.800 for for top ten. They're all like the top fifteen. 0:06:01.880 --> 0:06:04.920 So I think we're our depth is very good right 0:06:04.920 --> 0:06:06.720 now as well. We got someone in the top five 0:06:06.839 --> 0:06:08.520 and we have very good depth. I'm like the sixth 0:06:08.560 --> 0:06:11.320 ranks American need and I'm forty two in the world. 0:06:11.320 --> 0:06:14.920 That's not too bad. I think American tennis is doing 0:06:15.000 --> 0:06:15.680 great right now. 0:06:16.080 --> 0:06:19.160 There's actually five men in the world's top twenty five. 0:06:19.320 --> 0:06:22.680 Five American men. I should say, how inspiring is that 0:06:22.839 --> 0:06:23.200 for you? 0:06:24.080 --> 0:06:25.880 Yeah, I mean to see all those guys, you know, 0:06:25.960 --> 0:06:28.039 all of my so Americans doing that great, I mean, 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:30.400 shows I can do it too, right' That's kind of 0:06:30.400 --> 0:06:32.120 the whole point of seeing someone from your country or 0:06:32.160 --> 0:06:34.479 your area, you know they do that well and you 0:06:34.560 --> 0:06:36.279 kind of look at that and draw inspiration from that. 0:06:36.320 --> 0:06:36.920 I think it's great. 0:06:37.000 --> 0:06:41.680 Yeah, speaking of American tennis, you're currently coached by Robbie Janeprie, 0:06:41.880 --> 0:06:45.240 I believe. So what is that like and what's he 0:06:45.320 --> 0:06:46.080 brought to your game? 0:06:46.720 --> 0:06:48.560 Yeah, well, just to be able to draw, you know, 0:06:48.600 --> 0:06:50.200 from someone else's experience. I mean he sent me with 0:06:50.320 --> 0:06:52.000 us open once and he got to I think fourteen 0:06:52.080 --> 0:06:54.080 or fifteen in the world. So be able to draw 0:06:54.240 --> 0:06:56.760 from experience from someone like that is great. And we've 0:06:56.800 --> 0:06:58.720 worked on, you know, becoming a little more offensive because 0:06:58.760 --> 0:07:01.400 I'm a pretty big guy. On like, I gotta gotta 0:07:01.400 --> 0:07:03.160 play I feel like I move okay and I can 0:07:03.160 --> 0:07:05.160 play defense good, but I definitely need to improve in 0:07:05.480 --> 0:07:07.240 the offense because I'm a big guy and I need 0:07:07.279 --> 0:07:09.240 to I need to play some more offense. And he's 0:07:09.279 --> 0:07:11.840 been helping me with that, and yeah, it's been great. 0:07:11.880 --> 0:07:14.400 I've done. I've done pretty well with him, so I'm excited. Yeah. 0:07:14.680 --> 0:07:16.680 Has that come naturally, that kind of change where you're 0:07:16.680 --> 0:07:19.360 like forcing yourself to be offensive where you're maybe your 0:07:19.400 --> 0:07:20.920 instinct is to be a bit more defensive. 0:07:21.840 --> 0:07:23.640 I mean, I definitely have to think about it, you know, 0:07:23.880 --> 0:07:26.400 just you know, consciously think about it all the time. 0:07:26.800 --> 0:07:28.040 At least That's what I've been trying to do in 0:07:28.040 --> 0:07:30.000 practice the last couple of days and you know, months. 0:07:31.520 --> 0:07:34.840 But I feel like sometimes I'm I can drop back 0:07:34.880 --> 0:07:37.200 behind the baseline really easily and just like make a 0:07:37.200 --> 0:07:39.559 lot of balls and against the guy, like the top guys, 0:07:39.560 --> 0:07:41.760 it doesn't work because they can all, you know, hammer 0:07:41.800 --> 0:07:44.480 you for that. So I think just knowing that and 0:07:44.560 --> 0:07:46.560 being able to, you know, play offense, and I feel 0:07:46.600 --> 0:07:49.560 like I can play offense pretty good, it comes naturally. 0:07:49.600 --> 0:07:51.920 I just I just I feel like a defense comes 0:07:51.920 --> 0:07:55.400 a little more naturally. So I think just just having 0:07:55.400 --> 0:07:57.840 that offensive mindset is the most important thing. 0:07:58.200 --> 0:07:59.400 We've got options, which is good. 0:08:00.120 --> 0:08:01.880 Yeah. Yeah. 0:08:01.960 --> 0:08:02.480 Yeah. 0:08:02.600 --> 0:08:04.720 In terms of how you actually got started in tennis, 0:08:04.720 --> 0:08:07.280 so we understand that both of your parents played college tennis. 0:08:07.360 --> 0:08:09.280 Is that kind of how you got introduced to the 0:08:09.320 --> 0:08:10.400 sport and. 0:08:10.920 --> 0:08:12.040 It is what you are to die. 0:08:12.240 --> 0:08:14.400 Yeah, I mean, I actually don't remember starting to I 0:08:14.440 --> 0:08:16.240 was like three years old, like, and my parents that 0:08:16.320 --> 0:08:17.680 kind of gave me your racket. And I was sitting 0:08:17.720 --> 0:08:19.280 backhands in the garage. All I want to do is 0:08:19.280 --> 0:08:21.720 sit back ends entirely, which that's still what I want 0:08:21.720 --> 0:08:24.440 to do, is sit back ends. But yeah, so I 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:26.720 was doing that until I was like six years old, 0:08:26.760 --> 0:08:28.400 and then of mom was like, all right, like we 0:08:28.480 --> 0:08:30.040 got to start into four ends and I was like. 0:08:30.000 --> 0:08:34.199 No, but yeah, I hit with him. 0:08:34.280 --> 0:08:36.120 My mom a lot if I didn't, you know, I 0:08:36.240 --> 0:08:37.640 ate with her like four or five times a week. 0:08:37.679 --> 0:08:39.960 She she was She made a lot of balls and 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:41.800 we hit a lot of balls, and that definitely gave 0:08:41.840 --> 0:08:44.160 me a great date for where I'm at right now. 0:08:44.160 --> 0:08:46.600 I definitely wouldn't be here without without her. My dad 0:08:46.600 --> 0:08:48.800 helped you, but he was working, so I didn't, you know, 0:08:48.840 --> 0:08:52.040 play as much with as much as I did with 0:08:52.080 --> 0:08:54.640 my mom. But my parents helped me out tremendously. And 0:08:54.640 --> 0:08:56.400 there's not a chance I'd be here without them because 0:08:56.400 --> 0:08:58.960 they always introduced it and train me when I was younger. 0:08:59.000 --> 0:09:00.679 So I mean, there's no way I would be here 0:09:00.720 --> 0:09:01.360 without them. 0:09:01.760 --> 0:09:05.560 And you also considered potentially the college route yourself. But 0:09:05.600 --> 0:09:08.160 as you said, you turned pro relatively recently, so what 0:09:08.320 --> 0:09:10.000 you know that that's a decision that a lot of 0:09:10.000 --> 0:09:12.000 players have to grapple with, and there's you know, bene 0:09:12.080 --> 0:09:13.000 pros and cons to both. 0:09:13.320 --> 0:09:15.440 Where how did you land where you landed? 0:09:16.320 --> 0:09:18.120 Yeah, well the decision I kind of made it to 0:09:18.160 --> 0:09:19.839 where it was impossible to go to college. So last 0:09:19.920 --> 0:09:22.480 year I was I started the year at six hundred 0:09:22.520 --> 0:09:24.199 and I was, you know, obviously still supposed to go 0:09:24.240 --> 0:09:24.640 to college. 0:09:24.640 --> 0:09:27.760 And then July rules around, I'm like two fifty, and. 0:09:27.720 --> 0:09:30.920 Then I win the Slander in Chicago and then Final Newport, 0:09:30.960 --> 0:09:32.360 and then I was one forty and I had a 0:09:32.400 --> 0:09:34.000 card at a walk current of the US Open. So 0:09:34.520 --> 0:09:36.440 at that point I was a no brainer to turn pro. 0:09:36.880 --> 0:09:39.319 And you know, that's what I wanted to do, really 0:09:39.320 --> 0:09:42.600 about it. I'm not a big school day, so kind 0:09:42.600 --> 0:09:43.920 of clor got in and to go to school, obviously, 0:09:43.920 --> 0:09:46.040 I think college house. We've been up blast that team 0:09:46.160 --> 0:09:49.599 environment sounds sounds amazing, But yeah, going on tours, you know, 0:09:49.640 --> 0:09:51.360 it's always like a child that dreamed I never really 0:09:51.360 --> 0:09:53.120 thought would become true. It was never in the cards 0:09:53.120 --> 0:09:54.920 for you growing up at all. I wasn't like one 0:09:54.920 --> 0:09:57.680 of these amazing players. So I think just being able 0:09:57.720 --> 0:10:00.000 to experience all this is just an absolute dream come true. 0:10:00.400 --> 0:10:00.880 Awesome. 0:10:01.320 --> 0:10:03.320 We read a really interesting piece It was about this 0:10:03.360 --> 0:10:05.600 time last year in tennis dot com by Joel Drucker, 0:10:05.720 --> 0:10:07.000 and so I think he spent a bit of time 0:10:07.040 --> 0:10:09.480 in California with you, watching you train. He mentioned that 0:10:09.480 --> 0:10:12.240 you hit with Lerner a lot, and one of your 0:10:12.240 --> 0:10:16.559 coaches described your game as jumbled, which was an interesting terminology. 0:10:16.800 --> 0:10:18.760 But yeah, I guess it sounds like it's kind of 0:10:18.760 --> 0:10:21.520 evolved in the twelve months since then, so kind of yeah, 0:10:21.520 --> 0:10:22.839 and you alluded to it was a bit of a 0:10:22.840 --> 0:10:25.480 blend of offense and defense. How would you describe your 0:10:25.480 --> 0:10:28.320 game for someone that actually hasn't seen you play tennis? 0:10:28.320 --> 0:10:30.280 And maybe have you like modeled it after someone? 0:10:30.840 --> 0:10:32.440 No, I don't think I modeled that for anyone, But 0:10:32.480 --> 0:10:34.560 I mean a year ago, my game was definitely jumbled. 0:10:34.559 --> 0:10:36.719 I like I was like six ' four, My stur 0:10:36.920 --> 0:10:38.920 was not good. My foreh end was like average, and 0:10:39.000 --> 0:10:40.800 like back it was like. 0:10:40.760 --> 0:10:41.760 Really good and like I. 0:10:41.720 --> 0:10:43.160 Just I had it was kind of all over the 0:10:43.160 --> 0:10:45.200 place with in terms of like how good you know, 0:10:45.240 --> 0:10:47.120 certain things were, and I feel like I've leveled it 0:10:47.120 --> 0:10:49.280 out and I've got a lot of things better. But 0:10:49.320 --> 0:10:51.760 I think I would describe my game as like all 0:10:51.760 --> 0:10:53.360 core game. I feel like I can do everything. I 0:10:53.360 --> 0:10:55.600 can come to the net, I can play offense, play defense. 0:10:56.679 --> 0:10:58.520 You know, I feel like I can. I can kind 0:10:58.520 --> 0:11:01.240 of do it all. I just need to improve, you know, 0:11:01.320 --> 0:11:03.600 all all the aspects. But I feel like I can. 0:11:03.679 --> 0:11:04.720 I can do it. I would say I have an 0:11:04.720 --> 0:11:05.240 aw core game. 0:11:05.840 --> 0:11:07.520 And we also read that in the last year you've 0:11:07.520 --> 0:11:10.720 all you've grown an extra ine, which you know, what, 0:11:10.720 --> 0:11:12.600 what does that mean. I'm not sure if that's true, 0:11:12.640 --> 0:11:15.520 but you said you were six four maybe yeah, but 0:11:15.559 --> 0:11:17.640 I mean that does create an adjustment if you're dealing 0:11:17.640 --> 0:11:19.720 with like, you know, longer levers or bigger heart or whatever, 0:11:19.760 --> 0:11:22.120 when you you know, a year or two ago, you 0:11:22.160 --> 0:11:25.239 weren't so like, Yeah, what is that kind of adjustment 0:11:25.240 --> 0:11:27.320 being like and what's it? What's the advantage of being 0:11:27.360 --> 0:11:28.440 one of the bigger guys on tour. 0:11:29.679 --> 0:11:31.600 Yeah, I feel like I've always had pretty long levers. 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:34.160 I think, you know, that helps a lot with one thing. 0:11:34.160 --> 0:11:35.880 I think and helps a lot with is return, I 0:11:35.920 --> 0:11:38.520 can just get my racking on more balls where you know, 0:11:38.559 --> 0:11:40.920 other guys maybe couldn't because their arms are as long 0:11:40.960 --> 0:11:43.000 like I have very long arms, which which which helps. 0:11:43.040 --> 0:11:45.160 It helps me out a lot. It helps Then the 0:11:45.160 --> 0:11:46.760 doubles cord too, That's one of those that I think, 0:11:46.760 --> 0:11:48.160 I look kay devils. 0:11:47.800 --> 0:11:50.480 But yeah, it's definitely it's definitely tough to move when 0:11:50.520 --> 0:11:52.560 you're you know, six three six four. But I feel 0:11:52.559 --> 0:11:54.880 like I've always had pretty long levers, so I I've 0:11:55.320 --> 0:11:56.960 I wasn't there, you know, like short, and then all 0:11:57.000 --> 0:11:59.360 the stuff grew. So I feel like I've gotten used to, 0:12:00.240 --> 0:12:03.319 you know, and running around and bringing with the with 0:12:03.400 --> 0:12:05.680 the long arms and lovelake. So that hasn't been like 0:12:05.679 --> 0:12:09.400 a big justine for me, but I haven't sorry. 0:12:09.400 --> 0:12:11.560 I have been working on my movement a lot un 0:12:11.559 --> 0:12:12.120 the last year. 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:15.400 Okay, and your autols listed this guy on one face 0:12:15.559 --> 0:12:17.960 and so we just wanted, what what do you love 0:12:18.000 --> 0:12:18.640 about his game? 0:12:20.480 --> 0:12:22.160 Well, I mean, the guy is one of the best 0:12:22.160 --> 0:12:24.880 athletes ever play TENNA. I mean the guy's so quick 0:12:24.920 --> 0:12:26.640 and jumps so high. I mean, it was always it 0:12:26.679 --> 0:12:28.640 was always fun to watch him playing like growning out. 0:12:28.720 --> 0:12:31.720 That was just like whenever he's on tee, I would 0:12:31.720 --> 0:12:33.400 like stop doing my homework or whatever it was, and 0:12:33.440 --> 0:12:34.880 like I'd stay up laid to watch and it was 0:12:34.920 --> 0:12:37.000 just absolutely sick. And then I got to meet him, 0:12:37.000 --> 0:12:38.400 and like I've here with him a couple of times. 0:12:38.400 --> 0:12:40.360 It's just absolutely amazing. 0:12:41.559 --> 0:12:44.280 Yeah, he was my definitely my favorite to watch for sure. 0:12:44.400 --> 0:12:47.080 Yeah, does he know that? Have you told him? 0:12:47.440 --> 0:12:49.120 I don't think so. I'm a little tighter. 0:12:49.160 --> 0:12:51.480 I I definitely have to tell him because I don't 0:12:51.480 --> 0:12:53.160 know how long he's got He's like thirty seven and 0:12:53.240 --> 0:12:53.560 thirty eight. 0:12:53.600 --> 0:12:55.000 I don't know how much lawer he's got left, So 0:12:55.000 --> 0:12:56.800 I gotta I definitely have to tell him that. 0:12:56.960 --> 0:13:01.000 Yeah, And also you alluded to before that you know, 0:13:01.000 --> 0:13:02.880 it's a dream come true being on the Pro Tour 0:13:03.000 --> 0:13:05.400 and this is an amazing opportunity for you. But I 0:13:05.400 --> 0:13:08.520 guess when new players come onto the tour it's an adjustment, 0:13:08.640 --> 0:13:10.600 Like it's it's a grind and it's a long season 0:13:10.600 --> 0:13:11.760 and all of that. So how have you kind of 0:13:11.840 --> 0:13:13.800 juggled that? What do you love about it? What have 0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:16.080 you found challenging or has it mostly been great? 0:13:17.760 --> 0:13:18.600 It's been pretty good. 0:13:18.640 --> 0:13:21.640 I'd say the most challenging part was the clay season 0:13:21.679 --> 0:13:24.360 in Europe, just because I'm from the US and we 0:13:24.400 --> 0:13:27.360 don't really have any clay, and especially in southern California, 0:13:27.440 --> 0:13:28.600 we got no clay out here. 0:13:28.600 --> 0:13:29.680 It's too dry to have clay. 0:13:29.800 --> 0:13:32.560 So I never, you know, played on a growing up, 0:13:32.600 --> 0:13:34.120 and then I went to Europe and I won like 0:13:34.160 --> 0:13:36.080 three match, three or four matches in the span of 0:13:36.120 --> 0:13:37.360 like two and a half months. 0:13:37.440 --> 0:13:41.000 So that was mentally tough. But I like traveling, I 0:13:41.080 --> 0:13:41.400 like I. 0:13:41.400 --> 0:13:43.559 Like, I like putting into hard work when I'm when 0:13:43.559 --> 0:13:45.200 I'm out events, even with like I would lose early 0:13:45.280 --> 0:13:47.079 and I'd be with my finished train the next couple 0:13:47.080 --> 0:13:49.439 of days, just absolutely grinding, and I enjoyed that. I 0:13:49.480 --> 0:13:51.960 think that was a great growth period for me, both 0:13:51.960 --> 0:13:56.199 physically and mentally. But yeah, I love the I love 0:13:56.280 --> 0:13:58.080 the tour. It's it's it's a lot of fun. I 0:13:58.160 --> 0:14:00.320 like traveling and seeing the world and something I thought 0:14:00.320 --> 0:14:02.280 I would do, so yeah, I love it. 0:14:02.960 --> 0:14:08.200 Cool. You've already made three ATP finals and in such 0:14:08.200 --> 0:14:11.559 a young career. You must be incredibly proud of that achievement. 0:14:12.559 --> 0:14:14.480 Yeah, I got three before I turned folio. I was 0:14:14.880 --> 0:14:16.040 that was that was pretty sick. 0:14:16.080 --> 0:14:16.439 I didn't. 0:14:16.880 --> 0:14:18.640 I never in a million years did I think that 0:14:18.640 --> 0:14:22.560 would happen. But yeah, I'm very proud of myself. I've 0:14:22.560 --> 0:14:24.200 put in a lot of hard work in a lot, 0:14:24.280 --> 0:14:26.440 especially the last like four years. I didn't take tennis 0:14:26.480 --> 0:14:28.680 like I mean, it's like a seriously, but I never, 0:14:28.760 --> 0:14:31.440 you know, like considered this route until like, you know, 0:14:31.440 --> 0:14:33.640 probably three years ago when I when I figured that 0:14:33.680 --> 0:14:34.640 maybe I could do this, and. 0:14:34.600 --> 0:14:36.560 I started working really hard about four years ago. 0:14:37.080 --> 0:14:39.280 So just to just knowing all the work I put in, 0:14:39.320 --> 0:14:41.480 you know, behind the scenes, like when no one's really 0:14:41.520 --> 0:14:43.760 seeing and knowing that and making a couple. 0:14:43.560 --> 0:14:46.120 Of finals is just yeah, it feels. It feels great. 0:14:46.760 --> 0:14:50.480 Two of those three finals have come on grass at Newport, 0:14:50.640 --> 0:14:53.920 and you also had success in the Wimbledon Boys doubles 0:14:53.960 --> 0:14:56.720 event a couple of years ago. What is it about 0:14:56.760 --> 0:14:58.440 grass that brings out your best game? 0:15:00.080 --> 0:15:02.280 Well, I think it helps my serve out a little more, 0:15:02.320 --> 0:15:04.960 because my serve, especially end of years, was not good. 0:15:04.960 --> 0:15:07.240 But the grass definitely make it, you know, shoot through 0:15:07.280 --> 0:15:08.840 the core a little more and that helps you out. 0:15:09.000 --> 0:15:10.920 And I feel like I returned pretty well. So I 0:15:10.960 --> 0:15:13.640 feel like I can get looks on return. And then 0:15:13.760 --> 0:15:16.920 also my serve is not coming back as much because 0:15:17.000 --> 0:15:20.440 it's on grass, so that's great. And also I feel like, 0:15:20.560 --> 0:15:23.400 especially in Newport, like my backhand just would like doesn't 0:15:23.400 --> 0:15:25.280 come off the ground, and I feel like it's it's 0:15:25.320 --> 0:15:27.200