1 00:00:02,330 --> 00:00:04,809 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to The Sit Down. I'm Viv Christie, 2 00:00:04,890 --> 00:00:06,830 Speaker 1: Managing Editor of Australian Tennis Magazine. 3 00:00:07,070 --> 00:00:10,110 Speaker 2: And I'm Matt Trollope, a writer for ozopen.com. And Viv, 4 00:00:10,190 --> 00:00:13,730 Speaker 2: this week we're going back into the archives. Almost exactly 5 00:00:13,850 --> 00:00:17,610 Speaker 2: on this day, 36 years ago, Australia's Nicole Bradkey, then 6 00:00:17,650 --> 00:00:20,890 Speaker 2: known as Nicole Probus, made the semi-finals at Roland Garros 7 00:00:20,970 --> 00:00:22,070 Speaker 2: in 1988. 8 00:00:22,070 --> 00:00:24,390 Speaker 1: It was an amazing time in Australian tennis. Nicole was 9 00:00:24,430 --> 00:00:26,890 Speaker 1: just 18 years old at the time and really announced 10 00:00:26,910 --> 00:00:29,390 Speaker 1: herself on the world stage with a series of three 11 00:00:29,430 --> 00:00:33,519 Speaker 1: set wins, including over the fast rising Arantxa Sanchez-Vecario and 12 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: even held a match point in the semi-final. Nicole talked 13 00:00:36,940 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 1: to our colleague Luke Dennehy on a life-changing campaign in Paris. 14 00:00:43,500 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 3: Well, thank you for coming in today, Nicole. It was 15 00:00:45,500 --> 00:00:48,610 Speaker 3: an exciting time in 1988 for you. At only 18, 16 00:00:48,590 --> 00:00:52,670 Speaker 3: you made the French Open semi-final. And I think for Australia, 17 00:00:52,690 --> 00:00:55,340 Speaker 3: it was really groundbreaking. My research tells me that I 18 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:58,100 Speaker 3: think the last time an Australian, Diane Fromolts, made the 19 00:00:58,120 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 3: French Open was 1979. 20 00:00:59,440 --> 00:00:59,660 Speaker 4: Right. 21 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:00,100 Speaker 5: Okay. 22 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,980 Speaker 3: Yeah. So I just want to start off. Where did 23 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:04,820 Speaker 3: the love of play come? Because... you know, Australians, especially 24 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 3: in that era, were known for grass or maybe hard court, 25 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:09,180 Speaker 3: but not really clay. So where did it come for you? 26 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,700 Speaker 4: Well, as a proud Victorian, I grew up on what 27 00:01:13,740 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 4: we call anti-car courts, which are very similar to clay, 28 00:01:16,940 --> 00:01:21,870 Speaker 4: but anti-car courts are probably the grain is a bit bigger, 29 00:01:22,270 --> 00:01:25,630 Speaker 4: whereas the clay is more a powder. And so I 30 00:01:25,870 --> 00:01:29,810 Speaker 4: grew up playing all my junior matches from very young, 31 00:01:30,030 --> 00:01:34,429 Speaker 4: like 11 all the way through on, on Anticar Court. 32 00:01:34,530 --> 00:01:37,400 Speaker 4: Every tournament, I very rarely, I never played on a 33 00:01:37,470 --> 00:01:41,500 Speaker 4: hard court growing up. It was mainly, well, a little 34 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:43,580 Speaker 4: bit of synthetic grass, but not many. And that was 35 00:01:44,060 --> 00:01:50,180 Speaker 4: when I went interstate. Um, But 99% of my tournament 36 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,910 Speaker 4: play was on clay. So therefore I knew how to slide. 37 00:01:55,030 --> 00:01:59,090 Speaker 4: And more importantly, knew with my coach, Ken Richardson, how 38 00:01:59,110 --> 00:02:01,490 Speaker 4: to construct a point. That's what you find on clay. 39 00:02:01,510 --> 00:02:04,940 Speaker 4: You have to be a little bit more patient. and 40 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:06,360 Speaker 4: then you have to pick your moments when you want 41 00:02:06,380 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 4: to be aggressive. 42 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:07,980 Speaker 5: And so I. 43 00:02:09,490 --> 00:02:12,109 Speaker 4: Had a great coach and he taught me a lot of, 44 00:02:12,220 --> 00:02:16,810 Speaker 4: ingrained a lot of those messages in me and I 45 00:02:16,830 --> 00:02:18,770 Speaker 4: guess that's why I had a bit of success on 46 00:02:18,790 --> 00:02:19,410 Speaker 4: the clay courts. 47 00:02:19,610 --> 00:02:21,470 Speaker 3: You did because the year before you were 17 and 48 00:02:21,510 --> 00:02:23,870 Speaker 3: you made the second round of the French Open. 49 00:02:23,930 --> 00:02:24,190 Speaker 2: Yeah. 50 00:02:24,550 --> 00:02:26,870 Speaker 3: What was that experience like and did that help you 51 00:02:26,889 --> 00:02:27,150 Speaker 3: for 1988? Yeah. 52 00:02:29,139 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 4: I was fortunate to have direct entries into most of 53 00:02:33,100 --> 00:02:35,060 Speaker 4: the Grand Slams when I was very, very young. And 54 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 4: so I really didn't have to go through, you know, 55 00:02:38,470 --> 00:02:42,810 Speaker 4: the hard slog of qualifying. So yeah, playing your first, 56 00:02:42,910 --> 00:02:46,169 Speaker 4: I mean, my first foray into Grand Slam was obviously 57 00:02:46,190 --> 00:02:48,770 Speaker 4: when I got a wild card here at the Australian 58 00:02:48,830 --> 00:02:50,190 Speaker 4: Open when it was played at Kewyong. 59 00:02:50,190 --> 00:02:51,350 Speaker 3: 87? 60 00:02:51,350 --> 00:02:53,889 Speaker 4: Yeah, that would have been 87. So, and that's what 61 00:02:53,950 --> 00:02:56,970 Speaker 4: kickstarted my ranking. I actually won my first round. So 62 00:02:57,460 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 4: When you win a first round of a Grand Slam, 63 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:01,780 Speaker 4: you generally get pretty good bonus points. 64 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:03,820 Speaker 5: And so then I had to play Martina Navarro over 65 00:03:04,340 --> 00:03:06,060 Speaker 5: second round on Centre Court. 66 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:06,620 Speaker 3: At the Australian Open. 67 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 4: Yeah, at the Australian Open. And then the following year, obviously, 68 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 4: it moved to Melbourne Park. So it's just a really 69 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,660 Speaker 4: good experience of feeling what it's like to play in 70 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 4: a Grand Slam. And obviously, you always want to do 71 00:03:17,780 --> 00:03:19,399 Speaker 4: well in a Grand Slam because, like I said, there's 72 00:03:19,980 --> 00:03:23,040 Speaker 4: bigger bonus points. There's obviously more money on offer and 73 00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:25,590 Speaker 4: all those sorts of things. So that's why the Grand 74 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:26,650 Speaker 4: Slams are pretty important. 75 00:03:26,820 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 3: They were. So what was that era like? And we'll 76 00:03:28,900 --> 00:03:32,330 Speaker 3: go into more detail later on because you had, especially 77 00:03:32,370 --> 00:03:34,290 Speaker 3: in 88, I think the third seed was Chris Evatt 78 00:03:34,389 --> 00:03:37,050 Speaker 3: and Matt Navratilova was the second seed. And then you had, 79 00:03:37,250 --> 00:03:39,030 Speaker 3: of course, Steffi Graf, who was, I think, your age. 80 00:03:39,050 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 2: Yes. 81 00:03:39,170 --> 00:03:41,690 Speaker 3: He was the number one seed. It was an incredible 82 00:03:41,710 --> 00:03:43,570 Speaker 3: era for tennis, wasn't it? Because you had those legends 83 00:03:43,590 --> 00:03:45,810 Speaker 3: and then you had the rising stars as well. What 84 00:03:45,850 --> 00:03:46,410 Speaker 3: was it like? 85 00:03:46,590 --> 00:03:49,530 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was just, I mean, earlier on you get 86 00:03:49,570 --> 00:03:54,740 Speaker 4: a little bit awestruck, but my coach, Ken Richardson, who... 87 00:03:55,410 --> 00:03:57,350 Speaker 4: was travelling with me at the time, like he would 88 00:03:57,390 --> 00:04:00,110 Speaker 4: get me to hit with all these different players, whether 89 00:04:00,150 --> 00:04:05,410 Speaker 4: they be similar age or older. So I would get acclimatised. 90 00:04:05,450 --> 00:04:07,970 Speaker 4: It wasn't sort of over-roaring for me to go out 91 00:04:07,990 --> 00:04:10,490 Speaker 4: and play these players. But yeah, I was sort of 92 00:04:10,510 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 4: the tail end of coming into play when Chris Everett 93 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:15,530 Speaker 4: was sort of retiring and things like that. But then, 94 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,669 Speaker 4: as you said, you know, you had Monica Sellis, you 95 00:04:17,690 --> 00:04:23,010 Speaker 4: had Chris Everett, you had Sabatini, Novotna. And also they 96 00:04:23,070 --> 00:04:28,469 Speaker 4: were players that played vastly different. Where today, other than 97 00:04:28,710 --> 00:04:31,890 Speaker 4: Ash Barty, a lot of the players play the same. 98 00:04:31,990 --> 00:04:35,410 Speaker 4: So there was a few more single-handed backhands. They sliced 99 00:04:35,470 --> 00:04:37,690 Speaker 4: a bit like Steffi Graf did, or you had Monica 100 00:04:37,710 --> 00:04:40,490 Speaker 4: that hit quite hard off both sides. 101 00:04:40,510 --> 00:04:40,730 Speaker 2: Yeah. 102 00:04:40,810 --> 00:04:41,030 Speaker 4: So. 103 00:04:42,089 --> 00:04:44,450 Speaker 5: There were really vast different players, which was terrific. 104 00:04:44,470 --> 00:04:47,789 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think we'll discuss this in your matches 105 00:04:47,830 --> 00:04:49,210 Speaker 3: at the French Open. There was a lot of different 106 00:04:49,230 --> 00:04:51,370 Speaker 3: styles there. What did you prefer to play against? Did 107 00:04:51,410 --> 00:04:54,430 Speaker 3: you like the slice backhand or, you know, as you said, 108 00:04:54,550 --> 00:04:57,089 Speaker 3: Rancho Sanchez-Vicaro, Sabatini, they had very different games. 109 00:04:57,190 --> 00:04:59,540 Speaker 4: Yeah, I didn't mind it. I mean, I played Steffi 110 00:04:59,690 --> 00:05:02,330 Speaker 4: numerous times. It was almost whenever my name was there, 111 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:03,620 Speaker 4: I was in her type of the draw. 112 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 5: Yeah. 113 00:05:04,500 --> 00:05:06,780 Speaker 4: You get quite used to playing players like that. But 114 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 4: I mean, Stephanie, Steffi was a phenomenal athlete. So she 115 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 4: was able to run around her backhand a lot of 116 00:05:14,020 --> 00:05:17,550 Speaker 4: the time and obviously hit her forehand. So I think 117 00:05:17,690 --> 00:05:19,650 Speaker 4: a lot of players got spooked by it and then 118 00:05:19,770 --> 00:05:22,190 Speaker 4: it becomes a mental thing where it didn't sort of 119 00:05:22,950 --> 00:05:26,010 Speaker 4: really bother me. And I learned how to slice as 120 00:05:26,050 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 4: well and counterpart that and things like that. So that's 121 00:05:30,130 --> 00:05:31,900 Speaker 4: where the mental side of the game comes into it, 122 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,529 Speaker 4: where a lot of people, a lot of the, The 123 00:05:34,570 --> 00:05:38,330 Speaker 4: girls until recently, when Ash was playing, you could just 124 00:05:38,910 --> 00:05:41,510 Speaker 4: see them thinking, what am I going to do with 125 00:05:41,550 --> 00:05:42,510 Speaker 4: this sliced backhand? 126 00:05:42,630 --> 00:05:43,430 Speaker 5: How am I going to play? 127 00:05:43,450 --> 00:05:46,570 Speaker 4: Because a lot of them had such extreme grips that 128 00:05:46,610 --> 00:05:49,630 Speaker 4: find it very difficult to counterpart the sliced backhand. So 129 00:05:49,650 --> 00:05:51,370 Speaker 4: it didn't particularly worry me at all. 130 00:05:51,529 --> 00:05:53,990 Speaker 3: Yeah, very interesting. Now, going to the French Open, you'd 131 00:05:54,010 --> 00:05:57,330 Speaker 3: won the one round the year before. You're still only 18. 132 00:05:57,330 --> 00:05:59,650 Speaker 3: Can you remember back what hopes you had for the tournament? 133 00:06:00,670 --> 00:06:01,750 Speaker 5: You just hope for a good draw. 134 00:06:01,770 --> 00:06:02,729 Speaker 3: Yeah. 135 00:06:03,440 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 5: That's what you hope. You hope not to get a seed. 136 00:06:06,700 --> 00:06:09,600 Speaker 5: That's what you hope for. And I was blessed. 137 00:06:09,620 --> 00:06:11,039 Speaker 3: But did you have expectations on yourself? 138 00:06:12,140 --> 00:06:16,040 Speaker 4: You know, you always– once you see the drawer and 139 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:19,430 Speaker 4: I guess you're not playing a top seed as the 140 00:06:19,490 --> 00:06:22,930 Speaker 4: number one seed or number two seed or three, four 141 00:06:22,990 --> 00:06:28,030 Speaker 4: first round. And it was a decent draw for me. 142 00:06:28,810 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 4: And I– you know, the first two rounds were okay. 143 00:06:32,420 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 3: Take us through if you can remember those first three rounds. 144 00:06:35,250 --> 00:06:40,169 Speaker 4: So the first round, I don't remember much, but obviously 145 00:06:40,190 --> 00:06:43,950 Speaker 4: you're quite comfortable playing, um, you know, a wild card. 146 00:06:43,990 --> 00:06:47,229 Speaker 4: You think, okay, um, I should be okay here, which 147 00:06:47,810 --> 00:06:50,450 Speaker 4: I was, I wasn't quite convincingly. And then I remember, 148 00:06:51,029 --> 00:06:54,010 Speaker 4: you know, the second round match, another French girl, um, 149 00:06:55,350 --> 00:06:58,550 Speaker 4: which obviously the crowd's barracking for the French. And that 150 00:06:58,570 --> 00:07:02,229 Speaker 4: was a lot tougher, you know, losing the first set 151 00:07:02,330 --> 00:07:05,340 Speaker 4: and then having to win the second. But, you know, 152 00:07:05,740 --> 00:07:08,219 Speaker 4: they were tough matches. And you've often, for you to 153 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,900 Speaker 4: succeed in a, to go further into a Grand Slam, 154 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:16,140 Speaker 4: you've almost got to have these tough matches to begin with. 155 00:07:16,780 --> 00:07:20,270 Speaker 4: And I felt like that second round match almost put 156 00:07:20,290 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 4: me in good stead for, the matches that were to follow. 157 00:07:23,620 --> 00:07:23,700 Speaker 2: Yeah. 158 00:07:24,020 --> 00:07:26,550 Speaker 3: Do you think at age 18 as well, like nothing 159 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,950 Speaker 3: to lose? Is it different playing that to when you were, say, 25? Yeah, yeah. 160 00:07:30,210 --> 00:07:31,710 Speaker 5: I think the older that you get, you do. 161 00:07:31,930 --> 00:07:34,050 Speaker 4: I mean, you get nervous, but if you're not playing 162 00:07:34,090 --> 00:07:36,690 Speaker 4: that well, a little doubt creeps in. And like, that's 163 00:07:36,710 --> 00:07:38,450 Speaker 4: what I kept saying, the mental side of things. But 164 00:07:39,170 --> 00:07:41,610 Speaker 4: I always felt comfortable playing on grass. So if I 165 00:07:41,630 --> 00:07:45,180 Speaker 4: knew that, I always kind of backed myself and knew 166 00:07:45,220 --> 00:07:47,030 Speaker 4: that I could do pretty well on it. 167 00:07:47,220 --> 00:07:50,540 Speaker 3: On clay, yeah. So Claudia Kodakil, she's a different player again. 168 00:07:50,580 --> 00:07:54,050 Speaker 3: And I think from She had a slice backhand and 169 00:07:54,090 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 3: top 10 in the world and seven, six and the third. 170 00:07:56,860 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 5: That's pretty amazing. 171 00:07:58,200 --> 00:07:58,920 Speaker 3: Can you remember that? 172 00:07:59,200 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 2: I do. 173 00:07:59,460 --> 00:08:01,140 Speaker 5: I remember the court that I was playing. It was 174 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:01,980 Speaker 5: a beautiful court. 175 00:08:02,230 --> 00:08:03,989 Speaker 4: I think it was show court two at the time. 176 00:08:04,050 --> 00:08:08,600 Speaker 4: It's this beautiful circular court that is just, really nice 177 00:08:08,620 --> 00:08:11,140 Speaker 4: to play in because the crowd feels really encrunched on you. 178 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,850 Speaker 4: And sometimes when you play on the bigger courts, you 179 00:08:13,870 --> 00:08:16,610 Speaker 4: can get caught so far back because there's so much 180 00:08:17,030 --> 00:08:19,450 Speaker 4: room from the baseline to the back of the court. 181 00:08:19,930 --> 00:08:21,750 Speaker 4: And so you really have to be aware of where 182 00:08:21,810 --> 00:08:24,790 Speaker 4: you are on the court. And Claudia was a really 183 00:08:24,830 --> 00:08:27,470 Speaker 4: great doubles player as well. She played with Helena Sokova. 184 00:08:27,550 --> 00:08:30,710 Speaker 4: So a lot of success there. Hit the ball really flat. 185 00:08:31,450 --> 00:08:34,050 Speaker 4: And once again, you know, I'd played a tough Three 186 00:08:34,090 --> 00:08:37,290 Speaker 4: set match the day before. And generally you play one 187 00:08:37,330 --> 00:08:39,589 Speaker 4: match and then you have the day off. But I 188 00:08:39,630 --> 00:08:41,430 Speaker 4: was saying to you earlier on, I was still playing 189 00:08:41,450 --> 00:08:43,500 Speaker 4: doubles and mixed as well. 190 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:47,429 Speaker 3: Can you remember who you're playing with? That's a trivia question. 191 00:08:47,710 --> 00:08:47,830 Speaker 2: No. 192 00:08:47,910 --> 00:08:50,050 Speaker 3: Not Todd? No. No, no, no, no. 193 00:08:50,050 --> 00:08:51,890 Speaker 5: That was a bit hard playing with Todd. 194 00:08:53,290 --> 00:08:55,030 Speaker 4: No, no, no. We only did that, I think, a 195 00:08:55,050 --> 00:08:57,310 Speaker 4: few times at Wimbledon. And he just said, I can't 196 00:08:57,350 --> 00:08:57,790 Speaker 4: play with you. 197 00:08:57,850 --> 00:09:01,949 Speaker 5: It's just too hard. You married to your sister. Yeah, exactly. 198 00:09:02,070 --> 00:09:03,670 Speaker 5: It was just too traumatic for him. 199 00:09:04,870 --> 00:09:07,170 Speaker 3: But you had a big schedule. Yeah, I did. 200 00:09:07,290 --> 00:09:09,050 Speaker 5: But, you know, that's what you're there for. You're young. 201 00:09:09,070 --> 00:09:09,990 Speaker 5: You should be able to do that. 202 00:09:10,190 --> 00:09:13,850 Speaker 4: And so I managed to sneak through and win that 203 00:09:13,910 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 4: match against– You did, 7-6. Seven, six in the third set. 204 00:09:18,100 --> 00:09:20,300 Speaker 4: So yeah, I was hitting the ball pretty well. And 205 00:09:20,340 --> 00:09:23,420 Speaker 4: like I said, she hits the ball flat. So I felt, 206 00:09:23,780 --> 00:09:26,900 Speaker 4: I didn't mind that her type of game was nice 207 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:27,540 Speaker 4: to play against. 208 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:30,080 Speaker 3: And so you make it to the fourth round and 209 00:09:30,460 --> 00:09:32,540 Speaker 3: that's incredible, you know, 18 years old. 210 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:32,900 Speaker 2: Yes. 211 00:09:33,220 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 3: And I guess back home, I got a lot of 212 00:09:35,210 --> 00:09:38,280 Speaker 3: press and stuff because you were only 18 and Did 213 00:09:38,300 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 3: you feel any pressure or anything or was it just like, 214 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:41,660 Speaker 3: I'm just doing my thing? 215 00:09:41,820 --> 00:09:44,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, no, I didn't feel any pressure. And I was 216 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:46,980 Speaker 4: saying to you earlier, I was just fortunate enough that 217 00:09:47,620 --> 00:09:50,890 Speaker 4: my dad had come over and had been, I was 218 00:09:50,950 --> 00:09:53,930 Speaker 4: in Strasbourg the week before playing in the singles and 219 00:09:53,950 --> 00:09:57,250 Speaker 4: doubles there. And dad came there and then obviously came 220 00:09:57,470 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 4: and it was nice to have obviously a family member 221 00:10:00,420 --> 00:10:03,990 Speaker 4: there to enjoy the success that I was having. 222 00:10:04,020 --> 00:10:08,170 Speaker 5: So that was really great. So yeah, it was... I 223 00:10:08,210 --> 00:10:10,490 Speaker 5: was uptight at times when I was playing. 224 00:10:10,510 --> 00:10:10,910 Speaker 1: I mean. 225 00:10:12,630 --> 00:10:14,819 Speaker 5: You know, obviously against Sylvia and it was another 7-6, 7-6. 226 00:10:14,870 --> 00:10:19,370 Speaker 3: So that's a fourth round, Sylvia Gahanika, 15th seed, another German. 227 00:10:19,850 --> 00:10:21,609 Speaker 3: That's another close one. So you've had a lot of, 228 00:10:21,650 --> 00:10:25,300 Speaker 3: you know, it's not an easy ride. No one's pulled 229 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 3: out or anything. It's a tough one. 230 00:10:27,380 --> 00:10:31,060 Speaker 4: And, you know, the more like tough matches and these 231 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 4: tiebreakers that I played, you almost get match condition to playing. 232 00:10:35,120 --> 00:10:37,900 Speaker 4: So you it just comes sort of naturally. You don't 233 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 4: sort of think about it too much. You know, you've 234 00:10:39,820 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 4: got to play the percentages and things like that. So 235 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 4: it was a good one to get over the line nevertheless. 236 00:10:45,179 --> 00:10:47,990 Speaker 3: Of course. So you're in the quarters now. Yeah. And 237 00:10:48,030 --> 00:10:50,689 Speaker 3: we'll talk about who you play in a minute. What 238 00:10:50,710 --> 00:10:52,239 Speaker 3: was that feeling like as an 18-year-old? 239 00:10:52,270 --> 00:10:53,199 Speaker 5: Pretty exciting. 240 00:10:53,500 --> 00:10:54,020 Speaker 3: Yeah. 241 00:10:54,220 --> 00:10:56,939 Speaker 5: I can't lie. I was looking at the money. Absolutely. 242 00:10:57,420 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 5: I was thinking, well, this is a nice little pay 243 00:10:59,700 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 5: packet for the day. 244 00:11:00,500 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 3: Imagine now, though. Oh, my gosh. 245 00:11:02,540 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 5: Oh, I know. 246 00:11:03,220 --> 00:11:07,330 Speaker 4: I can't even better even think about it. But, yeah, 247 00:11:07,910 --> 00:11:12,850 Speaker 4: it was exciting. And I even remember getting a telegram 248 00:11:12,870 --> 00:11:14,130 Speaker 4: from the Prime Minister. 249 00:11:14,150 --> 00:11:18,740 Speaker 5: So we didn't have– obviously the internet in those days. 250 00:11:19,059 --> 00:11:21,200 Speaker 3: What was that like? I mean, I guess, how could 251 00:11:21,220 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 3: your parents and your friends at home keep up to date? 252 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:24,059 Speaker 2: Yeah. 253 00:11:24,100 --> 00:11:27,700 Speaker 4: Well, I mean, you know, I'd reverse charges back home 254 00:11:27,980 --> 00:11:30,819 Speaker 4: to mum and dad. And I remember, I mean, dad 255 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 4: was with me at that time, but obviously when I 256 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:34,140 Speaker 4: was playing a lot of matches, dad would have the 257 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,880 Speaker 4: radio on at night to listen to hear the update 258 00:11:36,900 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 4: of results overnight and things like that. So in some 259 00:11:40,340 --> 00:11:44,380 Speaker 4: ways it's, it was a nice way to grow up and, 260 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 4: you know, you didn't have, the scrutiny so much. 261 00:11:48,920 --> 00:11:52,300 Speaker 5: So you, yeah, it was just very, very different. 262 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:55,319 Speaker 4: And I was kind of glad that I actually grew 263 00:11:55,380 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 4: up in that era where obviously it's very different now. 264 00:11:58,780 --> 00:12:01,980 Speaker 3: So in the quarterfinals, you're playing Arantxa Sanchez-Ricario, who I 265 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,300 Speaker 3: think was 16 at the time. So really two very 266 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:10,630 Speaker 3: young players just starting their career. And you won that 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 267 00:12:10,710 --> 00:12:13,010 Speaker 3: another huge long match. I can imagine it'd be over 268 00:12:13,030 --> 00:12:15,550 Speaker 3: two hours or something. So what can you remember of 269 00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:15,870 Speaker 3: that match? 270 00:12:15,890 --> 00:12:18,089 Speaker 4: Well, I remember more beforehand. 271 00:12:18,210 --> 00:12:19,210 Speaker 3: Right. 272 00:12:19,230 --> 00:12:23,150 Speaker 4: So you get to the courts and you normally have 273 00:12:23,190 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 4: about a half-hour warm-up. For this reason, I do not 274 00:12:27,100 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 4: know why, but I was so uptight, so uptight, and 275 00:12:30,700 --> 00:12:33,100 Speaker 4: I was practising and Richo was with me, my coach, 276 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,160 Speaker 4: and I just had a complete meltdown, hissy fit on 277 00:12:36,190 --> 00:12:39,890 Speaker 4: the court meltdown and just walked off and said– I 278 00:12:39,990 --> 00:12:44,090 Speaker 4: don't know, I've hit enough, I'm out of here, I've gone. 279 00:12:44,970 --> 00:12:47,760 Speaker 4: And so I walked off, went into the change rooms, 280 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:51,060 Speaker 4: had my moment, came back out and Richo just sat 281 00:12:51,100 --> 00:12:54,030 Speaker 4: me down and just said, look, You've just got to 282 00:12:54,050 --> 00:12:54,890 Speaker 4: enjoy yourself. 283 00:12:54,929 --> 00:12:58,079 Speaker 5: You've got nothing to lose. Obviously, she was younger than me. 284 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,220 Speaker 3: Did you know much about her? 285 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:02,579 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, like we were growing up and we were 286 00:13:02,620 --> 00:13:05,820 Speaker 4: sort of, our journeys were happening at the same time. 287 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:08,560 Speaker 5: But obviously, she went on and had a very successful career. 288 00:13:08,580 --> 00:13:09,290 Speaker 3: And so did you. 289 00:13:09,300 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 5: Yeah, and then I calmed down and I think it 290 00:13:12,420 --> 00:13:13,340 Speaker 5: might have been on Centre Court. 291 00:13:13,660 --> 00:13:13,730 Speaker 3: Wow. 292 00:13:14,630 --> 00:13:15,550 Speaker 5: Yeah, centre court. 293 00:13:15,610 --> 00:13:16,770 Speaker 3: You calmed down and. 294 00:13:16,830 --> 00:13:20,070 Speaker 4: Calmed down, went out there and then ended up winning 295 00:13:20,130 --> 00:13:20,950 Speaker 4: in three sets again. 296 00:13:20,970 --> 00:13:24,410 Speaker 3: Another long match. And you're talking about the different styles. 297 00:13:24,470 --> 00:13:27,750 Speaker 3: I mean, going from someone like Claudia to Rancho, he's 298 00:13:27,770 --> 00:13:30,050 Speaker 3: like a brick wall. Yes. How did you find that 299 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 3: and how did you find playing her? 300 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 4: Well, she wasn't the sort of player that would hit 301 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 4: you off the court. So you always felt like you 302 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:36,460 Speaker 4: had time. 303 00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:36,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 304 00:13:37,380 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 5: Her backhand was a lot better than her forehand. Yeah. 305 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:42,420 Speaker 4: And, I mean, she didn't have a huge serve, but 306 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:45,750 Speaker 4: she was quite a crafty player, drop shot a lot 307 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:49,950 Speaker 4: and things like that. So, yeah, I just had to 308 00:13:50,010 --> 00:13:53,630 Speaker 4: sort of navigate my way through the match. And once again, 309 00:13:53,650 --> 00:13:56,070 Speaker 4: you know, when it got tight, I just obviously played 310 00:13:56,090 --> 00:13:57,290 Speaker 4: the bigger points better. 311 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:58,380 Speaker 3: Yeah, and you got there. 312 00:13:58,440 --> 00:13:58,700 Speaker 2: Yeah. 313 00:13:59,020 --> 00:14:01,739 Speaker 3: So now you're in the semis. So you talked about 314 00:14:01,780 --> 00:14:03,380 Speaker 3: what it was like before the quarters. 315 00:14:03,580 --> 00:14:03,740 Speaker 2: Yeah. 316 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 3: What were those couple of days and, you know, the 317 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 3: morning of like? 318 00:14:06,309 --> 00:14:08,190 Speaker 5: It was just, you know, it was exciting, obviously. 319 00:14:08,230 --> 00:14:09,100 Speaker 3: No, no, no, no. 320 00:14:09,190 --> 00:14:10,990 Speaker 4: I was all good after that. I'd got over that 321 00:14:11,010 --> 00:14:13,580 Speaker 4: little hump. And, you know, you stick to a bit 322 00:14:13,620 --> 00:14:15,660 Speaker 4: of a routine and things like that that you do. 323 00:14:15,820 --> 00:14:17,980 Speaker 4: And obviously playing Steffi. 324 00:14:18,340 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 5: Oh. 325 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:19,220 Speaker 3: Natasha Zareva. 326 00:14:19,340 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 5: Oh, Zareva, sorry. So, yeah, so she's a similar age 327 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:22,780 Speaker 5: as me as well. 328 00:14:22,900 --> 00:14:24,860 Speaker 3: One year younger, I think. She was a 13th seed. 329 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:25,760 Speaker 3: But a different game again. 330 00:14:25,860 --> 00:14:30,980 Speaker 4: Yeah, very crafty. Lots of drop shots. And I had 331 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:31,540 Speaker 4: a match point. 332 00:14:31,740 --> 00:14:33,740 Speaker 3: You did. So I wanted to see if it's okay 333 00:14:33,760 --> 00:14:34,500 Speaker 3: to ask you about that. 334 00:14:34,660 --> 00:14:35,780 Speaker 5: No, yeah, yeah, yeah. 335 00:14:35,820 --> 00:14:38,500 Speaker 3: So the result was 6-3, 6-7 in the tiebreak. 336 00:14:38,540 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 4: Yeah. 337 00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:42,570 Speaker 3: And 7-5. So, wow, amazingly close. After all the tennis 338 00:14:42,590 --> 00:14:44,370 Speaker 3: you've played. Yeah. So take us through that. 339 00:14:44,930 --> 00:14:46,930 Speaker 5: So, yeah, match point. Played it really well. 340 00:14:47,110 --> 00:14:47,290 Speaker 4: Yeah. 341 00:14:47,570 --> 00:14:50,050 Speaker 5: Played it great. But she hit a ball like within 342 00:14:50,110 --> 00:14:51,150 Speaker 5: a millimetre of the line. 343 00:14:51,370 --> 00:14:51,890 Speaker 3: Was it your 5-4 up? 344 00:14:51,910 --> 00:14:52,790 Speaker 5: And that was it. 345 00:14:52,790 --> 00:14:52,990 Speaker 3: 5-4. 346 00:14:53,130 --> 00:14:56,010 Speaker 5: It was 5-4. You know, I played the point well. 347 00:14:56,410 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 4: I mean, it just hit. a bit of the line 348 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,800 Speaker 4: and that was the luck of the draw, I guess. So– 349 00:15:03,350 --> 00:15:05,650 Speaker 4: and then, yeah, obviously she went on and won. But 350 00:15:05,670 --> 00:15:07,290 Speaker 4: it was a very good, great match. 351 00:15:08,130 --> 00:15:10,210 Speaker 3: Because, I mean, you won the second set. There would 352 00:15:10,230 --> 00:15:11,190 Speaker 3: have been a pressure there. 353 00:15:11,330 --> 00:15:11,690 Speaker 2: Yes. 354 00:15:11,730 --> 00:15:13,950 Speaker 3: Seven-six. So it was a real– It was. 355 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 4: A real tussle between– but once again, a player that 356 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:21,340 Speaker 4: was not going to hit me off the court. But 357 00:15:22,340 --> 00:15:25,890 Speaker 4: very crafty and obviously– at that stage in the early 358 00:15:26,330 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 4: have been a very successful doubles player as well. 359 00:15:28,560 --> 00:15:31,220 Speaker 5: So she was quite crafty with the way that she played. 360 00:15:31,340 --> 00:15:31,580 Speaker 4: So. 361 00:15:32,900 --> 00:15:34,980 Speaker 3: How did you feel? I wanted to ask, like you 362 00:15:35,020 --> 00:15:38,180 Speaker 3: had the match point now and looking back 35 years later, 363 00:15:38,200 --> 00:15:40,190 Speaker 3: whatever we are, is it different now or? 364 00:15:43,150 --> 00:15:46,810 Speaker 4: Okay. I, yeah, I mean, I could have hit, I hit, 365 00:15:46,910 --> 00:15:48,810 Speaker 4: I think it was a forehand return that I, she 366 00:15:48,830 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 4: was serving, I think. And I hit maybe an off 367 00:15:52,050 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 4: forehand and, And I was thinking, oh, well, maybe I 368 00:15:55,180 --> 00:15:56,540 Speaker 4: should have gone down to her forehand. 369 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:00,290 Speaker 5: Okay. Should have. But you know, that's, you can't change it. 370 00:16:00,400 --> 00:16:02,580 Speaker 4: So it's just those little things, but it wasn't like 371 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:05,600 Speaker 4: I missed the return or I missed an easy shot 372 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:07,780 Speaker 4: or she played a tough point. 373 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,300 Speaker 3: Yeah, she did. And, and incredible feeling though, it must 374 00:16:11,340 --> 00:16:14,150 Speaker 3: be to have made the semis and then I have 375 00:16:14,170 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 3: to ask, the next match she lost six loves, six 376 00:16:16,260 --> 00:16:18,020 Speaker 3: love in 32 minutes, which I think is a record 377 00:16:18,060 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 3: against Debbie. It's a bit of you like, I'm kind 378 00:16:20,780 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 3: of glad it wasn't me. Yeah. 379 00:16:23,100 --> 00:16:25,479 Speaker 5: I reckon I would have got a game. But, yeah. 380 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:30,390 Speaker 3: I mean, memorable tournament for a lot of ways, isn't it? 381 00:16:30,380 --> 00:16:31,630 Speaker 3: Like that, six love, six love. 382 00:16:31,650 --> 00:16:32,670 Speaker 5: Yeah, absolutely. 383 00:16:32,730 --> 00:16:36,030 Speaker 4: So, yeah, I mean, those sorts of matches you just 384 00:16:36,070 --> 00:16:39,890 Speaker 4: want to get off the court and just walk away. But, yeah, 385 00:16:40,030 --> 00:16:41,470 Speaker 4: I mean, you'd like to think that you could do 386 00:16:41,530 --> 00:16:42,310 Speaker 4: better than that, but. 387 00:16:42,820 --> 00:16:45,480 Speaker 5: Who knows? But I've never lost to her love and love. 388 00:16:45,920 --> 00:16:46,220 Speaker 3: Yeah. 389 00:16:46,300 --> 00:16:47,720 Speaker 5: And I played her numerous times. 390 00:16:47,900 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 3: You did, you did. And you actually had a win 391 00:16:49,660 --> 00:16:52,350 Speaker 3: against her in five years later, I think in the 392 00:16:52,390 --> 00:16:52,790 Speaker 3: Fed Cup. 393 00:16:52,810 --> 00:16:53,590 Speaker 5: Yeah, the Fed Cup. 394 00:16:53,610 --> 00:16:57,170 Speaker 3: 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. So it's very rare for anyone to 395 00:16:57,190 --> 00:16:57,990 Speaker 3: have a win. Yeah. 396 00:16:58,070 --> 00:16:59,170 Speaker 5: And it was in Germany too. 397 00:16:59,230 --> 00:16:59,610 Speaker 3: In Germany. 398 00:16:59,650 --> 00:17:00,350 Speaker 5: Yeah. 399 00:17:00,370 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 4: So yeah, it was a, and Wendy Turnbull was the 400 00:17:03,630 --> 00:17:05,820 Speaker 4: captain at the time. So yeah, I played a great 401 00:17:05,859 --> 00:17:06,520 Speaker 4: match that day. 402 00:17:06,580 --> 00:17:08,459 Speaker 3: So. Yeah. So you had a win against Stephanie. Not 403 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:11,859 Speaker 3: many people did. So that era of hers. And you've 404 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 3: done lots of tennis commentating and you've been around the game, 405 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:16,639 Speaker 3: coached a lot and fed cup and all that. I mean, 406 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,440 Speaker 3: she won the Golden Glam Slam that year, four slams. 407 00:17:19,619 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 5: Yeah. 408 00:17:19,820 --> 00:17:21,820 Speaker 3: And she only lost the French the next year to 409 00:17:21,859 --> 00:17:23,360 Speaker 3: Arantxa Sanchez Picario. 410 00:17:23,460 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 2: Yes. 411 00:17:23,900 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 3: So an incredible time. What was it like in the 412 00:17:26,580 --> 00:17:30,460 Speaker 3: aura of her? Like, did she speak much? No. 413 00:17:31,119 --> 00:17:34,950 Speaker 4: I wouldn't say recluse, but she was a very guarded player. 414 00:17:35,030 --> 00:17:35,470 Speaker 5: Not much. 415 00:17:35,570 --> 00:17:38,650 Speaker 4: She would just nod. She wouldn't really offer much praise. 416 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:44,420 Speaker 4: conversation or things like that. So, and Monica was quite similar. Yeah. 417 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:46,720 Speaker 4: A lot of the top, I mean, they were probably 418 00:17:46,740 --> 00:17:50,129 Speaker 4: the main two. Arantia was always bubbly and on for 419 00:17:50,150 --> 00:17:54,150 Speaker 4: a bit of a chat, but Steffi and Monica would 420 00:17:54,190 --> 00:17:57,970 Speaker 4: keep to themselves and yeah, not, you wouldn't know much 421 00:17:58,050 --> 00:17:59,770 Speaker 4: about either of them. 422 00:17:59,790 --> 00:18:00,109 Speaker 1: Yeah. 423 00:18:00,150 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 3: It's really interesting. They certainly did dominate, didn't they? And 424 00:18:03,020 --> 00:18:05,840 Speaker 3: it was a fascinating time. If you look at today's girls, 425 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,420 Speaker 3: how do you think like a Steffi would go against? 426 00:18:09,210 --> 00:18:10,930 Speaker 3: the top players now, I often think she could probably 427 00:18:10,950 --> 00:18:11,149 Speaker 3: beat them. 428 00:18:11,330 --> 00:18:12,369 Speaker 5: I think she would do okay. 429 00:18:12,410 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 4: Just because she's got that game that's very– and she 430 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 4: was super athletic. 431 00:18:17,340 --> 00:18:18,739 Speaker 5: She had a great forehand. 432 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:23,270 Speaker 4: And once again, she had that sliced backhand that would 433 00:18:23,310 --> 00:18:25,600 Speaker 4: give a lot of girls a lot of trouble on– 434 00:18:25,900 --> 00:18:29,620 Speaker 4: any surface. And I would say even, even Monica would 435 00:18:29,660 --> 00:18:32,240 Speaker 4: do pretty well as well because she was the first 436 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:36,220 Speaker 4: of the real big hitters of both sides. Steffi, okay, 437 00:18:36,619 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 4: great forehand, but you know, the slice backhand and things 438 00:18:40,180 --> 00:18:43,370 Speaker 4: like that. But so it wasn't until then probably Lindsay 439 00:18:43,430 --> 00:18:46,990 Speaker 4: came along, Davenport, that was a really big hitter of 440 00:18:47,070 --> 00:18:50,340 Speaker 4: both sides as well. So, but I definitely feel that 441 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:52,430 Speaker 4: Steffi could match it these days. 442 00:18:52,670 --> 00:18:54,169 Speaker 3: Did you see the game change a lot when you 443 00:18:54,210 --> 00:18:56,850 Speaker 3: were playing? Because as you said, you had Martina and 444 00:18:56,869 --> 00:18:59,370 Speaker 3: you had even Claudia Cota-Kilchian and a lot of very 445 00:18:59,410 --> 00:19:01,470 Speaker 3: different players until 10 years later. 446 00:19:01,550 --> 00:19:03,490 Speaker 5: Yeah, I think it's the coaches as well. 447 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 4: When I was playing, say, a lot of the coaches, 448 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,220 Speaker 4: they encouraged a lot of the players to play doubles 449 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:10,620 Speaker 4: as well. 450 00:19:10,980 --> 00:19:12,340 Speaker 5: You weren't just playing singles. 451 00:19:13,260 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 4: And so I think when you play doubles as well, 452 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,820 Speaker 4: you learn to volley well You learn to be– do 453 00:19:18,859 --> 00:19:21,540 Speaker 4: all those other aspects of being a tennis player. But 454 00:19:21,580 --> 00:19:25,760 Speaker 4: the coaches at the time obviously played like that as 455 00:19:25,800 --> 00:19:28,300 Speaker 4: well where I think a lot of the coaches these 456 00:19:28,380 --> 00:19:32,700 Speaker 4: days were just backcourt players, didn't really come to the 457 00:19:32,740 --> 00:19:33,379 Speaker 4: net and play. 458 00:19:33,420 --> 00:19:36,820 Speaker 5: So therefore, they don't teach it a lot. 459 00:19:36,980 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 4: Yeah. And for the life of me, I can't understand. 460 00:19:40,900 --> 00:19:42,580 Speaker 4: Like a lot of these girls have got these awesome 461 00:19:42,619 --> 00:19:46,740 Speaker 4: ground strokes and then– I mean, okay, they can hit 462 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:50,710 Speaker 4: a dry volley, but to come in and hit a... volley, it's, 463 00:19:51,220 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 4: they just don't do it. So they don't really capitalise 464 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 4: on these great groundstrokes that they have. 465 00:19:56,340 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 3: Was it a joy then to see, I mean, Ash 466 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:01,620 Speaker 3: Barty win the French Open? I think she's the only 467 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 3: one and Sam Stowe's going to run her up since 468 00:20:03,660 --> 00:20:07,359 Speaker 3: you're I think Sam made the semis as well. So 469 00:20:07,380 --> 00:20:10,210 Speaker 3: it was a long time after, wasn't it? Yeah. But 470 00:20:10,250 --> 00:20:12,750 Speaker 3: when you saw Ash win and you've been there. 471 00:20:12,590 --> 00:20:15,220 Speaker 5: On that centre court. I actually came in a lot, 472 00:20:15,300 --> 00:20:16,340 Speaker 5: even though it was on clay. 473 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:16,439 Speaker 1: Yeah. 474 00:20:16,980 --> 00:20:19,359 Speaker 4: Because if I did get a player out of position, 475 00:20:19,380 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 4: I did work on my drive volleys a lot. And 476 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 4: like I did say, I was playing doubles as well. 477 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,590 Speaker 4: So I kind of knew where to go on the court. 478 00:20:28,890 --> 00:20:30,889 Speaker 4: If I came in behind a ground stroke, I just 479 00:20:30,930 --> 00:20:32,330 Speaker 4: didn't run to the middle of the court. You kind 480 00:20:32,369 --> 00:20:34,050 Speaker 4: of follow the flight of the ball and all those 481 00:20:34,090 --> 00:20:37,770 Speaker 4: sorts of things. So yeah, I just really encourage, I'd 482 00:20:37,810 --> 00:20:40,820 Speaker 4: like to see the the top crop of players just, 483 00:20:41,220 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 4: you know, playing a bit more doubles because I definitely 484 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 4: believe that it does help their singles. 485 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:46,719 Speaker 3: So looking at and talking about Ash as well, I mean, 486 00:20:46,740 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 3: you all run incredible three sets. You know how tough 487 00:20:49,700 --> 00:20:53,330 Speaker 3: it is on the clay to win. So does that 488 00:20:53,550 --> 00:20:56,910 Speaker 3: make you think her achievement's remarkable? You've been there. Yeah. 489 00:20:57,030 --> 00:20:58,929 Speaker 4: I mean, clay's hard to win just because you're out 490 00:20:58,950 --> 00:21:01,609 Speaker 4: there spending a lot more time out on court. And 491 00:21:01,650 --> 00:21:05,010 Speaker 4: then the other, you know, it's, the grass is a 492 00:21:05,030 --> 00:21:07,170 Speaker 4: little bit different. It's a little bit more forgiving. It's 493 00:21:07,330 --> 00:21:10,370 Speaker 4: a bit more softer. You can The points are probably 494 00:21:10,390 --> 00:21:12,430 Speaker 4: a bit shorter. And then you go to the US 495 00:21:12,510 --> 00:21:15,669 Speaker 4: Open where it's really hot and you're playing on the 496 00:21:15,710 --> 00:21:19,590 Speaker 4: hard courts and very similar to here at Melbourne Park now. 497 00:21:19,670 --> 00:21:22,300 Speaker 4: It's really hot. So it's the– whilst you've got to 498 00:21:22,670 --> 00:21:24,780 Speaker 4: be a great player, it's almost the survival of the 499 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:25,580 Speaker 4: fittest as well. 500 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:28,340 Speaker 3: Yeah, for sure. So just in summary, like what are 501 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:30,980 Speaker 3: your real main memories of that time? Pretty magical? 502 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was just– I mean, it's your first real 503 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:40,280 Speaker 4: foray into– I guess, getting deals as well, like clothing 504 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:45,790 Speaker 4: and shoe deals and racket deals and endorsements sort of 505 00:21:45,990 --> 00:21:48,129 Speaker 4: put me on the map, which I was very fortunate 506 00:21:48,290 --> 00:21:50,550 Speaker 4: to be able to do. And then having dad with 507 00:21:50,609 --> 00:21:53,910 Speaker 4: me and then also with Ken, my coach, Ken Richardson, 508 00:21:53,990 --> 00:21:55,570 Speaker 4: to have, you know, all the hard work that he 509 00:21:55,630 --> 00:21:58,650 Speaker 4: puts in to enjoy the success as well. I think 510 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 4: it's just not about yourself. You often talk about players 511 00:22:02,100 --> 00:22:04,840 Speaker 4: and their team. Well, obviously, when I was playing, you 512 00:22:04,859 --> 00:22:09,020 Speaker 4: didn't have physios and all those sorts of things with you. 513 00:22:09,140 --> 00:22:13,240 Speaker 4: But it's lovely to share in the excitement and the 514 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:15,660 Speaker 4: thrill of doing really well for others as well. 515 00:22:16,180 --> 00:22:17,679 Speaker 3: And just one last question. You did get that win 516 00:22:17,720 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 3: of Steffi as we discussed. 517 00:22:18,660 --> 00:22:18,940 Speaker 5: Yes. 518 00:22:19,190 --> 00:22:20,150 Speaker 3: Does that feel good? 519 00:22:20,170 --> 00:22:21,330 Speaker 5: That feels really great. 520 00:22:22,670 --> 00:22:25,490 Speaker 4: And it was at a time where my parents, both 521 00:22:25,550 --> 00:22:28,450 Speaker 4: mum and dad were travelling and we were actually at 522 00:22:28,730 --> 00:22:32,220 Speaker 4: the golf in Sandwich watching the British Open. And I 523 00:22:32,220 --> 00:22:34,199 Speaker 4: was with Liz Smiley because she was coming across with 524 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,010 Speaker 4: me as well. And when the draw came out, I 525 00:22:37,090 --> 00:22:39,129 Speaker 4: said to mum, oh, we're playing Germany. You might as 526 00:22:39,150 --> 00:22:41,450 Speaker 4: well just go home. You might as well just go home. 527 00:22:41,609 --> 00:22:44,610 Speaker 4: And so they were at the airport and then they 528 00:22:44,690 --> 00:22:48,220 Speaker 4: called me because we'd played that day and I'd won. 529 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:52,419 Speaker 4: So mum and dad were sort of very disappointed that 530 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:55,560 Speaker 4: they weren't there to see it. But, yeah, it was 531 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:57,920 Speaker 4: a nice one to win. And win in a team 532 00:22:58,380 --> 00:23:00,389 Speaker 4: environment as well for Fed Cup was great. And we 533 00:23:00,410 --> 00:23:02,490 Speaker 4: got to the final that year and we lost to Spain. 534 00:23:02,570 --> 00:23:02,750 Speaker 2: So. 535 00:23:04,650 --> 00:23:07,690 Speaker 4: Once again, it was nice to enjoy the success with 536 00:23:07,730 --> 00:23:08,630 Speaker 4: other people as well. 537 00:23:12,090 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 1: Well, those are some magical memories from Nicole as she 538 00:23:14,580 --> 00:23:17,060 Speaker 1: looks back on a really impressive career. 539 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,280 Speaker 2: And also, she's another example of an Australian doing well 540 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:22,900 Speaker 2: in Paris. When we chatted to Paul McNamee a couple 541 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:25,070 Speaker 2: of weeks ago on The Sit Down... He did allude 542 00:23:25,090 --> 00:23:26,929 Speaker 2: to the fact that Australia, you know, doesn't have the 543 00:23:26,970 --> 00:23:30,810 Speaker 2: same traditional success at Roland Garros or affinity with clay. 544 00:23:31,130 --> 00:23:34,110 Speaker 2: But since Provis made the semifinals in Roland Garros, we've 545 00:23:34,150 --> 00:23:35,690 Speaker 2: had Sam Stoser make the final. 546 00:23:35,990 --> 00:23:36,710 Speaker 3: We've had Ash. 547 00:23:36,609 --> 00:23:37,750 Speaker 5: Barty win the title. 548 00:23:38,230 --> 00:23:40,990 Speaker 2: And even now at Roland Garros, Alex Demon was through 549 00:23:41,010 --> 00:23:42,950 Speaker 2: to the second week, the first Aussie man to make 550 00:23:42,970 --> 00:23:45,570 Speaker 2: it this far in 17 years. So, you know, Aussies 551 00:23:45,609 --> 00:23:47,470 Speaker 2: on clay. There's some good stuff happening. 552 00:23:47,780 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 1: And speaking of great stuff, we'll be back next week 553 00:23:50,380 --> 00:23:52,560 Speaker 1: with another episode of The Sit Down when we turn 554 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:54,560 Speaker 1: our attention from clay to the grass. 555 00:23:54,900 --> 00:23:58,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, we'll be catching up with Stephen Farrow, a former 556 00:23:58,060 --> 00:24:00,679 Speaker 2: tournament director of the Queen's Club Championships and now the 557 00:24:00,720 --> 00:24:03,520 Speaker 2: tournament director of United Cup. And yeah, we'll get to 558 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,550 Speaker 2: pick his brains on all things tennis on grass and 559 00:24:05,570 --> 00:24:06,169 Speaker 2: in the UK. 560 00:24:06,530 --> 00:24:08,149 Speaker 1: In the meantime, you can tune in to John and 561 00:24:08,170 --> 00:24:11,429 Speaker 1: the team on the AO Show Weekly on Thursday. Details 562 00:24:11,470 --> 00:24:13,150 Speaker 1: for how to contact us are in the show notes. 563 00:24:13,250 --> 00:24:16,690 Speaker 5: Remember to subscribe, rate and review. See you next week, Matt. 564 00:24:16,930 --> 00:24:17,280 Speaker 4: See you, Viv.