1 00:00:02,390 --> 00:00:04,810 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to The Sit Down. I'm Viv Christie, 2 00:00:04,870 --> 00:00:06,810 Speaker 1: Managing Editor of Australian Tennis Magazine. 3 00:00:06,970 --> 00:00:09,250 Speaker 2: And I'm Matt Trollope, a writer for ozopen.com. 4 00:00:09,710 --> 00:00:11,710 Speaker 1: And Matt, why are we sitting down this week with 5 00:00:11,810 --> 00:00:12,530 Speaker 1: Paul McNamee? 6 00:00:12,830 --> 00:00:15,510 Speaker 3: Well, we actually did earlier this year in April, but 7 00:00:15,530 --> 00:00:17,489 Speaker 3: because we had such a long time with him, back 8 00:00:17,510 --> 00:00:19,230 Speaker 3: then we were talking to him about the clay court 9 00:00:19,270 --> 00:00:21,950 Speaker 3: season and his book about clay court tennis. While we 10 00:00:21,989 --> 00:00:24,329 Speaker 3: had him, he's obviously a former tournament director of the 11 00:00:24,370 --> 00:00:26,890 Speaker 3: Australian Open, so we asked him to kind of relive 12 00:00:26,910 --> 00:00:29,110 Speaker 3: some of his favourite memories and we thought, With the 13 00:00:29,230 --> 00:00:31,450 Speaker 3: AO coming very soon, this would be the perfect time 14 00:00:31,470 --> 00:00:33,730 Speaker 3: to run part two of that interview, which is much 15 00:00:33,750 --> 00:00:35,090 Speaker 3: more of an Australian Open focus. 16 00:00:35,370 --> 00:00:38,580 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've been very excited to revisit the second part 17 00:00:38,590 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: of this conversation. Let's hear what Paul has to say. 18 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:46,559 Speaker 3: You mentioned the Australian Open, and obviously you were the 19 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 3: tournament director for more than a decade. I had a 20 00:00:49,180 --> 00:00:52,659 Speaker 3: question to ask you about the 2005 AO, because I 21 00:00:52,700 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 3: remember that one really clearly, the centenary one, and it 22 00:00:54,740 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 3: was so amazing on so many levels. But I had 23 00:00:57,360 --> 00:01:00,890 Speaker 3: actually just before this interview chatted to a journalist, Susie Pekowski, 24 00:01:01,350 --> 00:01:04,110 Speaker 3: about the Agassi Sampras 95 final. And she reminded me 25 00:01:04,130 --> 00:01:06,210 Speaker 3: that that was your first year as tournament director then. 26 00:01:06,390 --> 00:01:06,590 Speaker 4: Yeah. 27 00:01:06,930 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 2: And she said that. 28 00:01:08,319 --> 00:01:12,060 Speaker 3: You really move the tournament forward compared to 1994. Like 29 00:01:12,260 --> 00:01:14,580 Speaker 3: that was when the Serving Man logo was introduced and 30 00:01:14,920 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 3: night tennis became. 31 00:01:15,580 --> 00:01:17,220 Speaker 5: More of a thing. The Australianisation we called it, yeah, 32 00:01:17,260 --> 00:01:18,319 Speaker 5: the Australianisation, yeah. 33 00:01:18,540 --> 00:01:20,220 Speaker 3: And so I guess that kind of those two, the 34 00:01:20,220 --> 00:01:23,900 Speaker 3: 95 and the 2005 AO, kind of really successfully bookended 35 00:01:23,940 --> 00:01:25,300 Speaker 3: your time. 36 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:27,080 Speaker 2: Did you do 2006 as well? 37 00:01:27,140 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 5: I did, yeah, where. 38 00:01:28,020 --> 00:01:30,640 Speaker 4: Federer beat Baghdadis and Justine Hansen. 39 00:01:31,140 --> 00:01:32,940 Speaker 5: And then didn't finish the match. 40 00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 2: Oh, that's right. 41 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:35,760 Speaker 5: Which I wasn't happy about, by the way. 42 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:39,030 Speaker 3: But those two, I guess, in particular, 95 AO and 43 00:01:39,030 --> 00:01:41,990 Speaker 3: 05 AO, are really significant for two reasons. Yeah, the 44 00:01:42,010 --> 00:01:46,509 Speaker 3: Sampras accuracy final. And the Centenary, I think, holds the record. Sampras, 45 00:01:46,610 --> 00:01:49,090 Speaker 3: Saffron and Hewitt, the most watched tennis match in Australia ever. 46 00:01:49,110 --> 00:01:51,490 Speaker 4: Well, it was the most watched TV program in the 47 00:01:51,570 --> 00:01:54,550 Speaker 4: history of Australian television until the Matilda semi-final. 48 00:01:54,590 --> 00:01:54,950 Speaker 2: That's right. 49 00:01:54,990 --> 00:01:57,530 Speaker 5: No, they've never had ratings since then. 50 00:01:57,690 --> 00:01:57,890 Speaker 2: Yeah. 51 00:01:57,940 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 5: As good as that. I mean... There'll be a debate 52 00:02:01,180 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 5: whether the. 53 00:02:01,420 --> 00:02:05,420 Speaker 4: 19 Australian Open 2019 was the greatest, which, I mean, 54 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 4: Craig and I can disagree. I'll say the 05. There 55 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 4: was never a tournament like 05. The top four men 56 00:02:10,900 --> 00:02:14,019 Speaker 4: made the semis. Four shows were in the top ten 57 00:02:15,020 --> 00:02:19,340 Speaker 4: of the year in ratings in Australia, and the Safin-Hewitt 58 00:02:19,380 --> 00:02:22,430 Speaker 4: final was the most watched match, even ahead of Royal 59 00:02:22,470 --> 00:02:24,770 Speaker 4: Weddings until, boy, that would be, don't. 60 00:02:24,690 --> 00:02:27,190 Speaker 5: Ask me, but until the.... 61 00:02:29,020 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 4: Until the Matildas. So the Matildas broke all records. But 62 00:02:32,820 --> 00:02:36,220 Speaker 4: until then it was– so it was an amazing year and, 63 00:02:37,540 --> 00:02:40,119 Speaker 4: you know, we had so much to celebrate that year 64 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 4: and it was just unbelievable. And Rocket came back and 65 00:02:42,340 --> 00:02:44,940 Speaker 4: they'd hit with Leighton. There was just so many things 66 00:02:44,970 --> 00:02:45,370 Speaker 4: going on. 67 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:49,670 Speaker 3: Yeah, I guess you remember those tournaments more fondly than 68 00:02:49,690 --> 00:02:50,270 Speaker 3: the other ones perhaps. 69 00:02:50,290 --> 00:02:50,489 Speaker 5: Well, no. 70 00:02:50,510 --> 00:02:52,310 Speaker 4: But the reason 95 was important was because it was 71 00:02:52,330 --> 00:02:55,799 Speaker 4: the first time Agassi had played and– I kind of 72 00:02:55,820 --> 00:02:57,679 Speaker 4: took advantage of that because I know he's not a 73 00:02:57,700 --> 00:02:59,460 Speaker 4: student of history of the game, you know, because he 74 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:02,430 Speaker 4: played guys. I don't know the guy I'm playing. And 75 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:04,770 Speaker 4: they go, but he played the Davis Cup final from Germany. 76 00:03:05,130 --> 00:03:05,510 Speaker 5: Oh, did he? 77 00:03:05,930 --> 00:03:09,750 Speaker 4: Okay, so Andre, because with Stubbs, the late Stubbs, a 78 00:03:09,770 --> 00:03:12,330 Speaker 4: great guy, Colin Stubbs, and he had this thing that 79 00:03:12,370 --> 00:03:14,390 Speaker 4: the players only want to play once at night at 80 00:03:14,410 --> 00:03:18,830 Speaker 4: the Australian Open back then. And I go, well, I'm 81 00:03:18,870 --> 00:03:22,230 Speaker 4: sure Andre doesn't know that because it's his first Australian Open. 82 00:03:22,290 --> 00:03:23,730 Speaker 4: So I said, Andre, look, you're going to have to 83 00:03:23,750 --> 00:03:25,910 Speaker 4: play twice at night. He said, can it be once 84 00:03:25,970 --> 00:03:27,049 Speaker 4: a first week, once a second? 85 00:03:27,370 --> 00:03:30,070 Speaker 5: Yeah, no way. Then I knew it was done. We got, 86 00:03:30,150 --> 00:03:30,790 Speaker 5: we won. 87 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 4: And the second weekend I played Pat Rafter on this. 88 00:03:33,660 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 5: Which was just off the scale, right? 89 00:03:35,180 --> 00:03:38,500 Speaker 4: So we had this, so it all worked out, all 90 00:03:38,540 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 4: worked out beautifully in 95. And of course, poor Pete, 91 00:03:41,140 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 4: you know, he lost, Tim Gullickson was, confirmed he had 92 00:03:44,380 --> 00:03:46,220 Speaker 4: cancer and you know and pete was crying on the 93 00:03:46,280 --> 00:03:48,690 Speaker 4: court in his match against courier that was a quarterfinal 94 00:03:48,710 --> 00:03:51,110 Speaker 4: we had and and was the first time samperson agassi 95 00:03:51,130 --> 00:03:52,910 Speaker 4: who were the two best players of that year had 96 00:03:52,990 --> 00:03:55,150 Speaker 4: played in a final of a grand slam and it 97 00:03:55,190 --> 00:03:57,809 Speaker 4: happened here in australia so after that jeff i went 98 00:03:57,830 --> 00:03:59,220 Speaker 4: to jeff and i said you know we've got to 99 00:03:59,250 --> 00:04:02,559 Speaker 4: make our move on the atp uh because we had 100 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:04,820 Speaker 4: double we had equal ranking points with the other slams 101 00:04:04,860 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 4: for the women's but we didn't have it for the 102 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 4: men's we didn't have the same ranking points as the 103 00:04:08,380 --> 00:04:11,020 Speaker 4: other three grand sands people didn't realize that so I said, 104 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 4: now's the moment. 105 00:04:11,700 --> 00:04:14,580 Speaker 5: We had Sampras Agassi. It was an off-the-scale tournament, 95. 106 00:04:14,580 --> 00:04:16,060 Speaker 5: So we went and the ATP. 107 00:04:15,740 --> 00:04:20,830 Speaker 4: Agreed to equal ranking points. So that was the first time, 96, 108 00:04:20,810 --> 00:04:24,909 Speaker 4: that the Australian Open had the same points as the 109 00:04:24,930 --> 00:04:27,289 Speaker 4: other Grand Slams. And then we eventually got the prize 110 00:04:27,330 --> 00:04:29,170 Speaker 4: money up to equal the others and, in fact, exceeded. 111 00:04:29,230 --> 00:04:33,409 Speaker 4: So I don't particularly love the arms race between the slams. 112 00:04:33,610 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 4: I just think they're four equal partners of this beautiful, 113 00:04:37,029 --> 00:04:40,250 Speaker 4: chain called the Grand Slam. So we were never trying 114 00:04:40,270 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 4: to be better, I didn't think, when I was in charge. 115 00:04:44,380 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 4: But I felt that to be equal, we probably needed 116 00:04:49,400 --> 00:04:51,020 Speaker 4: to be a little bit better, you know, because it 117 00:04:51,140 --> 00:04:53,360 Speaker 4: was just the history. We didn't have the history of 118 00:04:53,380 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 4: the others in terms of the great players. And it's 119 00:04:56,560 --> 00:04:59,779 Speaker 4: just gone from strength and strength since 2006. I mean, 120 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:03,530 Speaker 4: it's an incredible tournament. The facility is the best. 121 00:05:03,370 --> 00:05:03,789 Speaker 5: In the world. 122 00:05:05,270 --> 00:05:07,290 Speaker 4: You know, it was a great year this year with 123 00:05:07,310 --> 00:05:08,690 Speaker 4: Yannick Sinner breaking through. 124 00:05:10,380 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 5: You know, it's very deep. 125 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:16,940 Speaker 4: I love clay from a playing perspective, but of course 126 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,220 Speaker 4: this Grand Open is the closest to me because of 127 00:05:19,220 --> 00:05:23,500 Speaker 4: 12 wonderful years I had here. And for me personally, 128 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:25,260 Speaker 4: I won the junior event of this Grand Open, I 129 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,460 Speaker 4: won the doubles, and I've become tournament director. 130 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:29,980 Speaker 5: So it means a lot to me. 131 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:32,180 Speaker 3: Yeah, and a nice kind of full circle that you 132 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,390 Speaker 3: went through all of the stages of it. You might 133 00:05:34,420 --> 00:05:36,960 Speaker 3: have already said it, but was there a particular... Is 134 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,279 Speaker 3: there one greatest highlight for you as tournament director in 135 00:05:40,300 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 3: those 12 years? 136 00:05:41,460 --> 00:05:45,140 Speaker 5: Ooh. Look, I think. 137 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 4: Well, 2005 was the standout year, the centenary, and we 138 00:05:50,020 --> 00:05:56,230 Speaker 4: did justice to the centenary of the tournament. And the 139 00:05:56,260 --> 00:06:00,670 Speaker 4: semifinals were amazing when Leighton beat Roddick and Safin came 140 00:06:00,690 --> 00:06:02,450 Speaker 4: from match point down and beat Roger Federer. 141 00:06:02,510 --> 00:06:02,750 Speaker 5: And then. 142 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:08,919 Speaker 4: The final was incredible. You know, Leighton was winning that final. 143 00:06:08,980 --> 00:06:12,900 Speaker 4: I mean, he's a set up and in control in 144 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 4: the second set. And Ivan, the physio, Leighton's physio. 145 00:06:19,550 --> 00:06:23,390 Speaker 5: Gutierrez? Yeah, Ivan Gutierrez. He gets caught by Leighton in 146 00:06:23,410 --> 00:06:25,690 Speaker 5: the first set. No problem. It all looks good. Leighton's 147 00:06:25,710 --> 00:06:26,349 Speaker 5: winning the match. 148 00:06:26,770 --> 00:06:30,890 Speaker 4: In the second set, it's like 3-2, Leighton on serve 149 00:06:30,910 --> 00:06:34,150 Speaker 4: and Safin calls for Ivan because they can choose which trainer. 150 00:06:34,190 --> 00:06:36,070 Speaker 4: It's odd that both players have the same trainer in 151 00:06:36,089 --> 00:06:38,090 Speaker 4: a final, but the player gets to choose the final 152 00:06:38,110 --> 00:06:40,510 Speaker 4: because they can choose which ATP guy and tournament rep 153 00:06:40,529 --> 00:06:44,750 Speaker 4: they want. Ivan goes out there and I go, he 154 00:06:44,790 --> 00:06:48,290 Speaker 4: comes back and I said, what's up with Marad? He goes, 155 00:06:49,310 --> 00:06:53,469 Speaker 4: he said he's playing so badly. He's sad and he's 156 00:06:53,589 --> 00:06:58,470 Speaker 4: lonely and he just wanted somebody to talk to. He 157 00:06:58,490 --> 00:07:01,070 Speaker 4: just wanted to talk about it, how bad he's feeling. 158 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 4: So I said I'd just listen to him and he said, look, 159 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:04,940 Speaker 4: I'm really lonely. 160 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 5: This is awful, you know. 161 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:06,900 Speaker 3: Oh. 162 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:11,980 Speaker 5: Turned the match. Turned the match. Broke. Broke late and 163 00:07:12,120 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 5: end of match. 164 00:07:12,620 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 2: Incredible. Turned the match. 165 00:07:14,900 --> 00:07:15,460 Speaker 5: Turned the match. 166 00:07:17,110 --> 00:07:19,310 Speaker 2: Didn't even take a panadol or something. 167 00:07:20,130 --> 00:07:21,500 Speaker 5: No, he just wanted someone to talk to. 168 00:07:21,510 --> 00:07:21,580 Speaker 4: Wow. 169 00:07:21,570 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 2: 2005 was really... I do remember that one a lot. 170 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,790 Speaker 4: Well, the other thing about that, yeah, we had a 171 00:07:29,820 --> 00:07:33,230 Speaker 4: live site for American Express at the Sydney Opera House. 172 00:07:33,730 --> 00:07:36,450 Speaker 4: And on Australia Day, we had... Leighton was playing a 173 00:07:36,490 --> 00:07:38,630 Speaker 4: young Spanish guy who I knew was good because I 174 00:07:38,670 --> 00:07:41,690 Speaker 4: had seen him play in Monte Carlo, right, when. 175 00:07:41,570 --> 00:07:42,310 Speaker 5: He was 16. 176 00:07:42,310 --> 00:07:45,310 Speaker 4: And this guy is amazing, right? So I'm going, that 177 00:07:45,410 --> 00:07:49,910 Speaker 4: match is a big match, right? Hewitt Nadal, the young Nadal. 178 00:07:49,950 --> 00:07:52,270 Speaker 5: No one's heard of him yet. That's on Centre Court 179 00:07:52,410 --> 00:07:53,500 Speaker 5: on Broadway Arena and then. 180 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:58,270 Speaker 4: Then we've got Alicia Mollick's playing Venus Williams. Oh, yeah. 181 00:07:58,630 --> 00:07:59,210 Speaker 2: I remember that match. 182 00:07:59,330 --> 00:07:59,730 Speaker 5: Yeah. 183 00:07:59,750 --> 00:08:03,450 Speaker 4: So these are the two, Matt, on Australia Day, Sydney 184 00:08:03,490 --> 00:08:05,550 Speaker 4: Opera House is a live site. You know how many 185 00:08:05,730 --> 00:08:10,010 Speaker 4: people went to that live site that day? 75,000 people 186 00:08:10,510 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 4: went to the Opera House in Sydney to watch the 187 00:08:12,890 --> 00:08:14,900 Speaker 4: Australian Open in Melbourne. There was more people than the 188 00:08:14,940 --> 00:08:18,860 Speaker 4: tournament in Sydney was getting, right? For one day to 189 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:22,270 Speaker 4: watch the Australian Open, that thing went– You know, they've 190 00:08:22,290 --> 00:08:24,210 Speaker 4: had live sites, but this was 75,000. 191 00:08:23,950 --> 00:08:27,420 Speaker 5: People, okay? If you had an Amex card, you sat 192 00:08:27,460 --> 00:08:29,740 Speaker 5: front and right. That was the only perk you had, right? 193 00:08:29,780 --> 00:08:31,210 Speaker 5: But unbelievable. 194 00:08:31,250 --> 00:08:35,569 Speaker 4: And, of course, Alicia, they both won. Alicia then got 195 00:08:36,130 --> 00:08:39,830 Speaker 4: ripped off by– bad line call against Davenport in the quarters, 196 00:08:39,870 --> 00:08:42,210 Speaker 4: which was a tragedy. So we had the line calling 197 00:08:42,270 --> 00:08:43,459 Speaker 4: ready for the next year. 198 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:46,940 Speaker 5: You know, yeah. 199 00:08:47,059 --> 00:08:51,460 Speaker 4: And now they're hardly, as a profession, it's almost extinct now, 200 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:54,220 Speaker 4: which is sad. But the reality is, you know, technology 201 00:08:54,240 --> 00:08:56,610 Speaker 4: has moved on. But, yeah, look, that year has to 202 00:08:56,620 --> 00:09:01,050 Speaker 4: be the highlight. Yeah, there were some amazing matches over 203 00:09:01,070 --> 00:09:04,689 Speaker 4: the years, of course. But I still get a massive 204 00:09:04,710 --> 00:09:05,810 Speaker 4: thrill going to the tournament. 205 00:09:05,830 --> 00:09:06,610 Speaker 5: I was so sad. 206 00:09:06,950 --> 00:09:08,949 Speaker 4: Was it on your program that Pat Cash said that 207 00:09:09,470 --> 00:09:12,410 Speaker 4: he feels sad every time he goes into Melbourne Park? 208 00:09:12,450 --> 00:09:13,809 Speaker 5: He might have had him on. Invite him on. 209 00:09:13,809 --> 00:09:16,030 Speaker 2: No, I think it was the documentary. 210 00:09:16,050 --> 00:09:18,450 Speaker 5: He feels left out sometimes, okay? 211 00:09:18,510 --> 00:09:21,130 Speaker 2: It was the doco, wasn't it? Oh, yeah, that's the doco. 212 00:09:21,210 --> 00:09:21,630 Speaker 5: That's true. 213 00:09:21,650 --> 00:09:22,429 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's true. 214 00:09:22,730 --> 00:09:25,620 Speaker 5: You know, the doco, the AR, whatever. Yeah, I was 215 00:09:25,650 --> 00:09:27,010 Speaker 5: interviewed for that as well, I remember. 216 00:09:27,179 --> 00:09:30,219 Speaker 4: So Cash, he just said how sad he feels because 217 00:09:30,260 --> 00:09:31,380 Speaker 4: he lost those two finals. 218 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 5: But, I mean, I feel sad that he feels. 219 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,720 Speaker 4: So sad about it because– You know, to be honest, 220 00:09:39,100 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 4: today's the day, right? 221 00:09:41,540 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely. 222 00:09:43,140 --> 00:09:45,040 Speaker 5: Yeah, so, you know, I don't feel that way. 223 00:09:45,070 --> 00:09:46,910 Speaker 4: I mean, and I lost, I had a match point 224 00:09:46,929 --> 00:09:48,929 Speaker 4: in the semis and lost in the singles, which is 225 00:09:49,030 --> 00:09:51,030 Speaker 4: tough for someone like me. I would get one chance, didn't, 226 00:09:51,870 --> 00:09:55,030 Speaker 4: you know, didn't happen and then I remember it. But, 227 00:09:56,030 --> 00:09:59,610 Speaker 4: you know, I think, you know, it is what it is, 228 00:09:59,690 --> 00:09:59,890 Speaker 4: you know. 229 00:10:00,230 --> 00:10:02,330 Speaker 5: This is life. Stuff happens, right? 230 00:10:02,850 --> 00:10:03,390 Speaker 2: Exactly. 231 00:10:04,500 --> 00:10:06,840 Speaker 3: And you've talked a lot about coaching as well and 232 00:10:06,980 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 3: you obviously have a great coaching partnership with Sue, I say. 233 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:14,250 Speaker 3: She's having a great comeback. to the sport now, which is, 234 00:10:14,270 --> 00:10:16,170 Speaker 3: what is she holding, three of the four major titles 235 00:10:16,250 --> 00:10:16,650 Speaker 3: or something? 236 00:10:16,670 --> 00:10:17,550 Speaker 5: Yeah, plus the Aussie mix. 237 00:10:17,570 --> 00:10:19,380 Speaker 4: So she's won four in the last four and she's 238 00:10:19,420 --> 00:10:20,420 Speaker 4: back to number one in the world. 239 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:21,800 Speaker 2: Which is absolutely incredible. 240 00:10:21,820 --> 00:10:22,260 Speaker 5: Amazing. 241 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 2: Yeah. 242 00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:24,599 Speaker 3: So what's it been like working with her? She's a 243 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,870 Speaker 3: very unorthodox player, obviously, and a great character in the game. 244 00:10:28,570 --> 00:10:30,689 Speaker 2: And you're about to go to Madrid with. 245 00:10:30,590 --> 00:10:32,290 Speaker 5: Her, right? Yeah, correct. Next week. 246 00:10:32,429 --> 00:10:32,790 Speaker 2: Next week. 247 00:10:32,850 --> 00:10:33,610 Speaker 5: Yeah, next week. 248 00:10:33,850 --> 00:10:34,490 Speaker 2: So what's that been like? 249 00:10:35,370 --> 00:10:36,470 Speaker 5: Oh, look, it's been a rollercoaster. 250 00:10:36,510 --> 00:10:39,550 Speaker 4: I mean, I saw her play first time at Hopman 251 00:10:39,570 --> 00:10:41,790 Speaker 4: Cup when I was running that and I just saw 252 00:10:41,950 --> 00:10:45,770 Speaker 4: the talent there and the way she played angles and 253 00:10:46,910 --> 00:10:50,150 Speaker 4: chess in a way. She never really ever had a serve, 254 00:10:50,170 --> 00:10:52,700 Speaker 4: to be honest. It's still the case. Her serve has 255 00:10:52,740 --> 00:10:55,220 Speaker 4: been probably the worst on the tour. So to get to. 256 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,420 Speaker 5: Number one in the world with no serve is pretty good, 257 00:10:58,020 --> 00:10:58,460 Speaker 5: pretty good. 258 00:10:59,260 --> 00:11:04,800 Speaker 4: And this time last year, no ranking whatsoever. No ranking whatsoever. 259 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:05,860 Speaker 5: Zero, okay? 260 00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:09,220 Speaker 4: She'd been out for nearly two years. Started in Madrid 261 00:11:09,260 --> 00:11:11,300 Speaker 4: last year. First match for nearly two years. 262 00:11:13,300 --> 00:11:13,820 Speaker 5: I wasn't there. 263 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,780 Speaker 4: She lost first round. Went around, lost first round in Rome, 264 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,740 Speaker 4: then went to Roland-Garros and I started teaming up with 265 00:11:19,780 --> 00:11:23,620 Speaker 4: her there. Didn't have a partner. No ranking, but got 266 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,910 Speaker 4: in on protected ranking but not seeded. ended up one 267 00:11:26,950 --> 00:11:29,290 Speaker 4: minute to go on the sign-in with a Chinese player 268 00:11:29,309 --> 00:11:30,750 Speaker 4: who'd never done anything in doubles. 269 00:11:31,150 --> 00:11:33,250 Speaker 5: I said, can she serve? You know, she's a big girl. 270 00:11:33,309 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 5: Can she serve? Because she hit the ball hard. Yeah, yeah. Oh, well, 271 00:11:35,900 --> 00:11:39,680 Speaker 5: the sign-up. Wow. Unseated, they win. They win the French. 272 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:43,140 Speaker 5: So that was a pretty good start. So Storm, you know, 273 00:11:43,179 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 5: is out. 274 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,219 Speaker 4: For maybe a year with a– come back with a 275 00:11:45,250 --> 00:11:51,150 Speaker 4: protected ranking, Storm Sanders, Storm Hunter, excuse me. But– Sue 276 00:11:51,170 --> 00:11:53,230 Speaker 4: Way a year ago had no ranking either and has 277 00:11:53,270 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 4: got back to number one inside 12 months, which has 278 00:11:55,770 --> 00:11:57,770 Speaker 4: never happened before and will never happen again. But there 279 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,740 Speaker 4: is hope that it can be done. Barbara came out 280 00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:04,620 Speaker 4: after the baby, retirement, played Wimbledon and ended up winning. 281 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:06,819 Speaker 4: They couldn't win a match and they went Wimbledon and 282 00:12:06,860 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 4: then she didn't know who to play with at the 283 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:08,439 Speaker 4: US Open. 284 00:12:08,460 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 5: I wasn't there. Got the semis. 285 00:12:10,179 --> 00:12:13,900 Speaker 4: Then Aussie Open, Elise Mertens split up with Storm and then. 286 00:12:14,350 --> 00:12:16,530 Speaker 2: This is the thing too, different partners each time. Like 287 00:12:16,550 --> 00:12:16,929 Speaker 2: that's even harder. 288 00:12:16,950 --> 00:12:18,010 Speaker 5: You have to approach it differently. 289 00:12:18,030 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 4: But at the end of the day in doubles, it's 290 00:12:19,620 --> 00:12:21,540 Speaker 4: about the team, not about the player. 291 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 5: So the difficult. 292 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 4: Thing I think in the women's side in the doubles 293 00:12:27,940 --> 00:12:31,230 Speaker 4: is that you're dealing with also the coach of their partner. 294 00:12:31,730 --> 00:12:35,470 Speaker 4: And where I've been lucky is most of the time, 295 00:12:35,530 --> 00:12:38,150 Speaker 4: nearly all the time, the coach of Sue Way's partners, 296 00:12:38,170 --> 00:12:38,870 Speaker 4: she had many partners. 297 00:12:38,890 --> 00:12:40,830 Speaker 5: She won these three slams with three different players, by 298 00:12:40,870 --> 00:12:43,350 Speaker 5: the way, which is unusual. 299 00:12:45,330 --> 00:12:47,510 Speaker 4: The coach of her partners have allowed me to take 300 00:12:47,530 --> 00:12:50,050 Speaker 4: the lead role. One of us has to take the 301 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:52,500 Speaker 4: lead because we are going there as a team. We're 302 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,079 Speaker 4: not going with you've got your coach, you've got your coach. 303 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:56,459 Speaker 5: And we figure things out as we go. 304 00:12:56,580 --> 00:13:00,580 Speaker 4: No, we do the setup before the match. 305 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:04,420 Speaker 5: I scout the opponents heavily. We do the setup. We 306 00:13:04,580 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 5: work on it. 307 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,740 Speaker 4: I mean, for me, I wrote 60%, but really I 308 00:13:07,740 --> 00:13:08,740 Speaker 4: think 70% of the success happens. 309 00:13:12,220 --> 00:13:13,699 Speaker 5: Before you ever walk on the court. 310 00:13:14,220 --> 00:13:16,720 Speaker 4: I mean, that's just the last bit, playing the match. 311 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,340 Speaker 4: If you set up properly and you play half decent, 312 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 4: you win that match. But you've got to set up. 313 00:13:21,940 --> 00:13:23,880 Speaker 4: You've got to set up well and you've got to 314 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:27,329 Speaker 4: take away the strength of their opponent. You've got to 315 00:13:27,350 --> 00:13:31,429 Speaker 4: eliminate their weapon from the match. So I look at 316 00:13:31,450 --> 00:13:34,270 Speaker 4: their opponent and say, what's their biggest threat? 317 00:13:35,090 --> 00:13:37,730 Speaker 5: Ah, she's crossing a lot. Okay, how do we take 318 00:13:37,770 --> 00:13:39,350 Speaker 5: that out of the match? How do we. 319 00:13:39,210 --> 00:13:41,580 Speaker 4: Remove that from the match so that player's It's going 320 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 4: to be so angry they're not doing what they love 321 00:13:43,420 --> 00:13:46,660 Speaker 4: doing the best. So I'm very big on maximising our 322 00:13:46,700 --> 00:13:51,569 Speaker 4: set-up but trying to destroy the weapon of the opponent. And, 323 00:13:52,010 --> 00:13:57,050 Speaker 4: for example, you know, a good example, let's say Garcia 324 00:13:57,110 --> 00:14:00,250 Speaker 4: rips a forehand cross-court on the deuce side. Her forehand's 325 00:14:00,290 --> 00:14:02,069 Speaker 4: not her best shot, let's be honest, okay, but she 326 00:14:02,110 --> 00:14:05,680 Speaker 4: does rip it cross-court very well on the deuce side. 327 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:07,500 Speaker 4: I think she's better on the outside in doubles, but 328 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:08,380 Speaker 4: she's playing the deuce side. 329 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:08,800 Speaker 3: So, okay. 330 00:14:10,350 --> 00:14:11,630 Speaker 5: We take that away, make her. 331 00:14:11,550 --> 00:14:14,309 Speaker 4: Go down the line by playing eye formation against that. 332 00:14:14,390 --> 00:14:16,590 Speaker 5: So she's got to go down the line. Or she's 333 00:14:16,610 --> 00:14:18,150 Speaker 5: going to take the head off. She's going to take 334 00:14:18,170 --> 00:14:19,570 Speaker 5: the head off. But you can't take off Sue Way's head. 335 00:14:19,610 --> 00:14:20,410 Speaker 5: She's too good there. 336 00:14:20,430 --> 00:14:24,390 Speaker 4: So we put Sue Way against the weapon because her volleying, 337 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,620 Speaker 4: you know, her finishing volleys are the best in the world. 338 00:14:27,630 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 4: So we find a way to set up that suits us. 339 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:35,880 Speaker 4: And sometimes she's the queen of the net and sometimes 340 00:14:35,900 --> 00:14:37,380 Speaker 4: she's the queen of the baseline. I like to have 341 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,750 Speaker 4: a queen at both ends of the court. depending on 342 00:14:39,770 --> 00:14:42,370 Speaker 4: who the partner is. But you've got to play your role. 343 00:14:42,450 --> 00:14:45,310 Speaker 4: I mean, this is Hollywood. You play a role. 344 00:14:45,590 --> 00:14:48,030 Speaker 5: I mean, look, I'm going to say it. 345 00:14:48,030 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 4: Look, the final of the French last year, Sue West 346 00:14:50,100 --> 00:14:53,640 Speaker 4: playing with Gina, they're playing, I mean, they beat Ellen 347 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:58,220 Speaker 4: and Perez and Martinez in the semis, Melica Martinez in 348 00:14:58,240 --> 00:14:58,580 Speaker 4: the semis. 349 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 5: In the final, they're playing Taylor Townsend and Leila Fernandez. 350 00:15:03,320 --> 00:15:04,260 Speaker 5: They're pretty good, right? 351 00:15:05,070 --> 00:15:08,900 Speaker 4: We're getting smashed, but But Gina, Sue Wade's partner's not 352 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 4: doing her job, which was to rip the ball. So 353 00:15:10,820 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 4: you've got to just rip and let Sue Wade clean 354 00:15:13,860 --> 00:15:15,350 Speaker 4: it up, right, just tidy. 355 00:15:15,110 --> 00:15:15,430 Speaker 5: It all up. 356 00:15:16,380 --> 00:15:19,530 Speaker 4: And I'm going to Sai Sai Zhang, you know, Gina's coach. 357 00:15:19,570 --> 00:15:22,930 Speaker 4: I say, Sai Sai, Gina's not hitting the ball. Oh, Paul, Paul, 358 00:15:22,970 --> 00:15:26,150 Speaker 4: she's not feeling well. You know, she's feeling really sick 359 00:15:26,210 --> 00:15:29,550 Speaker 4: today and, you know, it's not happening. 360 00:15:32,090 --> 00:15:34,870 Speaker 5: I say, Sai Sai, after the match we'll get a doctor, okay? 361 00:15:35,330 --> 00:15:36,550 Speaker 5: But this is a final of a slam. 362 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:39,500 Speaker 2: I don't care. 363 00:15:40,800 --> 00:15:42,540 Speaker 5: I'm sorry she's sick, but we've got a match to 364 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:43,940 Speaker 5: win here. We're down a set and a break. This 365 00:15:43,980 --> 00:15:44,660 Speaker 5: is not going well. 366 00:15:44,680 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 4: This is the final role in growth, which I care 367 00:15:46,060 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 4: a lot about, okay? 368 00:15:47,540 --> 00:15:50,740 Speaker 5: Now it's with Gina, you know. So I said, come on, 369 00:15:50,750 --> 00:15:51,740 Speaker 5: so I said, come on. 370 00:15:52,030 --> 00:15:53,710 Speaker 4: So they come down our way. And, of course, now 371 00:15:53,790 --> 00:15:57,510 Speaker 4: you can coach it now, which is almost cheating, okay? 372 00:15:57,750 --> 00:15:59,930 Speaker 4: It's changed the game. I mean, you can say whatever 373 00:15:59,950 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 4: you want when you want, but when you're down your own, 374 00:16:01,210 --> 00:16:05,460 Speaker 4: I mean, seriously? So, okay, so Gina comes, Gina. I 375 00:16:05,500 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 4: know you're not feeling well. I feel really bad for you. Look, but, 376 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 4: you know, straight off the match, we'll get a doctor, 377 00:16:11,300 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 4: you know. But you know what? You're not doing your job. 378 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:16,680 Speaker 4: You're not hitting the ball. 379 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,640 Speaker 5: I don't care how sick you are, but you please, 380 00:16:20,780 --> 00:16:21,820 Speaker 5: please can you hit the ball. 381 00:16:22,660 --> 00:16:24,220 Speaker 4: And, you know, she started hitting the ball and gets 382 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:25,740 Speaker 4: a tie break, got back, they got a break, gets 383 00:16:25,780 --> 00:16:28,350 Speaker 4: a tie break, like three on the tie breaks. She 384 00:16:28,510 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 4: smashes this 400. So hard past Townsend. It was like 385 00:16:32,740 --> 00:16:36,340 Speaker 4: so big. I was ready to leave the stadium because 386 00:16:36,380 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 4: I know the match is over. 387 00:16:37,660 --> 00:16:40,540 Speaker 5: They've won this match now. Gina has started ripping the ball. 388 00:16:40,700 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 5: It's over. 6-1 in the third. 389 00:16:42,580 --> 00:16:44,090 Speaker 2: Wow. 390 00:16:44,110 --> 00:16:46,050 Speaker 5: 6-1 in the third. But she started doing her job. 391 00:16:47,570 --> 00:16:48,410 Speaker 5: And look, you know. 392 00:16:49,250 --> 00:16:51,350 Speaker 2: And some adrenaline starts flowing. 393 00:16:51,370 --> 00:16:54,790 Speaker 4: She was sick and she didn't come to celebrate after dinner. 394 00:16:54,810 --> 00:16:58,010 Speaker 5: I mean, she was sick. But. I want to win 395 00:16:58,050 --> 00:16:58,530 Speaker 5: the match. 396 00:17:00,230 --> 00:17:02,010 Speaker 2: And she did. I'm sure she'd feel a lot better. 397 00:17:02,980 --> 00:17:04,379 Speaker 5: She'd want to slam now. 398 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 4: Yeah. 399 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 5: She'd want to slam. 400 00:17:05,740 --> 00:17:06,770 Speaker 2: You've got to get on. 401 00:17:06,780 --> 00:17:09,180 Speaker 5: You've got to get on with things. I like that. 402 00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 2: Today's the day. 403 00:17:09,900 --> 00:17:10,500 Speaker 5: Today's the day. 404 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:11,360 Speaker 1: Today is the day. 405 00:17:11,380 --> 00:17:12,160 Speaker 2: That's a good motto. 406 00:17:12,300 --> 00:17:12,980 Speaker 5: Today's the day. 407 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:13,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. 408 00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:14,480 Speaker 2: Life lessons. 409 00:17:14,900 --> 00:17:16,610 Speaker 5: No, no. Yeah. 410 00:17:16,650 --> 00:17:19,670 Speaker 1: Well, Paul, it's been great chatting with you today. We've 411 00:17:19,730 --> 00:17:23,370 Speaker 1: covered many topics. But, you know, we started talking about clay. 412 00:17:23,430 --> 00:17:25,710 Speaker 1: So I thought we'd circle back and– You know, do 413 00:17:25,750 --> 00:17:27,930 Speaker 1: you still get out and play on a clay court? 414 00:17:29,250 --> 00:17:30,930 Speaker 5: I just did today, yeah. 415 00:17:31,450 --> 00:17:36,170 Speaker 4: I played at Kooyong with a good senior player, Bruce Ferguson. 416 00:17:36,230 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 5: Yeah, we only play on clay, so, you know, come on. 417 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:40,220 Speaker 2: Have they done clay courts there or is that still 418 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 2: on to car? 419 00:17:40,580 --> 00:17:43,880 Speaker 4: Well, it's on to car, but it's probably the best 420 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,240 Speaker 4: on to car in Melbourne, but it's not clay. 421 00:17:46,820 --> 00:17:51,340 Speaker 5: Okay. Get the odd bad bath, whatever, but it's very good. 422 00:17:51,890 --> 00:17:55,149 Speaker 4: But it's not clay. But, yeah, I still play on 423 00:17:55,369 --> 00:17:57,770 Speaker 4: it and I love it. And I went to the 424 00:17:57,810 --> 00:18:00,909 Speaker 4: World Masters last year in my age group and. 425 00:18:00,890 --> 00:18:03,630 Speaker 5: Picked up a bronze medal. I got the bronze medal today. 426 00:18:03,850 --> 00:18:05,210 Speaker 5: Someone dropped it off at Kooyong. 427 00:18:05,270 --> 00:18:07,260 Speaker 4: Yeah, I got a bronze medal for the doubles in 428 00:18:07,300 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 4: Mallorca last year because I'm based in Europe so you 429 00:18:09,820 --> 00:18:11,400 Speaker 4: can go do that sort of thing. 430 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 5: You know. So I'm lucky with my life. I'm very lucky. 431 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,619 Speaker 4: With everything that I've been involved with in tennis, there's 432 00:18:17,660 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 4: been ups and downs with politics and everything. 433 00:18:19,580 --> 00:18:21,929 Speaker 5: But you know what? I'm so lucky to have had 434 00:18:21,970 --> 00:18:23,250 Speaker 5: this journey. 435 00:18:23,290 --> 00:18:28,230 Speaker 4: Right through and still feel part of the game and 436 00:18:28,330 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 4: love coming in here. And, you know, I feel like 437 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:36,740 Speaker 4: I've helped the engagement with Asia Pacific, which is kind 438 00:18:36,780 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 4: of my role in Tennis Australia, which is very important. 439 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 5: And I feel like that's been I've really enjoyed doing it. 440 00:18:42,340 --> 00:18:46,280 Speaker 4: And every aspect of the sport I've loved. 441 00:18:46,300 --> 00:18:49,100 Speaker 5: And, you know, my parents introduced me to it. 442 00:18:49,100 --> 00:18:52,399 Speaker 4: I just lost my mother last week, which wonderful lady, 443 00:18:52,420 --> 00:18:55,510 Speaker 4: but at 102 years of age had a great inning. 444 00:18:55,570 --> 00:18:58,150 Speaker 5: So, you know, we celebrated a wonderful life. 445 00:18:58,210 --> 00:19:00,790 Speaker 4: But they introduced me to sport and tennis has always 446 00:19:00,830 --> 00:19:02,629 Speaker 4: been the one that I've loved the most. 447 00:19:02,650 --> 00:19:04,109 Speaker 5: You know, A lot of the. 448 00:19:04,090 --> 00:19:05,850 Speaker 4: Tennis guys go to golf and other people, you know, 449 00:19:05,869 --> 00:19:08,609 Speaker 4: which is great. But I keep coming back to tennis 450 00:19:08,630 --> 00:19:11,399 Speaker 4: because it's my deep love is for this game. 451 00:19:11,460 --> 00:19:13,260 Speaker 5: And I get such a thrill. 452 00:19:13,060 --> 00:19:18,060 Speaker 4: Seeing players do well and seeing players develop their games. 453 00:19:19,859 --> 00:19:22,700 Speaker 4: you can only be the best you can be. So 454 00:19:22,859 --> 00:19:25,680 Speaker 4: I love that journey and the role that clay plays 455 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:26,200 Speaker 4: in that journey. 456 00:19:26,220 --> 00:19:28,380 Speaker 5: I love the clay court season. I wish it was longer. 457 00:19:28,920 --> 00:19:30,760 Speaker 4: It is longer this year because the Olympics are on 458 00:19:30,780 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 4: clay and I'm going to go with Sue Wade to 459 00:19:32,180 --> 00:19:34,060 Speaker 4: the Olympics for the first time as. 460 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:34,920 Speaker 5: A coach, which is good. 461 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 2: Oh, that's awesome. 462 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:37,939 Speaker 4: Yeah, so I've got a lot to look forward to 463 00:19:37,980 --> 00:19:40,430 Speaker 4: this year, you know, and we'll see. 464 00:19:40,470 --> 00:19:41,930 Speaker 5: But thank you for having me on. 465 00:19:41,930 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 4: And look, everything that happens in this building at Tennis Australia, 466 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,619 Speaker 4: you know, at HQ, I mean, it's it's incredible the 467 00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:51,740 Speaker 4: growth of the organization and what it's doing for gender 468 00:19:51,800 --> 00:19:54,340 Speaker 4: equity i mean you see at the nukem medal awards 469 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:57,000 Speaker 4: how all the good work that tennis australia is doing 470 00:19:57,020 --> 00:20:00,810 Speaker 4: that people don't see so i see that and um 471 00:20:00,910 --> 00:20:02,950 Speaker 4: i love being a small part of that and hope 472 00:20:02,970 --> 00:20:04,090 Speaker 4: that that continues. 473 00:20:07,250 --> 00:20:09,650 Speaker 3: Well, that was quite good timing to hear McNamee refer 474 00:20:09,690 --> 00:20:12,830 Speaker 3: to the Newcombe medal, which is tonight in Melbourne's crown. 475 00:20:13,150 --> 00:20:15,810 Speaker 3: But yes, it is also just a reminder of how 476 00:20:15,910 --> 00:20:17,810 Speaker 3: soon the Australian Open is coming. 477 00:20:18,030 --> 00:20:19,270 Speaker 2: Like we're just over a month away. 478 00:20:19,490 --> 00:20:22,170 Speaker 1: Yeah, just a matter of weeks before we'll see it 479 00:20:22,390 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 1: all happen again here in Melbourne and always something special unfolds. 480 00:20:26,780 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, it definitely does. 481 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:30,209 Speaker 1: We'll be back next week with another episode of The 482 00:20:30,250 --> 00:20:32,609 Speaker 1: Sit Down. And in the meantime, you can listen to John, 483 00:20:32,630 --> 00:20:34,869 Speaker 1: Bree and the team on the AO Show Weekly. 484 00:20:34,890 --> 00:20:36,570 Speaker 3: And as we always remind you, details for how to 485 00:20:36,590 --> 00:20:38,010 Speaker 3: contact us are in the show notes below. 486 00:20:38,130 --> 00:20:41,570 Speaker 2: And please subscribe, rate and review. We'll see you next week, Viv. 487 00:20:41,810 --> 00:20:42,550 Speaker 2: Look forward to it, Matt.