1 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to the Sitdown. I'm Viv Christy from 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: Australian Tennis magazine and great to be joined by Matt 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,360 Speaker 1: Trolope of oz open dot Com. 4 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 2: Hey Matt, Hi, Viv, how are you doing. 5 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:14,520 Speaker 1: I'm great, Thank you Great to be joining you again. 6 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's always good. Another episode of the sit Down 7 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 2: this week and we got the chance to chat to 8 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 2: one of the game's most esteemed coaches. Tell us what's 9 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 2: in store for listeners today. 10 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: We were lucky enough to talk to Wim Faset, who, 11 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: as you say, is a superstar of the coaching world. 12 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: He's coached the likes of Kim Kleister's, Victoria Azarenka, Simona 13 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:38,120 Speaker 1: Hallop and Angelie Kerber and we caught up with Whim. 14 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: He talked about his current role, of course as coach 15 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: to Naomi Osaka, as well as other aspects of the game. 16 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:50,720 Speaker 1: So let's hear what he has to say. Wim, thanks 17 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 1: for joining us on the sit Down. It's great to 18 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: have you here. I know it's very early on your 19 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: side of the world. We thought we'd start with talking 20 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: about your relationship with Naomi Osaka this year and what 21 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: you make of her comeback season so far. 22 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,200 Speaker 3: Well, super happy. I was super happy to join Know 23 00:01:07,360 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 3: Me again in October. It's it's a really fun project 24 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 3: where the first part was already really great. We work 25 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 3: together from from nineteen until the end of or the 26 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 3: summer of twenty twenty two, so we had we had 27 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 3: good success, but still I felt there was a lot 28 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 3: more to achieve. Definitely, if you if we just look 29 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 3: at her, I think the potential to be a lot 30 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 3: better than she's ever been. I felt that that was 31 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:43,759 Speaker 3: very clear. And to have this this check a second chance, yeah, 32 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 3: it made me really happy. But obviously see it was 33 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:53,200 Speaker 3: a start from zero again after giving birth and actually 34 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 3: just starting a few months later, and that was definitely 35 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 3: very very challenging. And yeah, her first match was was 36 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 3: only six months after giving birth. That that was like 37 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,600 Speaker 3: super early. But yeah, we we felt we all felt 38 00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:12,840 Speaker 3: she was she was ready to make a comeback. She 39 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 3: was already in a in a very good physical state, 40 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 3: and she was just very impatient to get to get 41 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 3: going again. And we are now a few months a 42 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 3: few months later, I think as a team we see 43 00:02:29,240 --> 00:02:32,560 Speaker 3: we're actually very happy with the progress with her development. 44 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:37,240 Speaker 3: We see a big improvements like week by week physically, 45 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 3: also on the court, I think she's she's really doing 46 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 3: better and better, like day by day. Obviously we haven't 47 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 3: had like the big success we were we were hoping for, 48 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:55,000 Speaker 3: but we all believe that that is just a matter 49 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 3: of time. So we're we're just going to keep working 50 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,240 Speaker 3: as we have been doing and we really feel that, yeah, 51 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,359 Speaker 3: we're going to have a big success this year. 52 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: What's been the highlight of your first four months back 53 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:08,919 Speaker 1: on tour together. 54 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 3: I think I mean, first of all, the best match 55 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 3: she played was the Switolina match in Miami. I think 56 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 3: there kind of everything came back together. That was definitely 57 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 3: also the way we wanted to play, and yeah, it 58 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 3: was really fun to watch her play, Like you know, 59 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 3: we saw already in practice how good she can play, 60 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 3: but they're kind of everything came together. So really pleased 61 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 3: with that. But just the journey itself is like is 62 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,200 Speaker 3: like a highlight. So just to know where she started 63 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 3: in October and like where she is now, the way 64 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:52,320 Speaker 3: she looks, I mean, she's physically stronger than she wasn't 65 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 3: in twenty two, even in twenty one, I think when 66 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 3: she won she won the Australian Open, So I think 67 00:03:59,800 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 3: the journey itself is for me the highlight. 68 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,800 Speaker 1: As you mentioned earlier, you did work with Naomi several 69 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: years ago. What have you noticed is different this time around? 70 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,480 Speaker 3: She is now, first of all, a super professional player 71 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 3: who is taking care of like every detail. I really 72 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:25,839 Speaker 3: feel that she has the mindset now that this is 73 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 3: her chance to make the best out of herself and 74 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:34,359 Speaker 3: to show the people are true potential and also for 75 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 3: her to find her true potential how good She wants 76 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 3: to know how good she possibly can be, and she's 77 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 3: willing to work super hard for that. And yeah, it's 78 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 3: it's a player who right now who's really very curious 79 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 3: about like lots of things how she can improve in 80 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 3: different ways and kind of exploring a lot of things 81 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 3: she's doing, Let's say current nutrition changed a lot, She's 82 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:13,480 Speaker 3: doing a lot of yoga and different movement kind of training, 83 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 3: and yeah, just through different ways of training, exploring where 84 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 3: she can improve. 85 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 2: It's really interesting to hear talk about this whim because 86 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 2: I think one thing we also saw that was a 87 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 2: little different from Naomi was the fact she entered the 88 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: two fifty level tournament in Ruan in France, which is 89 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,240 Speaker 2: a level of tournament. She doesn't tend to play that often. 90 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: We both work with Todd Woodbridge and chatted to him 91 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: about this, and he thought that this was a really 92 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: good thing that she did, that was incredibly important to 93 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 2: her career. And I wonder what the thinking was for 94 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 2: Naomi to enter a tournament like that, because of course 95 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,159 Speaker 2: she can get wild cards anywhere, like she could have 96 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 2: played the still Card tournament the same week. So we're 97 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:54,880 Speaker 2: just wondering what was going on there in terms of 98 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 2: that scheduling change for her. 99 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, first of all, when she came back and 100 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 3: in October when she started training again, one of her 101 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 3: clear goals in this next chapter in careers to do 102 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 3: better on the clay and on grass, and obviously for that, 103 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,839 Speaker 3: we need to spend as much time as possible on 104 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 3: on on that surface, on those surfaces. And you know, 105 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 3: she also made the decision that she wanted to play 106 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 3: the Villagering Cup. She wanted to play, she wants to 107 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:30,719 Speaker 3: play the Olympics, so really busy schedule, and we, yeah, 108 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 3: we still decided to play a tournament the week after 109 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 3: after the Villagini Cup did what she played in Japan, 110 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 3: and then, yeah, we thought it was a good idea 111 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 3: too to go to Roan where you she might have 112 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 3: maybe a little bit more chance to play more matches 113 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 3: that unfortunately didn't work out. But you know, like just 114 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:58,080 Speaker 3: looking back, I think it was it was not easy 115 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 3: just going to Japan for the bill the Chinking Cup, 116 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 3: playing on hard, going to Ruan, have like a day 117 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 3: of preparation back on bag on clay, and it was 118 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 3: just it was just a difficult transition. But you know, like, yeah, 119 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 3: she was very clear that she wanted to play a 120 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 3: tournament on clay before we go to Madrid, and she 121 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 3: wants to spend as much as time as possible on 122 00:07:21,640 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 3: the clay, and we thought it was a good choice 123 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: and I think it wasn't the bad It wasn't a 124 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 3: bad choice, but at the end, with all the traveling, 125 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 3: it was a little bit more difficult than we thought. 126 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 2: And Mantini Trevison, she's obviously very very good on clay, 127 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 2: it's a tough draw. More generally, how are you and 128 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 2: how is Naomi feeling about her game on clay and 129 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 2: what do you think that she does well on this surface? 130 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 3: You know, it's it's a surface where she definitely can 131 00:07:46,400 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 3: play well, but she needs to spend time and she 132 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 3: needs to play matches. It's it's it's not the surface 133 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 3: where she's automatically feeling super confident like she's on the heart. Therefore, 134 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 3: I mean, she just hasn't played enough on that surface 135 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 3: the last three four years and also hasn't had the 136 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 3: success on that surface to be very confident. But at 137 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,119 Speaker 3: the end, she she also grew up on the green 138 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:19,240 Speaker 3: clay in Florida where she played a lot of hours. 139 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 3: So she's she's not she's not uncomfortable in her movement 140 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 3: and right now we see that she's she's playing a 141 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 3: high level on practice on where we play points. It's 142 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 3: it was a little bit more difficult, but I think 143 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 3: you know, she's a she's a super athlete, and that 144 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 3: that helps her on the clay. She has she has 145 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:47,600 Speaker 3: the power two yeah too, to still be playing very 146 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,559 Speaker 3: aggressive tennis on the clay and to to accelerate when 147 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 3: the ball has has no pace. She's she's always been 148 00:08:56,520 --> 00:08:59,960 Speaker 3: kind of a patient player. I mean, she's an aggressive player, 149 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 3: always has been a player that has been building more 150 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 3: of the rallies just instead of just going for the 151 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:09,559 Speaker 3: winner on the first shot. So she has a good 152 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 3: kick surf on the second serf. So I think there's 153 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 3: a lot of parts in her game that we fit 154 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 3: really well on the clay. But it's it's definitely, yeah, 155 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:24,240 Speaker 3: a work in progress for the next for the next weeks, 156 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 3: but also for the next years, you know, like her 157 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 3: comeback is planned for the next seven eight years. So 158 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 3: the more we can spend time on the clay, the 159 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: more we can learn and hopefully also have the success 160 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 3: that will only help her, like for the Olympic Games 161 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 3: this year, but also like for the next year. So 162 00:09:45,880 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 3: we're we see it as a big as a big 163 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 3: learning or I also feel that her game will just 164 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 3: develop more bye bye by playing on the clay. I 165 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 3: think her game will will develop in a way that 166 00:10:03,559 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 3: it will also help her on the hard courts better. 167 00:10:07,240 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 3: So I'm very excited about this part of the season. 168 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 3: And for sure, it's going to be very challenging because 169 00:10:16,120 --> 00:10:18,560 Speaker 3: you're going to play players like Travis Son who's just 170 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,640 Speaker 3: like really good on clay, and they're just so comfortable 171 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 3: and they know exactly what to play on which ball. 172 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 3: But you know, it's we like challenges and we know, 173 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,760 Speaker 3: like we know her potential. I've seen her play good 174 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:35,679 Speaker 3: tennis on clay and I'm confident she'll be fine. 175 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 2: Just listening to you talk about her, it sounds like 176 00:10:38,440 --> 00:10:40,680 Speaker 2: that you're very excited with where she can go and 177 00:10:40,760 --> 00:10:42,880 Speaker 2: what more she can achieve. That you feel like there's 178 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:45,680 Speaker 2: more to do. But I was wondering, where do you 179 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:48,480 Speaker 2: take a player who's already won four Grand Slam titles, 180 00:10:48,559 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 2: has already been world number one, She's been the highest 181 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 2: paid female athlete in the world. She's kind of already 182 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,320 Speaker 2: scaled the heights. What do you think is next for her? 183 00:10:56,360 --> 00:11:00,960 Speaker 3: Where can she go next? For her, it's just become 184 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 3: a better player and become a better athlete. I mean 185 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,800 Speaker 3: it sounds, yeah, it sounds maybe weird that I say that, 186 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:09,600 Speaker 3: but yeah, she has won her four Grand slams and 187 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 3: she played amazing tennis. But like coaching her, I feel 188 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,160 Speaker 3: there's there's a lot more to do, and there's a 189 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 3: lot just looking at her. You know, of course, they're 190 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 3: they're really good players out there, like IgA and like Sablanca, 191 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,880 Speaker 3: Rebecquina Coco, like, I mean, there are a lot of 192 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:31,959 Speaker 3: good players out there, But just we look at her 193 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 3: data and we want to, let's say, have much better 194 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 3: data of her than we had in twenty two and 195 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 3: twenty one. That's our goal to see like how good 196 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 3: can she possibly be? And then I do feel that 197 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 3: if she if she keeps making steps forward, that that's 198 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 3: the result is going to be that she's going to 199 00:11:50,320 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 3: win more Grand Slam or that's I mean, that's at 200 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:56,640 Speaker 3: least the goal, and that's where we as a team 201 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 3: really believe in. But the most importan and it's just 202 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:05,320 Speaker 3: focus on her and yeah, showing her true potential. 203 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,800 Speaker 1: We recently caught up with Brad Gilbert and he told 204 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: us that whether a coach is working with a player 205 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: on the ATP Tour or the WTA Tour, the coach 206 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,680 Speaker 1: the focus is on simply helping that player get better, 207 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:22,320 Speaker 1: but others say there's a different approach to working with 208 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:24,000 Speaker 1: players on different tours. 209 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:28,640 Speaker 3: What's your view, Well, I don't have the real ATP 210 00:12:28,840 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 3: experience doing my since I came on the tour in 211 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:36,719 Speaker 3: two thousand and nine, I have been only coaching at WIT. 212 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 3: I do feel like I agree more with Brad where 213 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:46,760 Speaker 3: I feel like tennis is tennis and as a coach, 214 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,560 Speaker 3: what do you do? You try to develop your player 215 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 3: and you know, like women and men, they're both playing tennis. 216 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:59,960 Speaker 3: You know, like and technically it's kind of the same sport. 217 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 3: And then of course you try to analyze your opponents 218 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 3: and find the right strategy, so that's that's also kind 219 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:12,040 Speaker 3: of the same. So I I don't think there's a 220 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 3: there's a really big difference, you know. I think just yeah, 221 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:24,200 Speaker 3: coaching women, you know that it's it's let's say sometimes 222 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:28,200 Speaker 3: it could be a little bit more emotional, and it's 223 00:13:28,280 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 3: it's it's how to it's it's also very important how 224 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 3: to prepare the player before before the matches, Like I 225 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,640 Speaker 3: always felt that in my fifteen years on the tour. 226 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:43,959 Speaker 3: That's like putting them or bring them to the court 227 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:47,080 Speaker 3: with the right expectations, like what challenge is to expect 228 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:50,360 Speaker 3: and just to be ready for everything. So they're they're 229 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:56,920 Speaker 3: kind of let's say emotionally like very stable and and yeah, 230 00:13:57,200 --> 00:13:59,840 Speaker 3: just just to to be ready for for all the 231 00:14:00,040 --> 00:14:03,200 Speaker 3: challenges that day. I think that's just maybe a little 232 00:14:03,200 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 3: bit more important than women's doone. As I would say, we. 233 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: Both came to know you in two thousand and nine 234 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 1: on the WTA tour when you were a coach to 235 00:14:10,640 --> 00:14:13,560 Speaker 1: KYM classes. She was making her comeback as a mother. 236 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: Are there specific requirements in coaching a player who is 237 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:18,280 Speaker 1: also a. 238 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 3: Mom, I mean the coaching, the coaching is coaching. You know, 239 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 3: you tried to make your player a champion, that's a 240 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:31,320 Speaker 3: ultimate goal, but obviously have you need understanding that that 241 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:35,600 Speaker 3: it's probably a little bit different than coaching a twenty 242 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:41,640 Speaker 3: year old like just traveling by herself. Right, So I 243 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 3: do feel now with Naomi, not much has changed. She 244 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 3: always had a good structure in her training and also 245 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 3: at the tournaments where we start early in the morning, 246 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,240 Speaker 3: around eight or nine the latest, and then we just 247 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 3: do all the work together until around two or three, 248 00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 3: and that's kind of how we've done it in the 249 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:03,800 Speaker 3: past and kind of how we do it now, and 250 00:15:03,840 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 3: then she has she has the rest of the day 251 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 3: for her daughter, and you know, it's it's it's obviously 252 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,040 Speaker 3: very important that the player has that's like, that's a 253 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 3: good structure. But with home it was that guy in 254 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 3: the past, and kind of with with Kim, we we 255 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 3: did it more or less the same training early in 256 00:15:23,840 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 3: the morning and the afternoon more off for the for 257 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 3: the family. 258 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 2: So hearing how you talk about coaching and preparing players, 259 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 2: one thing that you have a lot of experience doing 260 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 2: is coaching against Serena Williams. I just finished reading Ben 261 00:15:37,800 --> 00:15:40,480 Speaker 2: Rothenberg's book about Naomi Osaka, and there was a part 262 00:15:40,520 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 2: in it where he spoke to you about your success 263 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 2: coaching players to victories against her. I think he've worked 264 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 2: with six different players who have beaten Serena, which I 265 00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:51,960 Speaker 2: think actually might be a record for a coach. So 266 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 2: I wondered if you were maybe able to share with 267 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 2: us now that she's retired, what is the secret to 268 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:57,280 Speaker 2: beating Serena? 269 00:15:57,760 --> 00:16:00,800 Speaker 3: You know, that's honestly, it's a great that are super 270 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:05,560 Speaker 3: proud of that. You know, Serena, I mean obviously the 271 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:08,280 Speaker 3: best player all time, the best female player all time, 272 00:16:09,360 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 3: so much respect for her. But yeah, I mean first 273 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 3: step was always making the player believe that there is 274 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:25,960 Speaker 3: a chance to win. I think Serena definitely won a 275 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:31,000 Speaker 3: lot of matches before the match started and making I 276 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 3: think making the player aware of like what was going 277 00:16:35,520 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 3: to happen even before the match would start. You know, say, 278 00:16:40,000 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 3: she likes to be a little bit late before the 279 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 3: start of the match, so she she she likes to 280 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 3: make you wait. There are a couple of other like 281 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 3: things she would she would do before the match to 282 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 3: really show her presence, and you know, I think just 283 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 3: going on the court and like being there for the 284 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 3: for the toss and seeing seeing readA on the other 285 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:07,360 Speaker 3: side is not easy to to stay calm like. So 286 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 3: it's it's it's super important. That was the first step 287 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 3: to be really like okay, knowing understanding what's going to happen, 288 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 3: and then be fully prepared for that. And then yeah, tactically, 289 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 3: of course, I've beaten Serena with I think, yeah, six 290 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:26,439 Speaker 3: different players, so all these players had kind of different 291 00:17:26,560 --> 00:17:30,040 Speaker 3: different weapons are and different strengths and weaknesses, so it's 292 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:35,240 Speaker 3: always a little bit the yeah, a little bit personal. 293 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:41,760 Speaker 3: But there were I mean, if I if I would 294 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 3: say like three things. It was obviously that she was 295 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,119 Speaker 3: struggling a bit with with a low slide where she 296 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 3: has to move in the court and really getting under 297 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 3: the ball. That was like the match lost to let's 298 00:17:54,040 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 3: say Vinci. That was that was very clear that she 299 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 3: that she was struggling with that balls at her body 300 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 3: like from the return and also from a defense position. 301 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 3: If you would let's say play the defense cross that 302 00:18:08,680 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 3: would be a lot more comfortable than if you were 303 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:13,199 Speaker 3: able to play it like long at her at her 304 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 3: body that she has to like get more distance to 305 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 3: the ball, and I do feel in tight situations just 306 00:18:22,080 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 3: the fall and was letting her down just a little 307 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,840 Speaker 3: bit more than then the back end. Like those I 308 00:18:26,840 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 3: think those three were, yeah, were very important. And just mentally, 309 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:38,720 Speaker 3: she was winning so many matches so easy that like 310 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 3: if you would just stay mentally like believing that there 311 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,119 Speaker 3: was always kind of a window where she was like 312 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:51,840 Speaker 3: going down a bit bitter level and that was I 313 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 3: felt that was always the moment that, yeah, that you 314 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 3: needed to be ready for. And because she wont so 315 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:03,720 Speaker 3: many that's just easily. She was also not too comfortable 316 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 3: when it would go to a five all or a 317 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:07,800 Speaker 3: six all level because it was like she was not 318 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:12,200 Speaker 3: experiencing that a lot. So yeah, I mean I would 319 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 3: say a lot of like all these things a little 320 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 3: bit together. But I think on the other hand, most 321 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,119 Speaker 3: important you had to hope that she wasn't having like 322 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:27,520 Speaker 3: her very very best day because at her best, like 323 00:19:27,880 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 3: you could have the best tactics doing those but I 324 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 3: don't know, ten years she was she was unbeatable, like 325 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 3: that's that's clear. She was far better than than all 326 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:41,480 Speaker 3: the rest of the game. Whim. 327 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 1: You've had an amazing coaching career where you've coached multiple 328 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:48,440 Speaker 1: players to Grand Slam titles or finals. Do you have 329 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: a sort of look back on tennis history and think 330 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:54,360 Speaker 1: I would have loved to have coached that particular player. 331 00:19:56,119 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 3: When I when I started my career in two dozen nine, 332 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:04,960 Speaker 3: my dream is actually to coach or I thought the 333 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 3: highest possible I could achieve was to coach Maria Sharpova. 334 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 3: I think, yeah, she was, Yeah, she was such an 335 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:18,959 Speaker 3: interesting player. She was also like an unbelievable good player. 336 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:23,240 Speaker 3: But yeah, I felt like I would have been super 337 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 3: excited to coach her and to make her, like, yeah, 338 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,960 Speaker 3: tried to make her a better player, and like especially 339 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 3: the last yeah five six years of her career. I 340 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:38,000 Speaker 3: think that would have been like super interesting project for myself, 341 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,120 Speaker 3: and I think I could have been a val valuable 342 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,560 Speaker 3: coach for her. But yeah, that's you know, she had 343 00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 3: other great she had really great coaches during her career, 344 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,480 Speaker 3: and she always had like the best people around her. 345 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:54,239 Speaker 3: And but yeah, like that was definitely a player that 346 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,080 Speaker 3: I would have loved to coach. 347 00:20:56,119 --> 00:20:58,280 Speaker 1: Here, Yeah, as tennis fans, I think we would have 348 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,399 Speaker 1: loved to have seen that too. So on a personal level, 349 00:21:01,520 --> 00:21:03,760 Speaker 1: how do you balance your family life with your life 350 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:04,840 Speaker 1: as a traveling coach. 351 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 3: I think I have a very understanding family. I think 352 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:15,159 Speaker 3: that that's the first one. But my children kind of 353 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:17,639 Speaker 3: grew up like they were born in the time that 354 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,640 Speaker 3: I was doing this, so so I think my oldest son, 355 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 3: who's now eight, it was like two or three years 356 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,440 Speaker 3: ago where he actually asked me the question, like, hey, 357 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 3: my friend says his dad is home every night, so 358 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 3: he kind of thought that, like when dad goes to work, 359 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 3: it's normal that he's gone for like three or four 360 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 3: weeks and then he's home maybe a week or two. 361 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 3: So for them, it's kind of normal. They haven't experienced 362 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,679 Speaker 3: anything else, and I think that's that's helping us. I 363 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 3: think some some coaches decide to stay home when when 364 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 3: the kids are very very young, and I think that 365 00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:00,560 Speaker 3: makes it a little bit more different a girl. Then 366 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 3: let's say suddenly the kids are three and four years 367 00:22:03,359 --> 00:22:06,800 Speaker 3: old and then suddenly the father starts traveling like four 368 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 3: or five weeks in a row. I think that's like 369 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 3: a big shock for the family. So we yeah, like 370 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:17,200 Speaker 3: we we we we have done it since since the 371 00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 3: kids are born we're luckily my wife is at home, 372 00:22:21,680 --> 00:22:24,199 Speaker 3: so she she can take care of the kids and 373 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 3: bring them to school, pick them up, bring them to 374 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:32,679 Speaker 3: the hobbies, bringing to the tennis, the football. So the kids, 375 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 3: let's say, they're they're having they're having a wonderful time 376 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,680 Speaker 3: even when I'm when I'm when I'm gone, when I'm traveling, 377 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:42,880 Speaker 3: And every year we tried to do at least one 378 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:46,080 Speaker 3: trip together, and like recently we did the Indian Wells 379 00:22:46,119 --> 00:22:49,159 Speaker 3: Miami trip, which they have done already a few times, 380 00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,000 Speaker 3: and they're they're super happy to be there and have 381 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,440 Speaker 3: some have some sunshine after the cold winter in Belgium. 382 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 3: The most important spend spend time together and do lots 383 00:22:59,040 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 3: of fun activity together. 384 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 2: It's been really clear from talking to you today just 385 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 2: how passionate you are about coaching. That's really come through 386 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:09,040 Speaker 2: in this chat. And I just wondered that, since you've 387 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 2: done this for fifteen years and started back in two 388 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,640 Speaker 2: thousand and nine, what is it that you must love 389 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 2: about coaching and walk tim motivated to continue? Like do 390 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 2: you think it might be something you could still be 391 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:20,480 Speaker 2: doing in another fifteen years from now? 392 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:24,560 Speaker 3: Yeah? And when I started, it was obviously not clear 393 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:28,439 Speaker 3: like how my career would go, and also if I 394 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:31,240 Speaker 3: would get a lot of chances to coach like good 395 00:23:31,280 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 3: players on the tour. So I don't think I imagined 396 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 3: in two thousand and nine that I was going to 397 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:42,679 Speaker 3: be here in twenty twenty four and coaching someone like 398 00:23:42,760 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 3: Naomi Osaka, and I never dreamed about that. But I think, 399 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:52,359 Speaker 3: like you said, everything starts with passion. And since the 400 00:23:52,400 --> 00:23:55,439 Speaker 3: first time I picked up a tennis recket, tennis has 401 00:23:55,480 --> 00:24:00,080 Speaker 3: always been, yeah, my biggest passion. I still loved to 402 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 3: play every time, Like now me thinks it's very funny, 403 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 3: but every time I get like she's still warming up 404 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:07,040 Speaker 3: and I get like five minutes to hit the ball, 405 00:24:07,080 --> 00:24:09,240 Speaker 3: and I'm I'm like the happiest person in the world. 406 00:24:09,240 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 3: And no, I think also like just my personality, I 407 00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 3: love to I love to I love to give, And 408 00:24:16,680 --> 00:24:20,160 Speaker 3: I think the coaching role is like the the perfect 409 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:24,400 Speaker 3: role for me. Where I am I'm in the background, 410 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 3: like trying to to help as much as possible and 411 00:24:27,760 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 3: with my with my knowledge, but also with my passion 412 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:32,760 Speaker 3: and give the give the energy to the player and 413 00:24:34,440 --> 00:24:38,199 Speaker 3: let her feel the passion as well. And yeah, just 414 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:44,399 Speaker 3: also with with the ambition I have to, yeah, to 415 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:48,359 Speaker 3: win Grand Slams and to to make the player the 416 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 3: number one in the world if possible. But yeah, that's 417 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,160 Speaker 3: I think that's the whole package. Yeah, fits me really well. 418 00:24:54,440 --> 00:24:56,560 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Wim. It's been great to talk 419 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:58,719 Speaker 1: to you, and good luck for the weeks and the 420 00:24:58,720 --> 00:24:59,439 Speaker 1: months ahead. 421 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:01,080 Speaker 3: Thank you very much, both of you. 422 00:25:04,760 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: So, Matt's some absolute nuggets there from Whim, and I 423 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: loved hearing in particular that the player he would have 424 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 1: loved to have coached was Maria Sharapova. 425 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:17,119 Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought that was really interesting, and yeah, it 426 00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,600 Speaker 2: was just absolutely fascinating to know because we'd spoken about 427 00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:24,199 Speaker 2: his success coaching players against Serena, but on the flip side, 428 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:27,600 Speaker 2: Sharapova notoriously struggled against Serena and I think lost their 429 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 2: last nineteen matches in a row. So, you know, would 430 00:25:31,359 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 2: if Wim had have been working with Maria, would he 431 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:35,080 Speaker 2: have helped her make a dent in that head to 432 00:25:35,119 --> 00:25:37,720 Speaker 2: head I don't know, and that's something we'll never know, 433 00:25:37,840 --> 00:25:39,800 Speaker 2: but fascinating to contemplate. 434 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely, And what we do know is we'll be 435 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: back next week with another episode of the sit Down, 436 00:25:46,560 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: and in the meantime, you can listen to John and 437 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:52,800 Speaker 1: the team on the AO Show weekly this Thursday, and. 438 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:54,800 Speaker 2: For details on how to contact us, you'll find them 439 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 2: in the show notes. And in the meantime, please subscribe, 440 00:25:57,560 --> 00:26:00,720 Speaker 2: rate and review Good to see if you next week. 441 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:07,840 Speaker 1: Look forward to it, Matt oh mm hmm.