1 00:00:02,270 --> 00:00:04,809 Speaker 1: Hi everyone and welcome to another episode of The Sit Down. 2 00:00:05,190 --> 00:00:07,250 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Trollope, a writer for ozopen.com. 3 00:00:07,670 --> 00:00:10,650 Speaker 2: And I'm Viv Christie, Managing Editor of Australian Tennis Magazine. 4 00:00:11,130 --> 00:00:13,110 Speaker 2: And Matt, why are we sitting down this week with 5 00:00:13,170 --> 00:00:13,790 Speaker 2: Jill Kravis? 6 00:00:14,090 --> 00:00:16,790 Speaker 1: I actually got the idea almost by accident to chat 7 00:00:16,810 --> 00:00:19,230 Speaker 1: with Jill because I was doing some research into the 8 00:00:19,290 --> 00:00:22,570 Speaker 1: China Open and saw that she had taken part in 9 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,060 Speaker 1: the first China Open's mixed doubles tournament back in 2004 10 00:00:26,060 --> 00:00:28,060 Speaker 1: when the event rejoined the calendar as a mixed event. 11 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 3: I thought that's really cool. 12 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:31,500 Speaker 1: It's not very common that there's mixed events outside of 13 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,180 Speaker 1: the slams and Then I knew that, you know, since playing, 14 00:00:34,220 --> 00:00:36,260 Speaker 1: she's gone on to become a commentator as part of 15 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,229 Speaker 1: the AO team in the World Feed. And I've always 16 00:00:38,270 --> 00:00:39,670 Speaker 1: wanted to talk to her, and she's got a great 17 00:00:39,690 --> 00:00:42,490 Speaker 1: reputation in the sport. So we set up the interview 18 00:00:42,530 --> 00:00:44,210 Speaker 1: and chatted to her just as she got back from 19 00:00:44,270 --> 00:00:46,050 Speaker 1: her commentary duties in the Asian Swing. 20 00:00:46,659 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 3: And, yeah, we covered a lot of ground. 21 00:00:49,100 --> 00:00:54,210 Speaker 1: AO, AO. Thank you so much, Jill Krabes, for joining 22 00:00:54,290 --> 00:00:56,330 Speaker 1: us this week on The Sit Down. It's great to 23 00:00:56,370 --> 00:00:56,630 Speaker 1: see you. 24 00:00:56,890 --> 00:00:58,750 Speaker 4: It's very great to see you. Thanks for having me. 25 00:00:58,890 --> 00:01:01,690 Speaker 1: Oh, you're absolutely welcome. What attracted you to the college pathway? 26 00:01:01,710 --> 00:01:04,429 Speaker 1: So obviously you also played like NCAA singles and doubles. 27 00:01:04,510 --> 00:01:04,850 Speaker 4: I did. 28 00:01:04,910 --> 00:01:05,190 Speaker 3: Yeah. 29 00:01:05,470 --> 00:01:08,530 Speaker 1: So coming through that college pathway, what kind of attracted 30 00:01:08,550 --> 00:01:10,910 Speaker 1: you to approaching your tennis career that way? 31 00:01:11,310 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 4: I knew I always wanted to go pro to at 32 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,100 Speaker 4: least try it. And it was a tough decision to 33 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,380 Speaker 4: make out of high school because the... The coach that 34 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:23,020 Speaker 4: I was working with at the time really wanted me 35 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,700 Speaker 4: to go pro right away. And my parents didn't push 36 00:01:25,740 --> 00:01:28,060 Speaker 4: me either way. My parents are amazing. They didn't push 37 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,459 Speaker 4: me in any sort of direction. But in the back 38 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,780 Speaker 4: of my mind, as a young kid, I knew how 39 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,060 Speaker 4: important education was to my parents. So I think even 40 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,899 Speaker 4: though they didn't tell me you need to go to college, 41 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:41,660 Speaker 4: I think that was sort of stuck in my brain 42 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 4: just growing up. My mom was a teacher. Um, and 43 00:01:45,060 --> 00:01:47,590 Speaker 4: so I knew that was an important part of everything. 44 00:01:47,650 --> 00:01:49,990 Speaker 4: So I think that kind of steered me towards the 45 00:01:50,030 --> 00:01:52,830 Speaker 4: college route instead of going pro. And I'm happy I 46 00:01:52,870 --> 00:01:54,670 Speaker 4: did that because at the time I don't quite think 47 00:01:54,690 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 4: I was ready maybe to go pro. Um, and I think, 48 00:01:59,780 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 4: you know, a lot of parents ask me if they 49 00:02:01,460 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 4: shouldn't go to college or should not go to college. 50 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:06,020 Speaker 4: It's a very individual thing. And I think what the 51 00:02:06,060 --> 00:02:09,650 Speaker 4: universities are offering now, especially in the States is, you know, 52 00:02:09,669 --> 00:02:12,970 Speaker 4: you can just um, come in to a university. You 53 00:02:12,990 --> 00:02:15,650 Speaker 4: can just play for a year. You can go pro 54 00:02:15,850 --> 00:02:17,669 Speaker 4: and then they'll guarantee you can come back and finish 55 00:02:17,690 --> 00:02:20,270 Speaker 4: your education, whatever you want to, which I wish they 56 00:02:20,330 --> 00:02:21,990 Speaker 4: offer that when I was in college. I mean, I 57 00:02:22,010 --> 00:02:24,130 Speaker 4: think that's an amazing deal. I don't know how anyone 58 00:02:24,169 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 4: doesn't just grab that, but I went the full four years. 59 00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 4: I loved it. 60 00:02:28,180 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 3: Um, also back. 61 00:02:29,580 --> 00:02:32,420 Speaker 1: When you went was if you left, you left, like 62 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 1: you couldn't come back. 63 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:39,970 Speaker 4: You yeah, you, then, then if you wanted to come back, 64 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,020 Speaker 4: you would have to probably pay for your degree and 65 00:02:42,040 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 4: all that stuff. So it's kind of a new concept. 66 00:02:44,820 --> 00:02:47,339 Speaker 4: I mean, relatively new. I think it's been offered now 67 00:02:47,380 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 4: for seven, eight years, something like that. Um, so I 68 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:54,580 Speaker 4: think it's fantastic. Um, if these players can take advantage 69 00:02:54,620 --> 00:02:57,060 Speaker 4: of it and, but for me, like I went the 70 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,429 Speaker 4: whole four years, I loved it. I think it was 71 00:02:59,770 --> 00:03:03,630 Speaker 4: an important time, um, for any teenager growing up. I mean, 72 00:03:03,669 --> 00:03:05,889 Speaker 4: normally it's your first time away from home. You're learning 73 00:03:05,930 --> 00:03:09,570 Speaker 4: to be independent on your own. It is so hard to, 74 00:03:09,770 --> 00:03:12,130 Speaker 4: if you're playing a sport in college, to manage the 75 00:03:12,169 --> 00:03:16,550 Speaker 4: sport with studies, just timing wise, being able to, and 76 00:03:16,570 --> 00:03:20,190 Speaker 4: then you're on the road competing. And so it's a good, 77 00:03:20,370 --> 00:03:22,330 Speaker 4: it's a challenge, but it's a good challenge. I think 78 00:03:22,370 --> 00:03:26,190 Speaker 4: it just made you sort of stronger and time management. 79 00:03:26,230 --> 00:03:29,070 Speaker 4: I mean, everything. I mean, I think just like sports 80 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,359 Speaker 4: teaches you so much about life. I think that That 81 00:03:31,380 --> 00:03:34,000 Speaker 4: was such a good pathway for me just to get 82 00:03:34,100 --> 00:03:36,460 Speaker 4: a better understanding of myself, how to manage everything and 83 00:03:36,500 --> 00:03:38,410 Speaker 4: prepare myself to turn pro after that. 84 00:03:38,430 --> 00:03:39,030 Speaker 3: For sure. 85 00:03:39,470 --> 00:03:42,270 Speaker 1: And I reckon, look, anecdotally at least, it seems that 86 00:03:42,350 --> 00:03:46,910 Speaker 1: more players are going through the college pathway or rather 87 00:03:46,950 --> 00:03:50,550 Speaker 1: maybe the same number are, but we're seeing more a 88 00:03:50,610 --> 00:03:52,790 Speaker 1: lot more players go on to like have top 10 89 00:03:52,790 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: careers like Danielle Collins. Yeah. Like Emma Navarro's one, John 90 00:03:56,180 --> 00:03:58,060 Speaker 1: Isner was one. There was, there were so many like, 91 00:03:58,080 --> 00:03:59,580 Speaker 1: and they're just Americans. 92 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:00,500 Speaker 3: James, yeah. 93 00:04:00,540 --> 00:04:05,020 Speaker 1: Like, but there's heaps, but now we're seeing Diana Schneider 94 00:04:05,080 --> 00:04:07,950 Speaker 1: and we're seeing, we're seeing Ben Shelton. So many seem 95 00:04:07,970 --> 00:04:10,050 Speaker 1: to be coming through the college pathway. Do you think 96 00:04:10,490 --> 00:04:12,750 Speaker 1: all those things you said about its benefits and, and 97 00:04:13,090 --> 00:04:15,610 Speaker 1: you know, how it can help prepare you, do you 98 00:04:15,650 --> 00:04:18,540 Speaker 1: think there's, more players that are aware that, hey, this 99 00:04:18,580 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 1: is like a really viable pathway. I don't have to 100 00:04:20,800 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: turn pro at 17 or 18. 101 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,180 Speaker 4: I hope so. I think, you know, all of them are, too, 102 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 4: are great examples about how they conduct themselves, how they're 103 00:04:29,860 --> 00:04:32,350 Speaker 4: able to compete so well because you play so many 104 00:04:32,390 --> 00:04:35,530 Speaker 4: matches in college too. And, you know, it is about 105 00:04:35,550 --> 00:04:38,789 Speaker 4: learning how to deal with all those failures because you're 106 00:04:38,810 --> 00:04:41,270 Speaker 4: not going to, obviously, you're not going to win a lot. 107 00:04:42,510 --> 00:04:44,510 Speaker 4: You know, I think if you have a player that 108 00:04:44,540 --> 00:04:47,820 Speaker 4: wins like two to five tournaments in a year, it's 109 00:04:47,860 --> 00:04:50,339 Speaker 4: considered an exceptional year. So you're losing like 23 to 110 00:04:50,339 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 4: 25 matches. And so just understanding that, like I said, 111 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,140 Speaker 4: managing everything, I think being a part of a team, 112 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,510 Speaker 4: because that's not something you experience as much when you're 113 00:05:00,550 --> 00:05:04,029 Speaker 4: on the professional tour, unless you're playing Davis Cup or 114 00:05:04,050 --> 00:05:07,110 Speaker 4: Billie Jean King Cup, but that happens, that doesn't happen 115 00:05:07,150 --> 00:05:10,530 Speaker 4: very often. So being able to work together, teamwork, and 116 00:05:12,339 --> 00:05:14,020 Speaker 4: the other thing that I think is so great is 117 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,550 Speaker 4: so many players are playing longer now Um, and I 118 00:05:17,710 --> 00:05:20,130 Speaker 4: almost feel like, oh, I hope that would relieve some 119 00:05:20,190 --> 00:05:22,539 Speaker 4: pressure for these 14, 15 year olds that you don't 120 00:05:22,620 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 4: have to be like number one in the world by 121 00:05:25,260 --> 00:05:28,140 Speaker 4: the time you're 17, 18, which was kind of, I 122 00:05:28,180 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 4: feel like a lot of kids felt that pressure to 123 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 4: do that maybe 15, 20 years ago. But now that 124 00:05:32,980 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 4: everyone is having more of that longevity, I think it 125 00:05:35,740 --> 00:05:38,140 Speaker 4: gives the opening for players to feel okay. 126 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:38,430 Speaker 3: Okay. 127 00:05:38,460 --> 00:05:41,510 Speaker 4: Maybe I can use that year and be okay going 128 00:05:41,529 --> 00:05:44,469 Speaker 4: to college. And I'm still only 19, 20 by the 129 00:05:44,510 --> 00:05:45,850 Speaker 4: time I get out. Even if you go for a year, 130 00:05:45,890 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 4: if you go for four years, you're still young at 131 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 4: 22 going out on the tour if you go four 132 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 4: years and get a degree. So I hope they start 133 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:55,900 Speaker 4: feeling that that would be more of a viable option. 134 00:05:56,180 --> 00:05:56,380 Speaker 1: Yeah. 135 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:57,580 Speaker 3: And you're absolutely right. 136 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,029 Speaker 1: Yeah, there are people that are peaking now at 28, 29, 137 00:05:59,020 --> 00:06:02,580 Speaker 1: winning their first medal. Like, yeah, there is– it's not– 138 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,620 Speaker 1: you don't have to get it all done straight away. 139 00:06:04,790 --> 00:06:05,229 Speaker 2: So, yeah. 140 00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:06,230 Speaker 4: There's time. 141 00:06:06,410 --> 00:06:09,290 Speaker 3: Yeah, there's time. Yeah. 142 00:06:09,650 --> 00:06:12,170 Speaker 1: So, when you left college, obviously, you went on to 143 00:06:12,310 --> 00:06:14,210 Speaker 1: have a great career yourself. You cracked the top 40. 144 00:06:14,210 --> 00:06:17,690 Speaker 1: You won a WTA title. And you played on the 145 00:06:17,870 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 1: WTA Tour for more than a decade. How do you 146 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:22,839 Speaker 1: reflect on your career now when you think about it, 147 00:06:22,839 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: if you think about it? 148 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:28,099 Speaker 4: Well, I get the question a lot. And I mean, 149 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 4: I do think about it. I think as a professional athlete, 150 00:06:31,180 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 4: there's going to be that sense you always wish you 151 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 4: could have done more. I mean, I don't think that's 152 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:38,539 Speaker 4: ever going to go away. So there's that reflection of, oh, 153 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:40,580 Speaker 4: I could have done better at this. And I think 154 00:06:40,620 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 4: that's just a natural thing to feel and to think about. 155 00:06:45,660 --> 00:06:49,250 Speaker 4: But there's some coaches and other people I talk to 156 00:06:49,290 --> 00:06:52,050 Speaker 4: that feel like I definitely maxed out my career or 157 00:06:52,089 --> 00:06:55,940 Speaker 4: went almost beyond what they thought I was capable of. Um, 158 00:06:56,210 --> 00:06:58,040 Speaker 4: so I could view it that way too, because I 159 00:06:58,060 --> 00:07:01,479 Speaker 4: wasn't the biggest player. I wasn't the most powerful that's 160 00:07:01,500 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 4: going to overpower everyone. I mean, only five foot three. 161 00:07:03,940 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 4: And so it's not like I'm going to dominate as 162 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,500 Speaker 4: far as power and, you know, so I think when 163 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,500 Speaker 4: I reflect back on that, of what I was able to, 164 00:07:14,110 --> 00:07:16,910 Speaker 4: to produce and the success that I had, I mean, yes, 165 00:07:16,970 --> 00:07:19,190 Speaker 4: I think it was a good career, but, um, you know, 166 00:07:19,210 --> 00:07:21,010 Speaker 4: you always wish you, you could have done a little, 167 00:07:21,210 --> 00:07:21,810 Speaker 4: a little bit more. 168 00:07:21,830 --> 00:07:23,670 Speaker 3: Well, what do you think you were capable of? 169 00:07:26,150 --> 00:07:30,440 Speaker 4: Um, that's a good question. I've never been asked that before. 170 00:07:30,460 --> 00:07:32,740 Speaker 1: Well, just hearing you say that, like people thought that 171 00:07:32,780 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 1: what you were capable. 172 00:07:33,580 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 3: Of, in your own mind, what did you think? 173 00:07:37,490 --> 00:07:40,380 Speaker 4: Um, I mean, I think I, my high was 39. 174 00:07:40,370 --> 00:07:42,670 Speaker 4: So I definitely feel like I could have crashed the 175 00:07:42,690 --> 00:07:48,650 Speaker 4: top 30. Um, I don't, I don't, yeah, I know. 176 00:07:48,670 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 4: I know. I don't, I don't know if I'm not 177 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,820 Speaker 4: quite sure if I'm, believe deeply that I could have 178 00:07:54,850 --> 00:07:57,150 Speaker 4: gotten to the top 10, top 20, maybe. Um, I 179 00:07:58,590 --> 00:08:01,010 Speaker 4: think just, you know, who I was competing against and, 180 00:08:01,210 --> 00:08:05,570 Speaker 4: and what I had, like the arsenal that I had overall. So, 181 00:08:05,910 --> 00:08:08,550 Speaker 4: so maybe, so maybe that, but, and I think I 182 00:08:08,790 --> 00:08:12,210 Speaker 4: felt like I could have consistently got further in slams 183 00:08:12,250 --> 00:08:12,770 Speaker 4: than I did. 184 00:08:12,790 --> 00:08:14,850 Speaker 3: Um, yeah. 185 00:08:14,890 --> 00:08:16,490 Speaker 4: So I feel like going deeper in the slams, I 186 00:08:16,530 --> 00:08:18,420 Speaker 4: felt like I could have done that more often than 187 00:08:18,440 --> 00:08:18,680 Speaker 4: I did. 188 00:08:19,790 --> 00:08:23,770 Speaker 1: You did that once very famously in 2005 at Wimbledon, 189 00:08:23,910 --> 00:08:25,750 Speaker 1: which is what I wanted to ask you about. Obviously, 190 00:08:26,050 --> 00:08:27,990 Speaker 1: speaking of things you get asked a lot, you're very 191 00:08:28,030 --> 00:08:31,330 Speaker 1: famous for beating Serena in the third round of Wimbledon 192 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: in 05. And reading back for this interview, it turned 193 00:08:35,420 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: out that was her earliest slam exit since 1999, which 194 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:39,260 Speaker 1: I didn't remember that. 195 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 3: So that was quite notable. 196 00:08:40,300 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 4: I didn't remember that either. 197 00:08:41,540 --> 00:08:41,819 Speaker 1: Right. 198 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,300 Speaker 3: Yeah. So do people still mention that match to you? 199 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,429 Speaker 4: Yes, of course they do. I thought it might have 200 00:08:49,450 --> 00:08:53,310 Speaker 4: faded when she retired, but it hasn't yet. No, I mean, I, 201 00:08:53,690 --> 00:08:57,390 Speaker 4: you know, in the beginning, in the beginning, it was 202 00:08:57,460 --> 00:09:00,120 Speaker 4: great when it first happened because everyone was very excited 203 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:01,900 Speaker 4: for me. My fellow peers on the tour were very 204 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 4: excited for me. And then ever since I retired, like 205 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,300 Speaker 4: it was taught, it's talked about a lot when I 206 00:09:08,340 --> 00:09:10,890 Speaker 4: come into contact with friends or family or whatever. And 207 00:09:10,910 --> 00:09:12,730 Speaker 4: then of course, I, now that I'm a commentator at 208 00:09:14,610 --> 00:09:17,560 Speaker 4: Wimbledon one year, because You mentioned it happened at Wimbledon. 209 00:09:17,580 --> 00:09:20,329 Speaker 4: So at Wimbledon one year, I work for Wimbledon Radio 210 00:09:20,350 --> 00:09:23,190 Speaker 4: Channel as a radio commentator there. And of course, we 211 00:09:23,230 --> 00:09:25,850 Speaker 4: had to do the five-year anniversary of the win, the 212 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 4: 10-year anniversary of the win. So I don't think it's 213 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 4: ever going to end, which is fine. I mean, it 214 00:09:31,679 --> 00:09:33,750 Speaker 4: is one of my best wins of my career. 215 00:09:33,830 --> 00:09:36,090 Speaker 3: Yes, I remember it actually really clearly. 216 00:09:36,110 --> 00:09:38,450 Speaker 1: It was such a big upset because Serena had won 217 00:09:38,510 --> 00:09:40,950 Speaker 1: Wimbledon in 2002 and 2003, and she'd made the final 218 00:09:40,970 --> 00:09:43,890 Speaker 1: in 2004. So she basically lost one match in four 219 00:09:43,910 --> 00:09:45,050 Speaker 1: years at Wimbledon or something. 220 00:09:45,790 --> 00:09:48,650 Speaker 3: I don't even remember that. Yeah, like she had such. 221 00:09:48,450 --> 00:09:50,710 Speaker 1: A good record at Wimbledon, and I can't remember what 222 00:09:50,730 --> 00:09:52,890 Speaker 1: she'd done in 2001, but I know she had just years. 223 00:09:52,890 --> 00:09:56,090 Speaker 1: She was just constantly going deep at Wimbledon or winning 224 00:09:56,090 --> 00:09:58,300 Speaker 1: it and was so good on grass. Yeah, what do you– 225 00:09:58,300 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: How did how did you do it? Like what, what 226 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:01,860 Speaker 1: all came together for you that day that made that 227 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:02,580 Speaker 1: one of your best wins? 228 00:10:03,480 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 4: Um, you know, this is a great story. So, um, 229 00:10:06,340 --> 00:10:07,500 Speaker 4: this is the other thing I wish I would have 230 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 4: done more in my career because I really believe that 231 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 4: it works is, um, I, first of all, I had 232 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,140 Speaker 4: played her before cause I played her two years prior, um, 233 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:18,780 Speaker 4: first round of Wimbledon on center court and I had 234 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,420 Speaker 4: lost that one. But I had played her at Miami 235 00:10:21,450 --> 00:10:24,810 Speaker 4: in the quarterfinals as well. So Miami, I got destroyed 236 00:10:24,830 --> 00:10:27,450 Speaker 4: by her. But that was the first time I played her. 237 00:10:27,530 --> 00:10:31,370 Speaker 4: And I think the first time just felt so intimidating. 238 00:10:31,590 --> 00:10:33,550 Speaker 4: I looked across the court. And this is someone, obviously, 239 00:10:33,590 --> 00:10:35,670 Speaker 4: that you have looked up to. You know they have 240 00:10:35,690 --> 00:10:38,100 Speaker 4: so much success. And they've won so much. And so 241 00:10:38,130 --> 00:10:40,920 Speaker 4: the first time I was across the court from her, 242 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 4: I was like, oh my god. I just had this presence. 243 00:10:43,580 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 4: And it just felt overwhelming. So then the second time, 244 00:10:46,860 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 4: I lost first try at Wimbledon on center court. 245 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:49,140 Speaker 1: And yeah. 246 00:10:49,820 --> 00:10:53,950 Speaker 4: Center court right away was like, it was a dream 247 00:10:54,020 --> 00:10:56,350 Speaker 4: come true. And I was like, I walked out into 248 00:10:56,390 --> 00:10:58,310 Speaker 4: the court and I was like, and I started like 249 00:10:58,330 --> 00:11:00,429 Speaker 4: getting teary eyed. I was like, oh my God, you're 250 00:11:00,470 --> 00:11:05,069 Speaker 4: supposed to cry after the mashup before. Like getting so emotional. 251 00:11:05,110 --> 00:11:06,870 Speaker 4: But this is what Claire's dream of is being able 252 00:11:06,910 --> 00:11:09,170 Speaker 4: to make that walk out into center court. It was, 253 00:11:09,650 --> 00:11:12,050 Speaker 4: so I played well. I lost in straight sets, but 254 00:11:12,090 --> 00:11:15,050 Speaker 4: I played well and it was good performance. So I 255 00:11:15,870 --> 00:11:18,840 Speaker 4: felt like I handled myself well, but when I played 256 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:23,440 Speaker 4: her um, in the third round at Wimbledon in 2005. Um, I, 257 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 4: what I did that really stands out to me is 258 00:11:25,760 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 4: I visualize so much and there, I know there's so 259 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,739 Speaker 4: much studies and research on visualization and I cannot, I 260 00:11:31,780 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 4: can only express it in this case. It, I really 261 00:11:35,100 --> 00:11:37,479 Speaker 4: felt like it was the difference for me to get 262 00:11:37,500 --> 00:11:42,220 Speaker 4: through that match because my coach, um, Raj was beside 263 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 4: me and he was like, you know, I he just like, 264 00:11:45,420 --> 00:11:48,300 Speaker 4: just picture yourself winning match point over and over and 265 00:11:48,420 --> 00:11:52,730 Speaker 4: over again, like nonstop. And from that moment on, um, well, 266 00:11:52,750 --> 00:11:54,969 Speaker 4: first of all, I won my second round against Martoli. Um, 267 00:11:56,610 --> 00:11:59,890 Speaker 4: and then Serena hadn't played it and she was playing Santangelo. 268 00:11:59,929 --> 00:12:02,550 Speaker 4: And I remember just watching that match. And the first 269 00:12:02,590 --> 00:12:05,390 Speaker 4: good sign was I really wanted Serena to win because 270 00:12:05,429 --> 00:12:07,530 Speaker 4: I really wanted to play her. So that's a good 271 00:12:07,550 --> 00:12:09,490 Speaker 4: sign because you want to be able to play the 272 00:12:09,530 --> 00:12:13,819 Speaker 4: best and, you know, um, be able to push yourself 273 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,579 Speaker 4: and get through that win. But from the moment my 274 00:12:16,620 --> 00:12:19,230 Speaker 4: coach said that, as soon as I was on the court, 275 00:12:19,270 --> 00:12:21,369 Speaker 4: I visualized myself winning match point. As soon as I 276 00:12:21,410 --> 00:12:24,610 Speaker 4: got in the transportation car, I saw myself winning match point. 277 00:12:24,990 --> 00:12:26,929 Speaker 4: As soon as I got to the hotel, like over, 278 00:12:27,030 --> 00:12:29,150 Speaker 4: I think I must have done it thousands and thousands 279 00:12:29,190 --> 00:12:32,050 Speaker 4: of times that by the time I walked out in 280 00:12:32,070 --> 00:12:36,180 Speaker 4: the court, I was not thinking anything. And people ask 281 00:12:36,220 --> 00:12:38,179 Speaker 4: me all the time, like, what were you thinking on 282 00:12:38,220 --> 00:12:41,100 Speaker 4: match point? I was like, I was thinking nothing. Like 283 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:45,699 Speaker 4: it didn't even... I wasn't nervous. I think literally I 284 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:49,380 Speaker 4: had internalized, I think from that visualization that it just 285 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:53,830 Speaker 4: became automatic. And the only thing I thought was hit 286 00:12:53,870 --> 00:12:58,670 Speaker 4: everything to her forehand. But I, I was just like, 287 00:12:59,490 --> 00:13:02,270 Speaker 4: and I really just don't remember thinking anything or worrying 288 00:13:02,290 --> 00:13:02,970 Speaker 4: about anything. 289 00:13:03,030 --> 00:13:04,870 Speaker 3: And that's the dream. 290 00:13:05,530 --> 00:13:08,780 Speaker 4: Yeah. And one point during that match, we, it was 291 00:13:08,820 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 4: a great match. I, I, It was a really long point. 292 00:13:11,910 --> 00:13:13,790 Speaker 4: I came to the net and it was such a 293 00:13:13,830 --> 00:13:15,410 Speaker 4: good point. We were going back and forth and she 294 00:13:15,490 --> 00:13:18,189 Speaker 4: passed me down the line and she had a winner. 295 00:13:18,890 --> 00:13:22,130 Speaker 4: And the crowd just erupted. And I just remember thinking, 296 00:13:22,190 --> 00:13:23,990 Speaker 4: I looked up at the sky and I just remember thinking, 297 00:13:24,010 --> 00:13:26,209 Speaker 4: oh my gosh, this is what I play for. Because 298 00:13:26,250 --> 00:13:29,230 Speaker 4: it felt so amazing. And I lost the point. And 299 00:13:29,250 --> 00:13:31,250 Speaker 4: that's when you know you're in a pretty good state, 300 00:13:31,290 --> 00:13:32,710 Speaker 4: I think. Absolutely. 301 00:13:32,890 --> 00:13:33,770 Speaker 3: Well, I have a question. 302 00:13:33,929 --> 00:13:36,430 Speaker 1: Visualizing yourself winning match point, did match point play out 303 00:13:36,450 --> 00:13:37,210 Speaker 1: the way you visualized? 304 00:13:38,270 --> 00:13:38,699 Speaker 4: It did not. 305 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: Okay. 306 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:43,700 Speaker 3: Was it similar? Who cares? No, I know, exactly. 307 00:13:43,740 --> 00:13:46,980 Speaker 1: But wouldn't that be eerie if you'd visualise the match 308 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:49,180 Speaker 1: point and it's like, oh, my God, it came true. 309 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 3: This is what I did on the match point. That 310 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,610 Speaker 3: would be crazy. Yeah. 311 00:13:54,090 --> 00:13:57,150 Speaker 1: You also mentioned beating Bartoli in the round before because 312 00:13:57,210 --> 00:13:58,729 Speaker 1: even though at that point she hadn't gone on to 313 00:13:58,770 --> 00:14:01,130 Speaker 1: do great things, she made the Wimbledon final two years 314 00:14:01,170 --> 00:14:03,590 Speaker 1: later and then she won it. So you actually beat 315 00:14:03,730 --> 00:14:06,090 Speaker 1: two Wimbledon champions in that run and made the fourth 316 00:14:06,150 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: round of a slam match. that was your deepest run 317 00:14:09,020 --> 00:14:10,679 Speaker 1: at a slam. You made the second week at Wimbledon. 318 00:14:10,740 --> 00:14:13,400 Speaker 1: Is that, do you consider that your greatest moment as 319 00:14:13,450 --> 00:14:15,229 Speaker 1: a player or is there another moment in your career 320 00:14:15,270 --> 00:14:16,510 Speaker 1: that you think about more fondly? 321 00:14:17,790 --> 00:14:20,360 Speaker 4: Um, it's definitely at the top. And I have to say, 322 00:14:20,370 --> 00:14:22,750 Speaker 4: I actually played better against Bartoli than I did against Serena. 323 00:14:22,970 --> 00:14:24,910 Speaker 4: Like the Bartoli match, I just, I felt like I 324 00:14:24,910 --> 00:14:28,250 Speaker 4: probably closed my eyes and everything was just doing what 325 00:14:28,290 --> 00:14:31,240 Speaker 4: I wanted it to do. So, um, it was just 326 00:14:31,340 --> 00:14:34,420 Speaker 4: a good run. Um, I mean, I think also, uh, 327 00:14:37,050 --> 00:14:38,620 Speaker 4: At the time, it was called Fed Cup, so Billie 328 00:14:38,630 --> 00:14:40,900 Speaker 4: Jean King Cup now, but playing for Fed Cup, playing 329 00:14:40,920 --> 00:14:44,260 Speaker 4: for my country, for Fed Cup and for the Olympics 330 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 4: also is way at the top, too. Which Olympics did 331 00:14:48,540 --> 00:14:50,670 Speaker 4: you play? Beijing in 2008. 332 00:14:50,660 --> 00:14:51,260 Speaker 3: Oh, Beijing, cool. 333 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:55,989 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah. And then, you know, I had a lot 334 00:14:56,010 --> 00:14:59,390 Speaker 4: of other good wins. I beat Kleisters and, you know, Dementyeva, Yankovic. 335 00:14:59,410 --> 00:15:02,670 Speaker 4: So I had a lot of good wins, and that's probably... 336 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:05,340 Speaker 4: the other thing that I would have loved is if 337 00:15:05,420 --> 00:15:09,980 Speaker 4: I could continue that, um, consistently having those, having those 338 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,060 Speaker 4: wins consistently, but yeah. 339 00:15:12,320 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. 340 00:15:13,100 --> 00:15:17,100 Speaker 1: What ultimately decided, what ultimately saw you stop playing tennis? 341 00:15:19,420 --> 00:15:22,340 Speaker 4: Um, so I probably should have retired a year earlier 342 00:15:22,380 --> 00:15:26,220 Speaker 4: than I did, but it was, it was very, but 343 00:15:26,500 --> 00:15:29,220 Speaker 4: the reason I did, it's just very hard for me, um, 344 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 4: to give it up because I love tennis so much. 345 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:34,750 Speaker 4: And I, If you ask me, I would do my 346 00:15:34,770 --> 00:15:36,900 Speaker 4: whole career over in a heartbeat. I just loved it. 347 00:15:36,910 --> 00:15:39,450 Speaker 4: So it was a very hard decision for me to 348 00:15:39,490 --> 00:15:41,770 Speaker 4: come to. I think it was my coach that was 349 00:15:41,830 --> 00:15:47,610 Speaker 4: the one that first started recognizing that my competitiveness started 350 00:15:47,650 --> 00:15:49,510 Speaker 4: going down. He felt like I didn't look like I 351 00:15:49,550 --> 00:15:53,770 Speaker 4: was enjoying myself as much. But I got caught up 352 00:15:53,950 --> 00:16:00,670 Speaker 4: in this sort of weird year where I loved being 353 00:16:00,690 --> 00:16:03,030 Speaker 4: on the practice court. And all I wanted to do 354 00:16:03,070 --> 00:16:05,390 Speaker 4: was train and get better. But then when I woke 355 00:16:05,470 --> 00:16:08,620 Speaker 4: up for a match, I was tired. I was not 356 00:16:08,630 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 4: as excited. And he recognized that way earlier than I did. 357 00:16:13,380 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 4: And I was getting very confused because I was like, yeah, 358 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 4: but I love training. I'm still loving it to some degree. 359 00:16:20,700 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 4: And so that confused me a lot. And it took 360 00:16:24,300 --> 00:16:27,730 Speaker 4: me a while to realize that I wasn't enjoying the 361 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,990 Speaker 4: stress of getting ready for a match, the stress of competing. 362 00:16:31,010 --> 00:16:31,090 Speaker 1: Yeah. 363 00:16:31,830 --> 00:16:34,690 Speaker 4: Um, the stress of just going through matches was what 364 00:16:34,730 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 4: I didn't recognize right away. Um, and so, I mean, I, 365 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:41,500 Speaker 4: I wouldn't, I, of course I don't want to retire earlier, 366 00:16:41,620 --> 00:16:44,460 Speaker 4: but I think that, and that was happening for longer 367 00:16:44,500 --> 00:16:46,620 Speaker 4: than I thought, but it was just because I was confused. 368 00:16:46,900 --> 00:16:47,150 Speaker 1: Okay. 369 00:16:47,350 --> 00:16:49,270 Speaker 4: Um, and so I decided to retire at the U 370 00:16:49,270 --> 00:16:51,070 Speaker 4: S open where all my friends are and my family 371 00:16:51,110 --> 00:16:52,010 Speaker 4: could come and yeah. 372 00:16:52,310 --> 00:16:52,590 Speaker 3: Okay. 373 00:16:53,110 --> 00:16:54,810 Speaker 1: Because from the outside, it seems that like what you've 374 00:16:54,830 --> 00:16:56,790 Speaker 1: gone on to do in your career, like you picked up, 375 00:16:56,930 --> 00:16:58,930 Speaker 1: you moved into the broadcasting space or I think that 376 00:16:58,970 --> 00:17:00,430 Speaker 1: same year for the WTA in 2013. 377 00:17:00,430 --> 00:17:03,859 Speaker 3: I did. And yeah, and obviously you had the college 378 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 3: degree to fall back on. 379 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,500 Speaker 1: So like a lot of players talk about and professional 380 00:17:07,540 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: athletes talk about the difficulty of transitioning. Like what am 381 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:12,840 Speaker 1: I without my sport or what do I do next? 382 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: But you seemed to have options. So like, did that 383 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,369 Speaker 1: make it easier for you to transition or like, was 384 00:17:18,490 --> 00:17:20,649 Speaker 1: that always your plan to go into the media afterwards? 385 00:17:21,450 --> 00:17:27,119 Speaker 4: It was not. It actually happened by accident. So as 386 00:17:27,170 --> 00:17:28,840 Speaker 4: a player, you get asked to do media stuff all 387 00:17:28,859 --> 00:17:32,580 Speaker 4: the time, especially in the United States. They usually ask 388 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:35,820 Speaker 4: the American to do the sponsors and stuff. And then, 389 00:17:35,940 --> 00:17:36,500 Speaker 4: sorry about that. 390 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:37,640 Speaker 3: That's okay. 391 00:17:37,869 --> 00:17:41,230 Speaker 4: And then one year at Indian Wells, that year at 392 00:17:41,290 --> 00:17:44,350 Speaker 4: Indian Wells. Well, I don't know if it was that year. Anyway, 393 00:17:44,530 --> 00:17:47,040 Speaker 4: one year at Indian Wells. You know, the media came 394 00:17:47,060 --> 00:17:48,560 Speaker 4: and they're like, do you mind just doing a visit 395 00:17:48,660 --> 00:17:52,220 Speaker 4: to a radio booth up top of the stadium? And 396 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 4: I was like, yeah, sure. And I was just said, yes, 397 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:55,980 Speaker 4: I did a lot of that stuff. And so I 398 00:17:56,020 --> 00:17:58,820 Speaker 4: went into the radio booth at Indy Wells and just 399 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,380 Speaker 4: sat with them for maybe a set of whatever match 400 00:18:01,420 --> 00:18:05,149 Speaker 4: was playing on stadium court. And then they just and 401 00:18:05,190 --> 00:18:07,150 Speaker 4: then all of a sudden they just kept asking me 402 00:18:07,450 --> 00:18:09,129 Speaker 4: to do a couple of things. And then I connect 403 00:18:09,250 --> 00:18:11,689 Speaker 4: got connected with the BBC radio because they were on 404 00:18:11,750 --> 00:18:15,270 Speaker 4: site as well. And then it ended up being just 405 00:18:15,390 --> 00:18:19,460 Speaker 4: networking stuff because then BBC radio, the woman there recommended 406 00:18:19,500 --> 00:18:22,300 Speaker 4: me to the ATP radio and then did a lot 407 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:26,000 Speaker 4: with ATP radio. And then ATP radio noticed that I 408 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:27,919 Speaker 4: was really enjoying the interviews. So then he was like, 409 00:18:27,940 --> 00:18:30,379 Speaker 4: would you be interested in doing interviews on court? And 410 00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 4: I was like, sure. So I just started trying everything. 411 00:18:32,859 --> 00:18:37,010 Speaker 4: And it just happened that I had a communications degree. 412 00:18:37,119 --> 00:18:40,630 Speaker 4: I was not like thinking about anything at the time. 413 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:43,940 Speaker 4: And my communications degree was completely different. It was TV 414 00:18:43,960 --> 00:18:47,670 Speaker 4: and film production, which funnily enough, I'm now starting to 415 00:18:47,690 --> 00:18:50,230 Speaker 4: ask more questions about the production, which I'm finding fascinating, 416 00:18:50,250 --> 00:18:51,189 Speaker 4: which I loved anyway. 417 00:18:51,410 --> 00:18:54,050 Speaker 1: You never know, you could move into that space to 418 00:18:54,090 --> 00:18:56,700 Speaker 1: deliver the tennis production. It's interesting to hear you talk 419 00:18:56,740 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 1: about your various commentary kind of jobs over the years, 420 00:19:00,500 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 1: because you've worked across both tours, ATP Radio, you've worked 421 00:19:02,740 --> 00:19:05,980 Speaker 1: for the WTA. Is there much of a difference commentating 422 00:19:06,180 --> 00:19:09,629 Speaker 1: WTA versus ATP Matches? Or is it preparing exactly the same? 423 00:19:09,650 --> 00:19:11,820 Speaker 1: You call it the same. How do you approach it? 424 00:19:12,170 --> 00:19:22,929 Speaker 4: Yeah, I approach both the same. I feel like the 425 00:19:22,970 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 4: guys are very good at being open in their interviews. 426 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,220 Speaker 4: I think the women are getting better at that. I 427 00:19:28,260 --> 00:19:30,880 Speaker 4: think the women guard themselves a little bit more. than 428 00:19:30,900 --> 00:19:33,580 Speaker 4: the men in the interviews, but I do that. That's 429 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,010 Speaker 4: actually one of my favorite roles is doing the interviews. Like, 430 00:19:36,119 --> 00:19:39,300 Speaker 4: like how you're doing, like the sit down. I love it. 431 00:19:39,869 --> 00:19:40,149 Speaker 3: Yeah. 432 00:19:40,170 --> 00:19:41,830 Speaker 4: I absolutely love it. You get just to know their 433 00:19:41,869 --> 00:19:44,170 Speaker 4: characters a little bit better. You can joke around with them. 434 00:19:44,210 --> 00:19:45,710 Speaker 4: And I think that's what the fans want to see. 435 00:19:45,730 --> 00:19:48,439 Speaker 4: You know, they want to see more of who the 436 00:19:48,460 --> 00:19:52,080 Speaker 4: player is behind the tennis player. But as far as commentating, no, 437 00:19:52,119 --> 00:19:56,060 Speaker 4: I approach, I approach that pretty much, pretty much the same. 438 00:19:57,780 --> 00:20:01,890 Speaker 4: Because I, I, the way I go more about, you know, 439 00:20:02,250 --> 00:20:06,810 Speaker 4: emotions and stuff like that and, and matchups and, but 440 00:20:06,850 --> 00:20:08,869 Speaker 4: I do like like kind of the emotions and the 441 00:20:08,890 --> 00:20:11,890 Speaker 4: characters behind the players. Cause I do feel like that 442 00:20:11,930 --> 00:20:14,149 Speaker 4: brings a lot to the court and I kind of 443 00:20:14,450 --> 00:20:17,270 Speaker 4: feed off that. So for me, it's more about them 444 00:20:17,310 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 4: as a tennis player, but also them as a person 445 00:20:20,580 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 4: on the court and what they can bring, if that 446 00:20:22,619 --> 00:20:23,140 Speaker 4: makes any sense. 447 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:24,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, that does make sense too. 448 00:20:24,660 --> 00:20:28,240 Speaker 1: I mean, do you like, and that's certainly specific to interviews, 449 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:30,340 Speaker 1: but do you find that also bleeds into your commentary 450 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:33,459 Speaker 1: as well? Like what the, yes, there's forehands and backhands 451 00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:36,689 Speaker 1: and tactics and patterns, but like, what are they feeling 452 00:20:36,730 --> 00:20:37,390 Speaker 1: in that moment? 453 00:20:37,810 --> 00:20:38,530 Speaker 4: Um, I think so. 454 00:20:38,550 --> 00:20:38,990 Speaker 1: Yeah. 455 00:20:39,010 --> 00:20:41,370 Speaker 3: Like how they might respond personality wise and things like that. 456 00:20:41,570 --> 00:20:42,109 Speaker 4: Exactly. 457 00:20:42,130 --> 00:20:42,450 Speaker 3: Yeah. 458 00:20:42,490 --> 00:20:44,970 Speaker 4: Because I, I try and put myself in their shoes 459 00:20:45,030 --> 00:20:47,729 Speaker 4: about how I respond to certain things. And then from 460 00:20:47,750 --> 00:20:49,790 Speaker 4: the interviews, you get some pretty good insight, like some, um, 461 00:20:51,490 --> 00:20:55,870 Speaker 4: there are some players that like, like comparing more quiet 462 00:20:56,270 --> 00:21:00,390 Speaker 4: events to like, uh, Grand Slam, like how they deal 463 00:21:00,410 --> 00:21:04,170 Speaker 4: with that, how they approach that. And sometimes, um, like 464 00:21:04,210 --> 00:21:05,890 Speaker 4: I know a few players that are just like, especially 465 00:21:05,950 --> 00:21:07,790 Speaker 4: at the US Open, it can be so like energetic 466 00:21:07,850 --> 00:21:09,369 Speaker 4: and chaotic and stuff like that. And they just want 467 00:21:09,390 --> 00:21:11,130 Speaker 4: to like hide themselves in their room and get like 468 00:21:11,530 --> 00:21:13,530 Speaker 4: room service. They're just like, can't deal with the chaos. 469 00:21:14,190 --> 00:21:16,570 Speaker 4: And I just find that interesting because like, how do 470 00:21:17,890 --> 00:21:20,050 Speaker 4: you approach that mentally? Like going out in the court 471 00:21:20,070 --> 00:21:22,109 Speaker 4: and being able to block all that out because you 472 00:21:22,130 --> 00:21:23,970 Speaker 4: just can't get, you can't get away from the New 473 00:21:24,010 --> 00:21:27,190 Speaker 4: York crowd. You know, it's just like, and it's going 474 00:21:27,210 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 4: to be noisy in Arthur Ashe Stadium. And like, how 475 00:21:29,619 --> 00:21:32,020 Speaker 4: do those different personalities and players deal with that? And 476 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:33,959 Speaker 4: I feel like sometimes you can, see it coming out 477 00:21:33,980 --> 00:21:35,100 Speaker 4: of them on the court. 478 00:21:36,020 --> 00:21:36,880 Speaker 3: That's so interesting too. 479 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 1: That's a common thing that comes up in tennis about 480 00:21:38,660 --> 00:21:40,729 Speaker 1: the different energies of the tournaments. And you always hear 481 00:21:40,750 --> 00:21:44,870 Speaker 1: that about the US Open. How did you, because that 482 00:21:44,890 --> 00:21:47,270 Speaker 1: being your home slam too, adds an extra layer as well. 483 00:21:47,530 --> 00:21:50,410 Speaker 1: Did you love that chaos and buzz of New York? 484 00:21:50,690 --> 00:21:52,470 Speaker 1: And also we're interested to know, how did it compare 485 00:21:52,490 --> 00:21:53,410 Speaker 1: to the Australian Open? 486 00:21:53,430 --> 00:21:57,670 Speaker 4: I think... Do you like the buzz of New York? 487 00:21:57,770 --> 00:22:00,409 Speaker 4: But the US summer is probably the most stressful one 488 00:22:00,470 --> 00:22:04,409 Speaker 4: for me. Yes, because it's my home. So I am too. 489 00:22:04,630 --> 00:22:06,770 Speaker 4: I only grew up two and a half hour drive 490 00:22:07,010 --> 00:22:09,390 Speaker 4: away from New York City and Rhode Island. And so 491 00:22:09,630 --> 00:22:12,300 Speaker 4: all my friends and family would come. And of course, 492 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:14,140 Speaker 4: the one thing that you want to do is perform 493 00:22:14,180 --> 00:22:15,960 Speaker 4: really well in front of all your friends and family. 494 00:22:15,980 --> 00:22:19,639 Speaker 4: So that put a whole other layer of stress on me. 495 00:22:20,210 --> 00:22:22,390 Speaker 4: And I was also trying to accommodate for my parents, 496 00:22:22,430 --> 00:22:24,030 Speaker 4: like in the player lounge, trying to get if they 497 00:22:24,070 --> 00:22:26,610 Speaker 4: needed anything. I just felt like it was a hard 498 00:22:26,690 --> 00:22:31,129 Speaker 4: one for me to relax. If you compare it to 499 00:22:31,170 --> 00:22:34,820 Speaker 4: the Australian Open, the Australian Open, I think, is lucky 500 00:22:34,960 --> 00:22:37,100 Speaker 4: to be in a very good month of the year 501 00:22:37,420 --> 00:22:41,180 Speaker 4: because I think it's lucky that it's in January. First 502 00:22:41,200 --> 00:22:44,080 Speaker 4: of all, after everyone's taken a little bit of break, 503 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:47,340 Speaker 4: everyone is so gung-ho to get going again. Everyone from... 504 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:52,020 Speaker 4: You know, Europe is very happy to get out of 505 00:22:52,060 --> 00:22:55,390 Speaker 4: the cold into the warm sun. I mean, a lot 506 00:22:55,410 --> 00:22:58,450 Speaker 4: of them train now. A lot of them go early 507 00:22:58,490 --> 00:23:00,390 Speaker 4: now and train, whether in Asia or Dubai or whatever, 508 00:23:00,430 --> 00:23:03,110 Speaker 4: where it's warm, and then go on to Australia. And 509 00:23:03,450 --> 00:23:06,439 Speaker 4: a lot of the players haven't seen each other. You know, 510 00:23:06,460 --> 00:23:08,939 Speaker 4: they've had that break now, and now everyone's, like, congregating 511 00:23:08,980 --> 00:23:10,459 Speaker 4: and happy to see each other again. That's why it's 512 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 4: called the happy flams. So I think you guys are 513 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:16,359 Speaker 4: very lucky to have that in that time of year. 514 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 4: It's definitely not as chaotic and hectic as New York, 515 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,250 Speaker 4: probably because of where it's situated to. It's so close 516 00:23:23,270 --> 00:23:25,010 Speaker 4: to the city. You can walk to the site from 517 00:23:25,030 --> 00:23:28,889 Speaker 4: the city, so that's really convenient. So I think Australia 518 00:23:28,930 --> 00:23:30,190 Speaker 4: has a lot of things going for it. 519 00:23:30,650 --> 00:23:32,939 Speaker 1: Yeah. And we particularly love that slot on the calendar too, 520 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,740 Speaker 1: because it aligns perfectly when everyone's on like school holidays 521 00:23:35,859 --> 00:23:39,970 Speaker 1: and like so many people, that's our big long summer break. 522 00:23:40,010 --> 00:23:41,710 Speaker 1: Like there's lots of people that are off work or 523 00:23:41,869 --> 00:23:44,620 Speaker 1: school for six weeks and things like that. So Yeah, 524 00:23:44,700 --> 00:23:47,379 Speaker 1: in January, yeah. It was so great being a kid, 525 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:48,820 Speaker 1: like growing up. I was on school holidays, so you 526 00:23:48,840 --> 00:23:50,159 Speaker 1: didn't have to miss school. You could go to the 527 00:23:50,180 --> 00:23:51,899 Speaker 1: Australian Open. Every day was a day off. 528 00:23:51,980 --> 00:23:52,500 Speaker 3: Lucky new. 529 00:23:52,900 --> 00:23:54,199 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's fantastic. 530 00:23:54,220 --> 00:23:58,180 Speaker 1: So that period is like prime time in Australia for 531 00:23:58,200 --> 00:24:00,440 Speaker 1: an event like that because it just aligns so well 532 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:04,420 Speaker 1: with what everyone's doing. Do you find– so you're part 533 00:24:04,460 --> 00:24:07,300 Speaker 1: of the World Feed Commentary Team at the AO. 534 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:08,179 Speaker 3: Yeah. 535 00:24:08,540 --> 00:24:10,919 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so I've asked you what you kind of 536 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:13,140 Speaker 1: love about the event. Like is there anything unique about 537 00:24:13,200 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: covering the AO– I don't know, whether it's like positions 538 00:24:15,960 --> 00:24:17,740 Speaker 1: where you're on the court or unique things about the 539 00:24:17,780 --> 00:24:20,720 Speaker 1: tournament that separate it from like other slams to call 540 00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:21,439 Speaker 1: or other tournaments? 541 00:24:24,700 --> 00:24:28,380 Speaker 4: I do like that it's the same as Wimbledon that 542 00:24:28,440 --> 00:24:32,330 Speaker 4: you can cover a lot of courts and you're actually 543 00:24:32,390 --> 00:24:36,689 Speaker 4: situated on the court. So that's really nice. Wimbledon does 544 00:24:36,710 --> 00:24:38,510 Speaker 4: that as well. I actually don't go to the French. 545 00:24:38,550 --> 00:24:42,340 Speaker 4: I do the French from Tennis Channel in LA. So 546 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,300 Speaker 4: I actually haven't been to Paris since I've played. Um, 547 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 4: so I can't comment on that, but I think just, 548 00:24:49,880 --> 00:24:52,159 Speaker 4: I don't know, just the ground, the grounds at the 549 00:24:52,220 --> 00:24:56,220 Speaker 4: Australian Open are becoming so nice and spread out. I mean, 550 00:24:56,240 --> 00:25:00,990 Speaker 4: one of my favorite, um, stadiums is that Kia Arena, um, 551 00:25:01,609 --> 00:25:03,530 Speaker 4: just because it's a little sunken in and also the 552 00:25:03,630 --> 00:25:06,449 Speaker 4: spacing around Kia Arena. And that's what I think the 553 00:25:06,490 --> 00:25:11,649 Speaker 4: Australia has done so well is just the way they've designed, um, 554 00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:15,200 Speaker 4: walking around the facility and the event and it's so 555 00:25:15,260 --> 00:25:18,240 Speaker 4: spacious and there's so much room. And, um, but as 556 00:25:18,540 --> 00:25:21,500 Speaker 4: far as like work, as far as commentating, I, I, 557 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,120 Speaker 4: I like all of them. I mean, I don't think 558 00:25:23,180 --> 00:25:28,270 Speaker 4: there's anything maybe majorly different or, or unique. Cause I 559 00:25:28,290 --> 00:25:30,590 Speaker 4: don't know. I, the one thing I say over and 560 00:25:30,609 --> 00:25:31,930 Speaker 4: over again to people when they ask me about it 561 00:25:32,030 --> 00:25:35,129 Speaker 4: is I love the teams that we have for the 562 00:25:35,170 --> 00:25:38,450 Speaker 4: world feed and in every event for Australia, for why 563 00:25:38,730 --> 00:25:40,790 Speaker 4: you need just you for the slams. I just do you. 564 00:25:41,550 --> 00:25:43,909 Speaker 4: world feed for Australia in the U S Wimbledon. I 565 00:25:43,930 --> 00:25:46,330 Speaker 4: do Wimbledon radio and then the French I do obviously 566 00:25:46,350 --> 00:25:49,860 Speaker 4: from LA, but, um, just the teams I think are fantastic. 567 00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:51,200 Speaker 3: Yeah. They are. 568 00:25:51,220 --> 00:25:51,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. 569 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:53,109 Speaker 3: They're fantastic to listen to. We love it. 570 00:25:53,780 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 4: Um, and we really are having that much fun. 571 00:25:56,820 --> 00:25:57,980 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it really sounds it. 572 00:25:57,980 --> 00:25:59,770 Speaker 1: And I've, obviously I've seen you guys in like the, 573 00:26:00,030 --> 00:26:01,770 Speaker 1: the media cafe and things like that. It seems that everywhere, 574 00:26:01,790 --> 00:26:03,689 Speaker 1: like you all have lunch together, you get coffees, like 575 00:26:03,710 --> 00:26:05,970 Speaker 1: in between matches, you all seem like a close group. 576 00:26:05,990 --> 00:26:07,570 Speaker 3: So it's really, it's really nice. 577 00:26:08,170 --> 00:26:10,790 Speaker 1: What is your, like in terms, in your broadcast and 578 00:26:10,830 --> 00:26:13,889 Speaker 1: commentary career, what's like your favorite interview you've done or 579 00:26:13,930 --> 00:26:14,950 Speaker 1: the best match you've called? 580 00:26:18,130 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 4: Oh, goodness. I think that's a really good question. I 581 00:26:28,500 --> 00:26:34,030 Speaker 4: think it has to be, well, definitely I called the 582 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,390 Speaker 4: Fedor Djokovic final at Wimbledon. 583 00:26:38,050 --> 00:26:40,189 Speaker 3: Oh, wow. In 2019. 584 00:26:40,190 --> 00:26:44,940 Speaker 4: Yes. I called that one on radio. So that was, um, 585 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:49,899 Speaker 4: that was intense and exciting and a lot of drama. And, um, 586 00:26:51,180 --> 00:26:55,780 Speaker 4: so that was a really exciting one. And I think probably, um. 587 00:26:55,780 --> 00:26:58,540 Speaker 3: And were you in center court in one of the 588 00:26:58,600 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 3: radio booths in the stadium? Yes. 589 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:00,420 Speaker 2: Yeah. 590 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:00,780 Speaker 4: Oh, wow. 591 00:27:00,820 --> 00:27:01,060 Speaker 3: Yes. 592 00:27:01,140 --> 00:27:01,380 Speaker 2: Okay. 593 00:27:01,640 --> 00:27:02,100 Speaker 3: Yeah. 594 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:07,100 Speaker 4: And then I think, um, I don't know if I, 595 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,200 Speaker 4: I don't know if you would say it was the, 596 00:27:09,260 --> 00:27:12,100 Speaker 4: you know, the best match ever on the planet, but 597 00:27:12,140 --> 00:27:14,360 Speaker 4: when Osaka won her first slam against a slam against 598 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:16,379 Speaker 4: Serena at the U S open, I think that was 599 00:27:16,420 --> 00:27:17,860 Speaker 4: exciting to call just cause obviously there was a lot 600 00:27:17,880 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 4: of drama involved in Osaka, like coming up on the 601 00:27:20,770 --> 00:27:24,310 Speaker 4: scene and she was playing like her idol. And so 602 00:27:24,410 --> 00:27:26,490 Speaker 4: that just had a lot of drama and twists to 603 00:27:26,570 --> 00:27:27,470 Speaker 4: it and stuff like that. 604 00:27:29,310 --> 00:27:29,629 Speaker 3: I don't know. 605 00:27:29,670 --> 00:27:33,380 Speaker 4: There's so there's, So many. And I feel like especially 606 00:27:33,460 --> 00:27:37,740 Speaker 4: now with the tennis, it's just absolutely insane. Like sometimes 607 00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,180 Speaker 4: I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around how 608 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 4: good these matches and players are. It's unbelievable. 609 00:27:43,960 --> 00:27:45,419 Speaker 1: I was going to ask you that. Like, so it's 610 00:27:45,460 --> 00:27:48,340 Speaker 1: been just over 10 years since you played and now 611 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:50,240 Speaker 1: you've been watching so much tennis in that time since, 612 00:27:51,369 --> 00:27:53,210 Speaker 1: particularly women's tennis, because I guess you played on the 613 00:27:53,250 --> 00:27:56,869 Speaker 1: women's tour. How has the game changed? evolved in that time? 614 00:27:56,890 --> 00:27:58,770 Speaker 1: Like that alluding to what you're alluding to now, it's 615 00:27:58,790 --> 00:28:00,430 Speaker 1: just crazy what they can do. What is it that 616 00:28:00,670 --> 00:28:02,450 Speaker 1: in the last 10 years has happened that's taken the 617 00:28:02,470 --> 00:28:03,310 Speaker 1: game to this new level? 618 00:28:03,330 --> 00:28:06,030 Speaker 4: I think, well, I think I do a lot of 619 00:28:06,070 --> 00:28:07,790 Speaker 4: the men too, but I think it applies both to 620 00:28:07,810 --> 00:28:09,990 Speaker 4: the women and the men is, I mean, everyone's just 621 00:28:10,030 --> 00:28:12,550 Speaker 4: gotten so much stronger. They've gotten so much faster. I 622 00:28:12,550 --> 00:28:17,740 Speaker 4: think there's just more research and science behind like nutrition 623 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 4: and taking care of your body. And it's allowed these 624 00:28:19,940 --> 00:28:23,810 Speaker 4: players to push themselves harder and faster and there's more 625 00:28:23,910 --> 00:28:26,030 Speaker 4: sliding on the court than I've ever seen before. I mean, 626 00:28:26,050 --> 00:28:28,130 Speaker 4: you remember Clem Kleisters was the first one that really 627 00:28:28,170 --> 00:28:32,580 Speaker 4: kind of did that. And now almost everyone is sliding 628 00:28:32,619 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 4: on the hard court and it's absolutely ridiculous. And, but 629 00:28:36,580 --> 00:28:39,600 Speaker 4: I just think, I mean, I guess it was bound 630 00:28:39,660 --> 00:28:43,580 Speaker 4: to happen with the speed and the strength, but watching 631 00:28:43,780 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 4: how fast, if you can see these players in person, 632 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,890 Speaker 4: watching how fast and how hard they hit the ball. 633 00:28:49,010 --> 00:28:50,950 Speaker 4: I mean, it's, it's incredible. 634 00:28:50,970 --> 00:28:51,190 Speaker 1: Yeah. 635 00:28:54,530 --> 00:28:55,550 Speaker 4: Great interview, Matt. 636 00:28:55,610 --> 00:28:56,070 Speaker 3: Thanks, Viv. 637 00:28:56,410 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 2: Loved hearing all about Jill's time in tennis, both in 638 00:28:59,340 --> 00:29:02,900 Speaker 2: the past and her perspective now. Especially loved her recollection 639 00:29:02,980 --> 00:29:05,560 Speaker 2: of that win over Serena Williams at Wynwooden and how 640 00:29:05,620 --> 00:29:07,620 Speaker 2: she used visualisation ahead of the match. 641 00:29:07,760 --> 00:29:09,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, it was obviously, we were always going to ask 642 00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:12,280 Speaker 1: her about that win over Serena, but yeah, the details 643 00:29:12,320 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: she went into and those really cool nuggets of the time, 644 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:17,120 Speaker 1: I didn't know so much of that stuff. Yeah, she 645 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:20,140 Speaker 1: kind of manifested a victory. It was really amazing. 646 00:29:20,400 --> 00:29:21,700 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think we all need to add a little 647 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:23,200 Speaker 2: bit of visualisation to our day. 648 00:29:23,910 --> 00:29:25,090 Speaker 4: We'll be back next week with. 649 00:29:25,030 --> 00:29:27,310 Speaker 2: Another episode of The Sit Down. In the meantime, you 650 00:29:27,330 --> 00:29:29,150 Speaker 2: can listen to John and the team on the AO 651 00:29:29,210 --> 00:29:33,700 Speaker 2: show this coming Thursday. Please remember to subscribe, rate and review. 652 00:29:34,180 --> 00:29:34,940 Speaker 4: See you next week, Matt. 653 00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:35,979 Speaker 3: Thanks, Viv. See you next week.