1 00:00:02,330 --> 00:00:04,750 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to The Sit Down. I'm Viv Christie 2 00:00:04,790 --> 00:00:06,190 Speaker 1: from Australian Tennis Magazine. 3 00:00:06,330 --> 00:00:08,390 Speaker 2: And I'm Matt Trelope, a writer for ozopen.com. 4 00:00:08,789 --> 00:00:10,709 Speaker 3: And Matt, why are we sitting down this week with 5 00:00:10,910 --> 00:00:11,570 Speaker 3: John Fitzgerald? 6 00:00:11,680 --> 00:00:13,659 Speaker 2: We're sitting down with John Fitzgerald because, first of all, 7 00:00:13,700 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 2: he's a legend of Australian tennis, but it's excellent timing 8 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:18,959 Speaker 2: given it's a Davis Cup week and Fitzy had an 9 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: incredible Davis Cup career both as a player and then 10 00:00:21,540 --> 00:00:24,979 Speaker 2: as a captain of the Australian team. And while he 11 00:00:25,020 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 2: was here and very generous with his time, we got 12 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:28,640 Speaker 2: to cover a lot of other subjects. It was a 13 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:29,940 Speaker 2: really wide-ranging chat. 14 00:00:30,410 --> 00:00:32,270 Speaker 1: It was also great to talk to Fitzy about the 15 00:00:32,310 --> 00:00:36,050 Speaker 1: success this year in men's doubles in Australia. And he 16 00:00:36,210 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: is a man that's highly qualified to speak on that topic, 17 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: having won all four Grand Slam doubles titles and a 18 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:43,300 Speaker 1: couple of mixed doubles titles as well. 19 00:00:46,580 --> 00:00:48,819 Speaker 2: John Fitzgerald, thank you for joining us on The Sit 20 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:49,280 Speaker 2: Down today. 21 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:51,100 Speaker 4: Thank you, Matt. It's my pleasure. 22 00:00:52,220 --> 00:00:54,010 Speaker 2: And you're talking to us at a very exciting time 23 00:00:54,020 --> 00:00:56,090 Speaker 2: in tennis. Doubles, do you feel it's having a bit 24 00:00:56,110 --> 00:00:57,970 Speaker 2: of a moment on tour right now for the Australians? 25 00:00:58,560 --> 00:01:01,740 Speaker 4: Well, certainly there's a number of players that are world-class 26 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 4: that are playing it. I think Max Purcell arguably is 27 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,420 Speaker 4: the best first quarter in the world. If he puts 28 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 4: his mind to it on that first court. And part 29 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:13,620 Speaker 4: of what made, I think, the gold medal win success 30 00:01:13,660 --> 00:01:17,740 Speaker 4: of Ebdon and Piers so good in the end or 31 00:01:17,780 --> 00:01:20,339 Speaker 4: so great in the end was the fact that one 32 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:21,970 Speaker 4: of them had to move to the first court. They're 33 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:24,690 Speaker 4: both second court players. So John Piers showed a lot 34 00:01:24,709 --> 00:01:26,590 Speaker 4: of versatility to be able to move across from the 35 00:01:26,630 --> 00:01:30,790 Speaker 4: side that he plays on all the time, basically, move 36 00:01:30,830 --> 00:01:33,190 Speaker 4: across under pressure on a clay court and play in 37 00:01:33,209 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 4: that first court. He deserves a lot of credit for 38 00:01:35,700 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 4: that and a lot of kudos. So, yeah, they can 39 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:42,179 Speaker 4: play this game of doubles. It's probably not as high 40 00:01:42,300 --> 00:01:47,750 Speaker 4: profile as we know it's not as the singles, but 41 00:01:47,790 --> 00:01:50,050 Speaker 4: it plays an important part in our sport and it 42 00:01:50,170 --> 00:01:52,210 Speaker 4: was great to see some of the Aussies do well. Traditionally, 43 00:01:52,790 --> 00:01:54,030 Speaker 4: we have in this country. 44 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,710 Speaker 2: That leads into our next question, actually. There's been this 45 00:01:57,270 --> 00:02:00,430 Speaker 2: camaraderie between that golden era of Australian tennis back in 46 00:02:00,450 --> 00:02:04,910 Speaker 2: the 60s and into the 70s, Laver, Rosewall, Newcombe. And 47 00:02:04,930 --> 00:02:07,630 Speaker 2: I guess that camaraderie and that culture has continued to 48 00:02:07,670 --> 00:02:09,709 Speaker 2: this day. Do you reckon that's contributing to why we're 49 00:02:09,770 --> 00:02:10,709 Speaker 2: so good on the doubles court? 50 00:02:10,870 --> 00:02:13,870 Speaker 4: Well, it's probably a little longer discussion than that. That's 51 00:02:13,910 --> 00:02:15,050 Speaker 4: part of it. I think a big part of it. 52 00:02:15,850 --> 00:02:17,620 Speaker 4: I think court surfaces play a bit of a part. 53 00:02:17,630 --> 00:02:19,500 Speaker 4: You know, we learned a lot about tennis in this 54 00:02:19,540 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 4: country on faster courts initially. Most of them have slowed 55 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:26,030 Speaker 4: down these days. They're higher bouncing and slower court surfaces, 56 00:02:26,190 --> 00:02:28,770 Speaker 4: even the hard courts and the grass, by the way, 57 00:02:28,850 --> 00:02:32,710 Speaker 4: which sounds amazing, but it's true. So I think in 58 00:02:32,750 --> 00:02:36,230 Speaker 4: the old days when they played with faster courts, that 59 00:02:36,389 --> 00:02:38,750 Speaker 4: style of play was more conducive to playing doubles. So 60 00:02:38,770 --> 00:02:41,149 Speaker 4: the doubles game has changed. It's evolved a little bit, 61 00:02:41,570 --> 00:02:43,669 Speaker 4: not as much probably as the singles, but it's still 62 00:02:43,690 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 4: evolved and players have to adapt. But there's certainly a 63 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:50,310 Speaker 4: history of of great doubles players in this country and 64 00:02:50,590 --> 00:02:52,890 Speaker 4: um you know now we've got two more gold medalists 65 00:02:52,930 --> 00:02:55,530 Speaker 4: that are they'll never forget that their name will go 66 00:02:55,550 --> 00:02:58,520 Speaker 4: down in history as olympian olympic gold medal winners. 67 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,220 Speaker 1: John speaking of the great history in australian doubles players 68 00:03:02,260 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: you were of course a world number one doubles player 69 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 1: and you won every grand slam men's doubles title what 70 00:03:08,190 --> 00:03:11,110 Speaker 1: did it mean to complete that career slam in doubles. 71 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,380 Speaker 4: Well, Wimbledon was the last one that I was able 72 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 4: to win. And that was pretty special because as a 73 00:03:16,620 --> 00:03:18,500 Speaker 4: little boy, that was the tournament I always got up 74 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 4: in the middle of the night for out in country 75 00:03:20,100 --> 00:03:22,989 Speaker 4: South Australia in the bush and watched on. I began 76 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,590 Speaker 4: watching on a black and white TV, actually. Don't tell 77 00:03:25,610 --> 00:03:30,970 Speaker 4: anyone that. But so that was the last one. But 78 00:03:31,130 --> 00:03:35,570 Speaker 4: it was special. And I think, you know, probably halfway 79 00:03:35,610 --> 00:03:38,070 Speaker 4: through my tennis career, I realized that I was not 80 00:03:38,710 --> 00:03:41,610 Speaker 4: likely to win a major singles title. So it was 81 00:03:41,650 --> 00:03:44,550 Speaker 4: a nice second for me to be able to do that. And, 82 00:03:44,570 --> 00:03:48,030 Speaker 4: you know, a lot of players have not been able 83 00:03:48,060 --> 00:03:50,200 Speaker 4: to do it. There's a lot more players in the 84 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:53,180 Speaker 4: world of men's tennis that have won all four doubles 85 00:03:53,780 --> 00:03:56,900 Speaker 4: titles in the Grand Slams than in terms of singles players. 86 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 4: There's only eight of those. Right. It's a very small number. 87 00:04:01,980 --> 00:04:04,180 Speaker 4: And then half of those have won on all surfaces. 88 00:04:04,220 --> 00:04:08,250 Speaker 4: And the previous half played when there were three Grass 89 00:04:08,310 --> 00:04:11,110 Speaker 4: courts used for Grand Slams in those days. The US 90 00:04:11,190 --> 00:04:14,150 Speaker 4: Open and Australia, of course, were on grass courts back then. 91 00:04:14,170 --> 00:04:16,750 Speaker 4: So it's a very small club there, a bigger club 92 00:04:16,790 --> 00:04:19,430 Speaker 4: in the men's doubles, but still a nice, special place 93 00:04:19,450 --> 00:04:19,710 Speaker 4: to be. 94 00:04:20,029 --> 00:04:20,469 Speaker 3: Of course. 95 00:04:20,670 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 1: And you won titles with several different partners, but your 96 00:04:25,190 --> 00:04:28,140 Speaker 1: partnership with Anders Jarrett was particularly fruitful. 97 00:04:28,620 --> 00:04:30,420 Speaker 3: What made that so successful? 98 00:04:31,700 --> 00:04:36,180 Speaker 4: Well, we really did, I think, complement each other, not 99 00:04:36,260 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 4: just in the way... our styles of play were, but 100 00:04:41,100 --> 00:04:43,580 Speaker 4: in the way our personalities were. I think, you know, 101 00:04:43,660 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 4: Anders was a special tennis player. He was a higher 102 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 4: ranked singles player than me. He started winning Grand Slams 103 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:57,930 Speaker 4: with Stefan Edberg. He won with a couple of others, 104 00:04:57,970 --> 00:05:02,830 Speaker 4: not just me. He won with Hans Simonsen initially, another Swede. 105 00:05:02,870 --> 00:05:04,930 Speaker 4: And of course, Robert Seguso, he won one with as well. 106 00:05:04,970 --> 00:05:07,780 Speaker 4: So And a special singles player who made the semifinals 107 00:05:07,820 --> 00:05:11,940 Speaker 4: of Wimbledon. Some days, I just had to turn up 108 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 4: at the court and point him in the right direction. 109 00:05:13,700 --> 00:05:14,620 Speaker 4: He'd win for us. 110 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:15,640 Speaker 2: He did the rest. 111 00:05:15,740 --> 00:05:17,660 Speaker 4: I was like a goldmine. It was magnificent. 112 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 2: You're being far too modest. 113 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 4: But some days, if he didn't get hot food, and 114 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:25,719 Speaker 4: I'm saying this seriously, you think I've got my tongue 115 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,860 Speaker 4: in my cheek, but I don't. He loved hot food 116 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:31,380 Speaker 4: before he played a match. And if he didn't get it, 117 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,500 Speaker 4: if he was listening to this, he'd be laughing because 118 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:35,580 Speaker 4: he'd get a bit grumpy. So I I had to 119 00:05:35,620 --> 00:05:37,140 Speaker 4: run around and try and find some hot food for 120 00:05:37,180 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 4: him and then, of course, point him in the right direction. 121 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,020 Speaker 4: But when he did that, he was a mini genius 122 00:05:45,060 --> 00:05:51,960 Speaker 4: for me. He's a great person, pretty intense on the court. 123 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:55,099 Speaker 4: But we had a special relationship that remains till today. 124 00:05:55,620 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 4: We stay in contact with each other. And he paid 125 00:05:58,339 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 4: for half of my house. So I've got to be 126 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:01,609 Speaker 4: very nice to him. Maybe, in fact, he paid for 127 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,480 Speaker 4: three quarters of it. So a special old friend. 128 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: It's actually really interesting to sort of hear your perspective 129 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:12,980 Speaker 1: on him as a person as much as a player. 130 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:14,940 Speaker 1: I mean, we talk about how important it is to have, 131 00:06:15,170 --> 00:06:17,430 Speaker 1: you know, playing styles that complement each other, but that 132 00:06:17,490 --> 00:06:19,650 Speaker 1: personality has to really gel as well. 133 00:06:20,190 --> 00:06:22,250 Speaker 4: It does. It does. You know, there's a lot of, 134 00:06:22,589 --> 00:06:24,250 Speaker 4: I bet there's a lot of doubles players. I know 135 00:06:24,310 --> 00:06:28,610 Speaker 4: there is a lot that don't necessarily communicate that well 136 00:06:28,670 --> 00:06:30,930 Speaker 4: off the court and they maybe don't socialise as well 137 00:06:30,970 --> 00:06:33,810 Speaker 4: because they're so different. Maybe sometimes they don't even like 138 00:06:33,850 --> 00:06:36,790 Speaker 4: each other, you know. But in our case, we would 139 00:06:36,830 --> 00:06:39,429 Speaker 4: go to dinner together. Even though he was a Swede 140 00:06:39,470 --> 00:06:41,310 Speaker 4: and I was an Australian, we always used to think 141 00:06:41,370 --> 00:06:43,870 Speaker 4: as a young person that the Swedes and the Aussies 142 00:06:43,910 --> 00:06:45,930 Speaker 4: got on really well. You know, they brought all those 143 00:06:45,990 --> 00:06:48,650 Speaker 4: crowds out in the early 80s to watch Davis Cup 144 00:06:48,690 --> 00:06:52,790 Speaker 4: here and they were the strongest men's nation then. But 145 00:06:52,830 --> 00:06:56,570 Speaker 4: we had a lot in common. And even though English 146 00:06:56,610 --> 00:06:58,580 Speaker 4: wasn't his first language, he was awfully good at it. 147 00:06:58,890 --> 00:07:01,810 Speaker 4: And we could communicate easily on the court and I 148 00:07:01,830 --> 00:07:04,950 Speaker 4: think it's important that you get along well and respect 149 00:07:05,380 --> 00:07:06,750 Speaker 4: the guy you're playing with. Of course. 150 00:07:07,330 --> 00:07:10,900 Speaker 1: And you also won two mixed doubles titles in Grand 151 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:12,380 Speaker 1: Slams with Liz Smiley. 152 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,220 Speaker 3: That must have also been very special. 153 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 4: Well, Liz paid for the rest of my house, actually. 154 00:07:17,540 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 2: I love that mentality, but it's actually kind of true. 155 00:07:21,100 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: I got money to pay for a house and a 156 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,100 Speaker 2: partner helped me get it. It's a really nice way 157 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 2: to think about it. 158 00:07:24,740 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 4: Well, Lizzie and I went back to junior tennis days. 159 00:07:27,340 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 4: She married a good friend of mine, Peter Smiley, and 160 00:07:29,260 --> 00:07:34,610 Speaker 4: they're special people to us. Our second child. We're godparents 161 00:07:34,630 --> 00:07:39,630 Speaker 4: to their eldest. And, you know, so we've remained friends. 162 00:07:40,070 --> 00:07:42,850 Speaker 4: We follow their son, Elvis, now. He was a bit 163 00:07:42,890 --> 00:07:46,450 Speaker 4: of an Elvis Presley man, Peter Smiley. And his son 164 00:07:46,530 --> 00:07:49,420 Speaker 4: qualified for the British Open golf this year. So we 165 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:53,300 Speaker 4: stay in touch. We're great old friends. And, yeah, they 166 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 4: were special days too. We happened to lose a few finals. 167 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,980 Speaker 4: We lost four Grand Slam mixed doubles finals, Liz and I. 168 00:08:00,020 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 4: But we managed to win two of them. Of course. 169 00:08:02,570 --> 00:08:04,300 Speaker 1: I'm going to put you on the spot a little 170 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,980 Speaker 1: bit here. You speak so fondly of your doubles partners. 171 00:08:08,180 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 1: What would they say about you? 172 00:08:09,140 --> 00:08:11,880 Speaker 4: Well, I'm not sure. It might depend on which one 173 00:08:11,930 --> 00:08:16,450 Speaker 4: you ask. They're all good friends, but my special friend 174 00:08:16,510 --> 00:08:19,830 Speaker 4: also is John Alexander, who was 10 years older than me, 175 00:08:19,890 --> 00:08:22,040 Speaker 4: was in the back half of his career when he 176 00:08:22,630 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 4: said that he'd played with me and we won an 177 00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:27,670 Speaker 4: Australian Open together and you know, it, it was incredible 178 00:08:27,690 --> 00:08:30,150 Speaker 4: that part of my life with him and he took 179 00:08:30,190 --> 00:08:32,570 Speaker 4: Wally Masur and Brad Druid, our great friend, who's not 180 00:08:32,590 --> 00:08:35,370 Speaker 4: with us anymore under his wing and guided us through 181 00:08:35,410 --> 00:08:37,990 Speaker 4: those early years. Not, not always with great stuff, you know, 182 00:08:38,010 --> 00:08:39,689 Speaker 4: there was a bit of naughty stuff too, but the, 183 00:08:39,970 --> 00:08:41,620 Speaker 4: you know, we, we told some good jokes in the 184 00:08:41,650 --> 00:08:45,100 Speaker 4: locker room, but, but he is a, a man with 185 00:08:45,140 --> 00:08:48,060 Speaker 4: a heart of gold, John Alexander. And, um, you know, 186 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,100 Speaker 4: went on of course to be a politician and, and 187 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:54,030 Speaker 4: an ethical one at that. And, um, I'm proud of 188 00:08:54,070 --> 00:08:56,050 Speaker 4: him and what he's done. And, of course, Thomas Smith, 189 00:08:56,090 --> 00:08:58,869 Speaker 4: the Czech player, won a couple of majors with the 190 00:08:58,990 --> 00:09:02,290 Speaker 4: US and the French. So I'd like to think they 191 00:09:02,330 --> 00:09:05,730 Speaker 4: talk about me as being a friend, a reliable friend, 192 00:09:05,830 --> 00:09:10,310 Speaker 4: I hope. I think they probably will. If they don't, 193 00:09:10,350 --> 00:09:11,609 Speaker 4: then I probably don't want to hear about it. 194 00:09:13,220 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 3: I have full faith that they would speak very fondly. 195 00:09:15,700 --> 00:09:16,140 Speaker 4: Thank you, Viv. 196 00:09:16,730 --> 00:09:18,850 Speaker 2: We've talked a lot about obviously your double success, but 197 00:09:18,870 --> 00:09:21,170 Speaker 2: in singles as well, you were a top 25 player 198 00:09:21,210 --> 00:09:24,030 Speaker 2: and you won six titles. So what milestone stands out 199 00:09:24,050 --> 00:09:25,270 Speaker 2: for you most on the singles court? 200 00:09:26,770 --> 00:09:29,370 Speaker 4: Well, you know, we, we've talked recently about being match 201 00:09:29,429 --> 00:09:32,330 Speaker 4: points down in, in matches and then coming through and winning. 202 00:09:32,370 --> 00:09:35,790 Speaker 4: And one of my first titles was in Maui in, 203 00:09:36,390 --> 00:09:38,420 Speaker 4: in Hawaii, where I was down match point. I had to, 204 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:40,540 Speaker 4: I had to qualify. It was before I'd really established 205 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:45,410 Speaker 4: a big ranking. And, um, Came through that match and 206 00:09:45,429 --> 00:09:46,650 Speaker 4: then won the whole tournament. 207 00:09:47,100 --> 00:09:49,219 Speaker 2: So the match point save was in qualies, wasn't it? 208 00:09:49,220 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 4: In qualifying. Oh, wow. So things like that happen, you know, 209 00:09:52,460 --> 00:09:56,790 Speaker 4: and you gain confidence and momentum in sport. And two on, 210 00:09:57,110 --> 00:10:01,229 Speaker 4: excuse me, one-on-one competition is a two-horse racing. and anything 211 00:10:01,590 --> 00:10:03,890 Speaker 4: can happen. But I think, I think the first one 212 00:10:03,929 --> 00:10:08,150 Speaker 4: for me, I did well at the, The old Sydney International, 213 00:10:08,170 --> 00:10:10,130 Speaker 4: which was called the New South Wales Open, when it 214 00:10:10,150 --> 00:10:12,590 Speaker 4: was on grass, I won that twice and lost in 215 00:10:12,630 --> 00:10:14,550 Speaker 4: a final. In fact, I had a match point. It 216 00:10:14,590 --> 00:10:16,670 Speaker 4: came back to haunt me against my friend, John Alexander, 217 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 4: in that final and he won that. 218 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:19,380 Speaker 2: Damn it, John. 219 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 4: Yeah. Where's that dinner? But I think the first one 220 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,260 Speaker 4: for me in Kitzbühel in Austria was a special moment. 221 00:10:27,220 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 4: It was on a clay court, my worst surface, but 222 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,870 Speaker 4: it was altitude clay, which gave me a better chance. 223 00:10:32,570 --> 00:10:35,870 Speaker 4: I got through to the semifinals and We got to 224 00:10:35,890 --> 00:10:39,220 Speaker 4: the semifinals, and it rained for three days. Now, I 225 00:10:39,270 --> 00:10:41,300 Speaker 4: normally don't tell people this story, but it's so long ago, 226 00:10:41,380 --> 00:10:43,579 Speaker 4: I tell everyone I won a clay court, singles title. 227 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,740 Speaker 4: But it rained for three days. We went indoors. We 228 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,940 Speaker 4: played on a fast, low-bouncing Supreme Court, it was called 229 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,079 Speaker 4: in those days, and it suited my game perfectly. And 230 00:10:53,140 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 4: I beat Guillermo Villas, who was probably, he may have 231 00:10:55,940 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 4: been number two in the world at that stage. So that, 232 00:10:58,220 --> 00:11:01,390 Speaker 4: for me, was the, I think, the event that sort 233 00:11:01,410 --> 00:11:03,370 Speaker 4: of kick-started my belief, really. 234 00:11:03,780 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 2: Wow. 235 00:11:04,620 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 4: Don't tell anyone it wasn't a clay court event. 236 00:11:06,300 --> 00:11:07,800 Speaker 2: You got to the semis on the clay, though, which 237 00:11:07,860 --> 00:11:08,280 Speaker 2: is good. I did. 238 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:09,040 Speaker 4: Yeah. I did. 239 00:11:09,220 --> 00:11:11,280 Speaker 2: And that's a beautiful tournament, isn't it? Isn't that the one? 240 00:11:11,850 --> 00:11:13,929 Speaker 2: Or is it Gustave? Or they're both in the mountains. 241 00:11:14,309 --> 00:11:16,790 Speaker 4: Well, I think it's where, is it where Franzi Klammer, 242 00:11:16,809 --> 00:11:21,970 Speaker 4: the great downhill skier, won gold, I think it is. 243 00:11:22,250 --> 00:11:25,570 Speaker 4: And he's Wally Masseur's hero. You know, they call him 244 00:11:25,610 --> 00:11:29,150 Speaker 4: the Kaiser. Not Wally, but Franz Klammer. But it is 245 00:11:29,190 --> 00:11:31,210 Speaker 4: a beautiful place. You know, I just went to New 246 00:11:31,250 --> 00:11:33,200 Speaker 4: Zealand recently. I went to Queenstown, first time I'd ever 247 00:11:33,220 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 4: been there. I hope you can go there. It was magnificent. 248 00:11:36,380 --> 00:11:39,559 Speaker 4: It reminded me of Austria and Switzerland. What a beautiful place. 249 00:11:40,260 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 4: And yeah, Kitzbühel was one of those. Amazing. 250 00:11:44,780 --> 00:11:47,140 Speaker 2: We did touch on the Olympics and you played two 251 00:11:47,179 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 2: of them. And they were 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona. 252 00:11:50,940 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 2: So Seoul was significant because that's when tennis came back 253 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:55,720 Speaker 2: into the Olympics after not being a medal sport for 254 00:11:55,760 --> 00:11:56,439 Speaker 2: about 60 or 70 years. 255 00:11:56,460 --> 00:11:56,520 Speaker 4: So. 256 00:11:58,460 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 4: It was. Yeah. 257 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,699 Speaker 2: What was the decision for you? Obviously, you wanted to 258 00:12:01,780 --> 00:12:03,960 Speaker 2: play in Olympics. Not every tennis player plays in Olympics, 259 00:12:03,980 --> 00:12:06,319 Speaker 2: but you did and played two. What was that like? 260 00:12:06,380 --> 00:12:08,520 Speaker 4: I did want to play. And several months earlier, I'd 261 00:12:08,559 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 4: torn a calf muscle in the Canadian Open and was 262 00:12:12,059 --> 00:12:14,350 Speaker 4: doubtful for a while, but got into the team. Look, 263 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,870 Speaker 4: they were funny memories in a way because it was 264 00:12:18,929 --> 00:12:23,130 Speaker 4: the biggest sporting event globally, as it still is. And 265 00:12:23,290 --> 00:12:25,689 Speaker 4: tennis as a medal sport for the first time in 266 00:12:25,730 --> 00:12:28,069 Speaker 4: the modern era, I mean, it had been a non-medal sport. 267 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:31,540 Speaker 4: In Los Angeles, I think where Stefan Edberg won. And 268 00:12:31,559 --> 00:12:36,229 Speaker 4: then it went to Seoul. And I wondered, I was 269 00:12:36,270 --> 00:12:38,030 Speaker 4: looking over my shoulder a little bit. I wasn't sure 270 00:12:38,110 --> 00:12:40,450 Speaker 4: how welcome the tennis players would be because it was 271 00:12:40,490 --> 00:12:44,870 Speaker 4: a professional sport in those days. Still is, obviously. But 272 00:12:45,550 --> 00:12:48,380 Speaker 4: I wished that I could have my time again because 273 00:12:48,460 --> 00:12:52,520 Speaker 4: I felt like I could have enjoyed that first moment more. 274 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 4: I was a little bit sort of... I don't think 275 00:12:56,340 --> 00:12:59,650 Speaker 4: I was intimidated, just wondering... how welcome we'd be. But 276 00:12:59,750 --> 00:13:02,170 Speaker 4: of course we were. Of course we were. And I 277 00:13:03,090 --> 00:13:06,469 Speaker 4: think as the Olympics have gone past over the last 278 00:13:06,470 --> 00:13:10,550 Speaker 4: 20 odd years, 24 or 32 years since then, I 279 00:13:10,590 --> 00:13:15,500 Speaker 4: think it is, it has grown in stature, our game 280 00:13:15,740 --> 00:13:20,020 Speaker 4: in the Olympics. So now it's obvious how important it 281 00:13:20,140 --> 00:13:23,400 Speaker 4: is to the game of tennis. But I was a 282 00:13:23,420 --> 00:13:25,880 Speaker 4: bit slow in recognising that and understanding it, I think, 283 00:13:25,900 --> 00:13:29,710 Speaker 4: more than anything else. But Nevertheless, an unbelievable experience. Staying 284 00:13:29,750 --> 00:13:33,370 Speaker 4: in the village. Neil Fraser was our manager. It was 285 00:13:33,410 --> 00:13:35,869 Speaker 4: a wonderful experience. Darren Cahill and I lost in the 286 00:13:35,910 --> 00:13:40,100 Speaker 4: quarterfinals one match before a bronze. That would have been nice. 287 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,440 Speaker 4: But in retrospect, just to be an Olympian is special. 288 00:13:43,700 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 4: And going to Barcelona as well. 289 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:47,340 Speaker 2: Did you feel better about Barcelona? 290 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 4: I think so. Yeah, I did. I felt better about Barcelona. 291 00:13:50,040 --> 00:13:54,620 Speaker 4: And then, of course, I went to The Sydney Olympics 292 00:13:54,640 --> 00:13:58,300 Speaker 4: with my family just as a spectator, bought tickets, went 293 00:13:58,340 --> 00:14:01,500 Speaker 4: up there and watched, took my children. Was a commentator 294 00:14:01,520 --> 00:14:04,420 Speaker 4: at the 96 Olympics for Channel 7 in those days 295 00:14:05,660 --> 00:14:09,660 Speaker 4: in Georgia, in Atlanta. And then as a manager, I 296 00:14:09,700 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 4: was at two Olympics in both Athens and in Beijing. 297 00:14:14,059 --> 00:14:18,870 Speaker 4: So I had a plethora of experiences at the great 298 00:14:18,910 --> 00:14:21,010 Speaker 4: Olympic Games and I'll never forget them. 299 00:14:21,890 --> 00:14:24,570 Speaker 3: You must love it when Olympics roll around now, I'm sure. 300 00:14:24,810 --> 00:14:28,730 Speaker 4: Yeah. Yeah. You know, there's a lot of new sports 301 00:14:28,790 --> 00:14:33,250 Speaker 4: that I'm not necessarily too au fait with. But nevertheless, 302 00:14:33,270 --> 00:14:36,430 Speaker 4: I got some real joy, I think, out of watching 303 00:14:36,480 --> 00:14:40,740 Speaker 4: some of these young BMX riders and skateboarders and the 304 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 4: joy that it brings to them and their families and 305 00:14:42,740 --> 00:14:45,980 Speaker 4: the experience of playing, so to speak, for Australia and 306 00:14:46,020 --> 00:14:49,739 Speaker 4: cycling for Australia. It's a memorable thing for a young 307 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:51,540 Speaker 4: person to do. Stays with you for life. 308 00:14:51,970 --> 00:14:56,210 Speaker 1: Speaking of representing Australia, you also had a wonderful Davis 309 00:14:56,250 --> 00:14:58,950 Speaker 1: Cup career. You must have some very special memories from that. 310 00:14:59,810 --> 00:15:03,070 Speaker 4: Well, I do. And I think, you know, all false 311 00:15:03,150 --> 00:15:05,490 Speaker 4: modesty aside, you know, when you're halfway through your career 312 00:15:05,510 --> 00:15:07,870 Speaker 4: and you realise you can't win your dream, which for 313 00:15:07,930 --> 00:15:10,390 Speaker 4: me was to win the Wimbledon singles title. That's what 314 00:15:10,410 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 4: I wanted to do. And I realised that, you know, 315 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 4: my game probably wasn't going to stack up enough to 316 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 4: do it. I had a very close friend in Pat 317 00:15:17,940 --> 00:15:21,980 Speaker 4: Cash do it. And I want to quote my old, friend, 318 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:23,820 Speaker 4: Brad Druitt, who's not with us anymore. He died of 319 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 4: MND in 2013. And he and Wally Masura and I 320 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,880 Speaker 4: were watching in Newport, Rhode Island, after we'd left Wimbledon 321 00:15:30,980 --> 00:15:34,380 Speaker 4: in 1987, watching Pat Cash win on TV. And when 322 00:15:34,420 --> 00:15:37,560 Speaker 4: he'd won, Brad looked at both Wally and I and 323 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 4: he said, he said, well, he said that that's the 324 00:15:40,340 --> 00:15:45,110 Speaker 4: greatest moment in my tennis career. And that's how, that's how, yeah, it, 325 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:48,050 Speaker 4: it made, it made me get quite emotional what Brad said. 326 00:15:48,090 --> 00:15:50,070 Speaker 4: And he was right. It probably was for Wally and I, uh, 327 00:15:50,710 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 4: to a large degree. Where you have someone that you 328 00:15:54,180 --> 00:15:57,859 Speaker 4: know so well that can win the dream. And it 329 00:15:57,900 --> 00:16:00,370 Speaker 4: was special for us to see Kashi do it. So 330 00:16:01,890 --> 00:16:04,170 Speaker 4: when you realise you can't do it yourself, I looked 331 00:16:04,210 --> 00:16:07,950 Speaker 4: at Davis Cup as being my platform, I think, to 332 00:16:08,030 --> 00:16:10,870 Speaker 4: be able to perform at my best in a team situation, 333 00:16:10,910 --> 00:16:14,010 Speaker 4: which I missed. I missed Australian rules football because I 334 00:16:14,070 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 4: made a sliding door moment at boarding school not to 335 00:16:16,010 --> 00:16:19,740 Speaker 4: play that anymore. Went on and just concentrated on tennis. 336 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:21,860 Speaker 4: And it probably was... the making of my tennis career 337 00:16:21,880 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 4: to say no to AFL at that stage. And then 338 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:27,740 Speaker 4: I think to play on the Davis Cup team and 339 00:16:27,780 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 4: win a couple of times and then be captain was, 340 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:33,850 Speaker 4: that for me is the most memorable thing in my career. 341 00:16:34,070 --> 00:16:37,350 Speaker 4: I mean, the nerves that you experience playing for your 342 00:16:37,370 --> 00:16:41,610 Speaker 4: country is unparalleled for me. And the pressure that you 343 00:16:41,630 --> 00:16:43,870 Speaker 4: learn to deal with and sometimes not deal so well 344 00:16:43,910 --> 00:16:47,370 Speaker 4: with is the best learning curve I think that a 345 00:16:47,410 --> 00:16:48,330 Speaker 4: young tennis player can have. 346 00:16:49,160 --> 00:16:49,970 Speaker 3: Yeah. 347 00:16:50,630 --> 00:16:53,070 Speaker 1: I remember I was at that Davis Cup final in 348 00:16:53,070 --> 00:16:55,310 Speaker 1: 2003 here at Melbourne Park. 349 00:16:55,830 --> 00:16:57,490 Speaker 4: I thought you were going to say 1983. You're way 350 00:16:57,510 --> 00:16:58,230 Speaker 4: too young for that. 351 00:16:58,250 --> 00:17:00,700 Speaker 2: I thought you were going to say too, the Koo 352 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:01,580 Speaker 2: Yong one. 353 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:03,400 Speaker 3: Well, I remember watching that. 354 00:17:03,540 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: I was a girl in the country then watching on TV, 355 00:17:06,140 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 1: but I do remember that 2003 title. That must be 356 00:17:09,820 --> 00:17:11,850 Speaker 1: still so vivid in your memory as well. 357 00:17:12,130 --> 00:17:15,770 Speaker 4: Well, we had, you've got to mention the The falls 358 00:17:15,830 --> 00:17:18,310 Speaker 4: as well as the rises, don't you? But two years 359 00:17:18,350 --> 00:17:21,949 Speaker 4: earlier than that, we were on paper probably expected to 360 00:17:21,990 --> 00:17:24,389 Speaker 4: beat France in a final here and lost. And no 361 00:17:24,450 --> 00:17:26,129 Speaker 4: one knew at the time Pat Rafter was playing with 362 00:17:26,190 --> 00:17:28,270 Speaker 4: a stress fracture in his arm above the elbow. So 363 00:17:28,310 --> 00:17:32,450 Speaker 4: we couldn't tell anyone that. And there are all sorts 364 00:17:32,490 --> 00:17:36,730 Speaker 4: of nuances that go into making, I think, decisions at 365 00:17:36,770 --> 00:17:41,629 Speaker 4: those big moments. And we lost that tie and it was... 366 00:17:42,210 --> 00:17:45,060 Speaker 4: pretty heartbreaking hey it's only sport you know but but 367 00:17:45,100 --> 00:17:47,439 Speaker 4: it's it's important in your life at that stage and 368 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,580 Speaker 4: it's important for a country and a culture i think 369 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,459 Speaker 4: and so uh we had to bounce back and and 370 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 4: two years later it was like a monkey off the 371 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,260 Speaker 4: back and we won here again it we won instead 372 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:01,030 Speaker 4: of losing the final here at melbourne park on a 373 00:18:01,050 --> 00:18:01,889 Speaker 4: grass court. 374 00:18:02,460 --> 00:18:04,850 Speaker 2: Well, it was returning to exactly the same scene, wasn't it? 375 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 2: It was a dropped-in grass court, same venue. Yeah, the 376 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 2: scene of that crime. 377 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:08,100 Speaker 4: Scene of that crime. 378 00:18:08,220 --> 00:18:10,300 Speaker 2: And Philip Hoose is playing with an injury. 379 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 4: Yes, he did. He played with a tear in his 380 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:17,060 Speaker 4: pectoral muscle. And, you know, was up two sets to love, 381 00:18:17,700 --> 00:18:19,879 Speaker 4: came back to two sets all, but went into the 382 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:22,940 Speaker 4: locker room and didn't think he could probably finish, really. 383 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:25,690 Speaker 4: And I thought if he'd lost his first service game 384 00:18:25,730 --> 00:18:28,070 Speaker 4: in the fifth set, he may have lost that set 385 00:18:28,090 --> 00:18:31,980 Speaker 4: to the club. But he held his– excuse me, he broke– 386 00:18:32,170 --> 00:18:35,850 Speaker 4: first game. Oh, wow. Okay. And then, sorry, he held, sir, 387 00:18:35,910 --> 00:18:36,650 Speaker 4: first game of the fifth. 388 00:18:36,890 --> 00:18:37,030 Speaker 1: Yep. 389 00:18:37,310 --> 00:18:39,830 Speaker 4: And once he'd done that, he played a good second game, 390 00:18:39,850 --> 00:18:42,230 Speaker 4: got his momentum going and possibly forgot about the peck 391 00:18:42,260 --> 00:18:43,780 Speaker 4: for a little bit, but it was a serious injury. 392 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 4: So that was a great memory and very, very different. 393 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,540 Speaker 4: Just so different to winning a Davis Cup title as 394 00:18:52,580 --> 00:18:54,300 Speaker 4: a player when you're the captain. 395 00:18:55,020 --> 00:18:56,640 Speaker 3: How did you manage the stress? 396 00:18:57,260 --> 00:19:00,420 Speaker 4: Well, good question. And The first time, I'm not sure 397 00:19:00,460 --> 00:19:02,260 Speaker 4: I did because I broke out into shingles. 398 00:19:02,740 --> 00:19:03,060 Speaker 2: Really? 399 00:19:03,100 --> 00:19:06,179 Speaker 4: Yeah, so that's how stressful it was for me. If 400 00:19:06,200 --> 00:19:09,190 Speaker 4: you have the chicken pox as a young kid, you 401 00:19:09,470 --> 00:19:14,650 Speaker 4: can have that virus. So after the 2001 final, which 402 00:19:14,690 --> 00:19:17,090 Speaker 4: we lost, I went to play golf with some Aussie 403 00:19:17,190 --> 00:19:20,590 Speaker 4: tennis friends. Some of them you know really well, Viv 404 00:19:20,750 --> 00:19:25,950 Speaker 4: and Matt. Went up there and played near the Gold Coast, 405 00:19:25,990 --> 00:19:27,690 Speaker 4: I think we were playing, and I broke out. I 406 00:19:27,690 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 4: thought I had a spider bite. On the top of 407 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:31,660 Speaker 4: my head. And it started to come back down around 408 00:19:31,700 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 4: my eye and I thought, I better get this checked out. 409 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,600 Speaker 4: And it was shingles. So stress related. 410 00:19:36,820 --> 00:19:37,560 Speaker 3: Yeah. 411 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:41,030 Speaker 4: But there was less stress in 03 possibly because we won, Viv. 412 00:19:41,270 --> 00:19:45,290 Speaker 1: Yeah. And in 03, there was also that incredible semifinal 413 00:19:45,369 --> 00:19:47,330 Speaker 1: as well. How, you know, that must have been. 414 00:19:47,350 --> 00:19:47,930 Speaker 4: Oh, yeah. 415 00:19:47,950 --> 00:19:49,970 Speaker 1: The momentum must have been incredible. 416 00:19:50,730 --> 00:19:52,820 Speaker 4: Well, there was. And your memory is very good because 417 00:19:53,470 --> 00:19:56,660 Speaker 4: the great Roger Federer was just coming into his own 418 00:19:56,700 --> 00:19:59,060 Speaker 4: at that stage. Not quite there yet, but a Grand 419 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:05,500 Speaker 4: Slam winner already. And he played. Well, maybe he wasn't 420 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:06,180 Speaker 4: a Grand Slam winner. 421 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:07,740 Speaker 2: No, he had won Wimbledon. 422 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 4: Yeah. 423 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,500 Speaker 2: But you guys played on a hard court. Wasn't it 424 00:20:10,540 --> 00:20:12,199 Speaker 2: probably because Federer had won Wimbledon? 425 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 4: Probably. And so it's a long time ago now. And 426 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 4: he was about to come into the great player that 427 00:20:19,220 --> 00:20:22,480 Speaker 4: he became. And Leighton Hewitt was still down two sets 428 00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:24,440 Speaker 4: to love against him. I remember. But that was an 429 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:26,380 Speaker 4: interesting story. I don't know how much time we've got. 430 00:20:27,020 --> 00:20:27,420 Speaker 2: Tell us. 431 00:20:28,359 --> 00:20:31,740 Speaker 4: He played three matches that tie, Roger. So he played 432 00:20:31,780 --> 00:20:34,640 Speaker 4: singles the first day, doubles the second, and singles the third. 433 00:20:35,020 --> 00:20:37,760 Speaker 4: Leighton had a day off with the doubles and would 434 00:20:37,780 --> 00:20:41,159 Speaker 4: have been, because of that, a little bit fresher. But 435 00:20:41,180 --> 00:20:45,250 Speaker 4: he was down two sets to love Leighton and came back, 436 00:20:45,290 --> 00:20:48,240 Speaker 4: was down a break in the third. Federer couldn't serve it. 437 00:20:48,490 --> 00:20:51,669 Speaker 4: I think he lost his serve at about 4-2 in 438 00:20:51,710 --> 00:20:54,729 Speaker 4: that set. Leighton comes back and wins it. So now 439 00:20:54,750 --> 00:20:57,600 Speaker 4: he's down two sets to one and Roger goes off 440 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:00,479 Speaker 4: the court for a bathroom break. So I go in 441 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:02,520 Speaker 4: to our locker room and I see him on the 442 00:21:02,580 --> 00:21:07,699 Speaker 4: massage table. And he had four guys around him. One 443 00:21:07,720 --> 00:21:11,379 Speaker 4: was rubbing his legs. And so that's like a window 444 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:13,409 Speaker 4: of opportunity for us. So I came running out as 445 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:16,660 Speaker 4: quick as I could, said to Leighton, you know, you're 446 00:21:16,680 --> 00:21:18,510 Speaker 4: trying to pump your own player up. I said, Roger's 447 00:21:18,570 --> 00:21:22,690 Speaker 4: in a bit of trouble. He's tired. He's played three matches. 448 00:21:22,710 --> 00:21:24,850 Speaker 4: You're fresh. I said, if you get up a break 449 00:21:24,890 --> 00:21:26,250 Speaker 4: here early in the fourth, you're going to win this. 450 00:21:27,550 --> 00:21:29,470 Speaker 4: And I said, when he comes back out on the court, 451 00:21:30,050 --> 00:21:32,780 Speaker 4: get over there in front of the stairs where He's 452 00:21:32,820 --> 00:21:35,010 Speaker 4: walking out where he comes down onto Rod Laver Arena 453 00:21:35,030 --> 00:21:37,190 Speaker 4: and you can see their legs first and then you 454 00:21:37,230 --> 00:21:39,570 Speaker 4: see their face. He said, get down on the northern 455 00:21:39,609 --> 00:21:41,629 Speaker 4: end there and show them you've got plenty of energy. 456 00:21:41,670 --> 00:21:44,010 Speaker 4: So I thought he'd just jump around a little bit, Leighton, 457 00:21:44,030 --> 00:21:47,570 Speaker 4: but he took it literally and he was doing star 458 00:21:47,609 --> 00:21:50,030 Speaker 4: jumps and he was doing knees to chest actually as 459 00:21:50,090 --> 00:21:53,109 Speaker 4: Roger came down the stairs and Roger glanced at it 460 00:21:53,150 --> 00:21:57,650 Speaker 4: and looked away. And he did get up a break 461 00:21:58,020 --> 00:22:00,820 Speaker 4: early on in the fourth and the rest is history. 462 00:22:00,859 --> 00:22:04,129 Speaker 4: He won that, got us into the final And we 463 00:22:04,150 --> 00:22:04,690 Speaker 4: won from there. 464 00:22:04,850 --> 00:22:05,330 Speaker 1: Amazing. 465 00:22:05,350 --> 00:22:08,129 Speaker 4: Yeah. But Roger's got a long memory. I think he 466 00:22:08,150 --> 00:22:10,540 Speaker 4: beat him 18 times after that in a row. So 467 00:22:11,170 --> 00:22:14,440 Speaker 4: Leighton paid a heavy price for that one. But two 468 00:22:14,500 --> 00:22:19,119 Speaker 4: great players of the modern era. One transcends generations. And 469 00:22:19,260 --> 00:22:21,820 Speaker 4: Leighton was also number one in the world for 18 months. 470 00:22:21,840 --> 00:22:24,310 Speaker 4: So two very special players in that match. 471 00:22:24,530 --> 00:22:24,790 Speaker 2: Wow. 472 00:22:25,010 --> 00:22:27,750 Speaker 3: It's incredible to hear all that detail all these years later. 473 00:22:27,930 --> 00:22:28,170 Speaker 4: Yeah. 474 00:22:28,190 --> 00:22:30,400 Speaker 1: Yeah. I think you touched on a really good point 475 00:22:30,540 --> 00:22:33,480 Speaker 1: earlier about, you know, the home and away and Davis 476 00:22:33,520 --> 00:22:36,439 Speaker 1: Cup for, you know, from the country perspective, it took us, 477 00:22:36,660 --> 00:22:39,619 Speaker 1: gave us the opportunity to see tennis in different. 478 00:22:39,780 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 4: I think so. Yeah. 479 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:41,610 Speaker 3: Different places. 480 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:41,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. 481 00:22:42,350 --> 00:22:45,109 Speaker 4: And great, great crowds that get to see our national 482 00:22:45,130 --> 00:22:46,649 Speaker 4: team play against great teams from. 483 00:22:46,730 --> 00:22:47,190 Speaker 3: Exactly. 484 00:22:47,670 --> 00:22:50,129 Speaker 4: And, and, you know, when, as a player, as a 485 00:22:50,150 --> 00:22:53,190 Speaker 4: captain too, but I, I can speak from both angles. 486 00:22:53,230 --> 00:22:57,109 Speaker 4: When you go away and, to a South American country 487 00:22:57,369 --> 00:23:01,580 Speaker 4: or a European country and you play in a hostile environment, 488 00:23:02,220 --> 00:23:06,160 Speaker 4: they are some of the greatest memories you can ever treasure. Difficult. 489 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:11,280 Speaker 4: So difficult. The most difficult environments to play in. Davis 490 00:23:11,300 --> 00:23:15,010 Speaker 4: Cup in a foreign country like that against 10,000 or 491 00:23:15,150 --> 00:23:20,550 Speaker 4: more screaming home fans, that is the toughest test as 492 00:23:20,590 --> 00:23:23,050 Speaker 4: a character you can ever face in, I think, in 493 00:23:23,890 --> 00:23:27,230 Speaker 4: my experience. And, um, we don't get that anymore. 494 00:23:27,550 --> 00:23:27,690 Speaker 2: No. 495 00:23:27,810 --> 00:23:29,930 Speaker 3: Well, we do have other team events. 496 00:23:30,890 --> 00:23:31,250 Speaker 4: We do. 497 00:23:31,990 --> 00:23:34,369 Speaker 1: And yeah, you, you mentioned them earlier, actually the United 498 00:23:34,410 --> 00:23:37,280 Speaker 1: cup and labor cup. Do you have a, you know, 499 00:23:37,300 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 1: tennis has obviously evolved and team tennis has evolved. Are 500 00:23:40,460 --> 00:23:42,119 Speaker 1: there any events that you think, gosh, I wish I 501 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:42,820 Speaker 1: could play in that one? 502 00:23:43,700 --> 00:23:46,860 Speaker 4: Well, I haven't been to a labor cup. They say the, the, um, 503 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:49,870 Speaker 4: the experience is really special. So I'd love to go. 504 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:55,580 Speaker 4: I've commentated at the United cup. Um, and I think 505 00:23:55,619 --> 00:23:58,500 Speaker 4: that's pretty special. They had an amazing final last year. 506 00:23:58,780 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 4: We did in Sydney. I was in Perth initially, went 507 00:24:02,100 --> 00:24:03,020 Speaker 4: across to Sydney for the finals. 508 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 2: That was a great final. 509 00:24:03,820 --> 00:24:07,530 Speaker 4: A great final. Yeah. And it's something special. You know, 510 00:24:07,570 --> 00:24:10,490 Speaker 4: the Hopman Cup and Paul McNamee all those years ago 511 00:24:10,570 --> 00:24:13,410 Speaker 4: had something special on the agenda and on the calendar 512 00:24:13,450 --> 00:24:16,710 Speaker 4: and it evolved into a fabulous event and there's something 513 00:24:17,170 --> 00:24:19,030 Speaker 4: putting the men and the women together and finishing it 514 00:24:19,050 --> 00:24:20,669 Speaker 4: with the mixed doubles. It's like a toss of the 515 00:24:20,730 --> 00:24:24,620 Speaker 4: coin almost at the end. But, it creates interest. And, um, 516 00:24:25,100 --> 00:24:26,820 Speaker 4: so our events in Australia as a lead up to 517 00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:28,980 Speaker 4: the Australian Open are pretty special, I think. 518 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:31,590 Speaker 1: Who do you look forward to watching when it comes 519 00:24:31,609 --> 00:24:33,030 Speaker 1: to an Australian summer of tennis? 520 00:24:34,109 --> 00:24:36,780 Speaker 4: Well, look, I'm a huge fan of Alex Dimenor. I, 521 00:24:37,369 --> 00:24:39,889 Speaker 4: I love the way he competes. He's, you know, sometimes 522 00:24:39,930 --> 00:24:42,990 Speaker 4: I think he's, he's a little bit of a featherweight 523 00:24:43,030 --> 00:24:46,680 Speaker 4: going against heavyweights, but you know, in, in, in late 524 00:24:46,700 --> 00:24:50,520 Speaker 4: when we saw a featherweight beating heavyweights quite often and, uh, 525 00:24:50,560 --> 00:24:52,670 Speaker 4: getting the number one in the world and, And Alex 526 00:24:52,710 --> 00:24:55,129 Speaker 4: has made himself into a wonderful player. And I have 527 00:24:55,210 --> 00:24:58,469 Speaker 4: nothing but admiration for him, the way he plays. His 528 00:24:58,510 --> 00:25:02,800 Speaker 4: athleticism and speed is about as quick as you could 529 00:25:02,840 --> 00:25:06,220 Speaker 4: see around a tennis court. He had some trouble with 530 00:25:06,300 --> 00:25:09,199 Speaker 4: Sinner at the end of last year, you know, in 531 00:25:09,220 --> 00:25:12,139 Speaker 4: the Davis Cup final. And also, you know, Yannick was 532 00:25:12,180 --> 00:25:14,100 Speaker 4: so good at the end of the year in all 533 00:25:14,140 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 4: of his events that he played and finished the year 534 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 4: incredibly well. But he's a heavyweight. He hits the ball 535 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:23,250 Speaker 4: with incredible, generates his own power like, like Alcaraz does 536 00:25:23,369 --> 00:25:31,690 Speaker 4: and like Novak and Roger and Nadal have all done. 537 00:25:31,930 --> 00:25:34,880 Speaker 4: They generate their own power. I think Alex is more 538 00:25:36,820 --> 00:25:38,340 Speaker 4: in a comfort zone where he can use the speed 539 00:25:38,380 --> 00:25:40,300 Speaker 4: of the court a little bit. But he's the one 540 00:25:40,660 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 4: from an Australian point of view, and I love Sinner. 541 00:25:43,500 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 4: I just love him. I know he's a good kid. 542 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:48,859 Speaker 4: Our great friend Darren Cale, who we all know so well, 543 00:25:48,940 --> 00:25:53,330 Speaker 4: who's a high-quality person, he speaks... so highly of him 544 00:25:53,350 --> 00:25:56,030 Speaker 4: as an individual. And so I want him to do 545 00:25:56,090 --> 00:25:58,850 Speaker 4: well as the years go past. I love Alcaraz. He's 546 00:25:58,890 --> 00:26:02,619 Speaker 4: a special talent. And those two players are going to 547 00:26:02,630 --> 00:26:04,300 Speaker 4: be the ones that will drag the men's game along, 548 00:26:04,340 --> 00:26:09,000 Speaker 4: I think, over the next few years. And yeah, from 549 00:26:09,020 --> 00:26:13,460 Speaker 4: the men's perspective, I'll be interested to see if Svante 550 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 4: can win one down here. I think Clay is her 551 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 4: best surface by a long way. That surface suits her 552 00:26:19,540 --> 00:26:22,030 Speaker 4: technique and her style of game. But can she win 553 00:26:22,690 --> 00:26:25,580 Speaker 4: On the hard court, we'll see. There's a lot of 554 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,700 Speaker 4: things happening in the women's game, though. Girls coming through 555 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:34,310 Speaker 4: the Chinese interest now. You know, you've got Naomi Osaka 556 00:26:34,350 --> 00:26:36,870 Speaker 4: coming back. That would be a special story after being 557 00:26:36,890 --> 00:26:40,300 Speaker 4: a mother. They're all special stories. A lot to look 558 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:40,619 Speaker 4: forward to. 559 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:41,770 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 560 00:26:41,830 --> 00:26:45,450 Speaker 1: Well, that sounds like the perfect place for us to finish. 561 00:26:45,510 --> 00:26:47,430 Speaker 1: And thank you so much for your time today, John. 562 00:26:47,550 --> 00:26:49,410 Speaker 4: Thank you, Viv. You bring a smile to my face. 563 00:26:49,490 --> 00:26:50,290 Speaker 2: And thank you. 564 00:26:50,310 --> 00:26:51,550 Speaker 4: Thank you, Matt. Thanks, Fitzy. 565 00:26:51,570 --> 00:26:56,770 Speaker 2: This was great. Really good to talk to you. Well, Viv, 566 00:26:56,810 --> 00:26:58,750 Speaker 2: you've got quite a fan in Fitzy there. He was 567 00:26:59,170 --> 00:27:01,150 Speaker 2: fantastic to chat to. I had such a good time 568 00:27:01,350 --> 00:27:02,649 Speaker 2: with this conversation in this episode. 569 00:27:02,850 --> 00:27:06,150 Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel very fortunate in my tennis career to 570 00:27:06,580 --> 00:27:09,639 Speaker 1: be able to spend time with legends like Fitzy and 571 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:12,940 Speaker 1: just hear all of his experiences in the sport. 572 00:27:13,109 --> 00:27:15,630 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. We said it on last week's episode, 573 00:27:15,670 --> 00:27:17,490 Speaker 2: but we would love to know from you who you'd 574 00:27:17,530 --> 00:27:19,770 Speaker 2: like us to sit down with. So get in contact 575 00:27:19,810 --> 00:27:21,649 Speaker 2: with us. Our details are in the show notes below 576 00:27:21,790 --> 00:27:23,790 Speaker 2: and we'll see if we can make it happen. We'll 577 00:27:23,810 --> 00:27:25,730 Speaker 2: be back next week with another episode of The Sit 578 00:27:25,770 --> 00:27:29,050 Speaker 2: Down where you, Viv, chat to Torben Beltz. And on Thursday, 579 00:27:29,090 --> 00:27:30,950 Speaker 2: you can hear John and the team on the AO 580 00:27:30,970 --> 00:27:31,450 Speaker 2: Show Weekly. 581 00:27:31,670 --> 00:27:33,710 Speaker 1: Details for how to contact us are in the show 582 00:27:33,750 --> 00:27:37,710 Speaker 1: notes and please remember to subscribe, rate and review. 583 00:27:37,990 --> 00:27:38,890 Speaker 3: See you next week, Matt. 584 00:27:38,930 --> 00:27:39,270 Speaker 2: See you, Viv.