1 00:00:02,320 --> 00:00:04,960 Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to the Sitdown. I'm Viz Christie from 2 00:00:05,000 --> 00:00:06,480 Speaker 1: Australian Tennis magazine and. 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:08,719 Speaker 2: I'm Matt Trolopa, writer for oz open dot com. 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:10,640 Speaker 1: And Matt, why are we sitting down this week with 5 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: John Fitzgerald. 6 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:13,680 Speaker 2: We're sitting down with John Fitzgerald because first of all, 7 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 2: he's a legend of Australian tennis. But it's excellent timing 8 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 2: given it's a Davis Cup week and FITZI had an 9 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 2: incredible Davis Cup career both as a player and then 10 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 2: as a captain of the Australian team. And while he 11 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: was here and very generous with his time, we got 12 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 2: to cover a lot of other subjects. It was a 13 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 2: really wide ranging chat. 14 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: It was also great to talk to FITZI about the 15 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,920 Speaker 1: success this year in men's doubles in Australia and he 16 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 1: is a man that's highly qualified to speak on that 17 00:00:38,479 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: topic having won all four Grand Slam doubles titles and 18 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: a couple of mixed doubles titles as well. 19 00:00:46,520 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 2: John Fitzgerald, thank you for joining us on the sit 20 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:52,440 Speaker 2: down today. Thank you, Matt. It's my pleasure and you're 21 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 2: talking to us at a very exciting time in tennis doubles. 22 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 2: Do you feel it's having a bit of a moment 23 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: on tour right now for the Australians. 24 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:01,400 Speaker 3: Well, certainly there's a number of players that are world 25 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,480 Speaker 3: class that are playing it. I think Max Purcell arguably 26 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,240 Speaker 3: is the best first quarter in the world if he 27 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 3: puts his mind to it on that first court. And 28 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 3: part of what made I think the gold medal win 29 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 3: success of Ebden and Peers so good in the end 30 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 3: or so great in the end, was the fact that 31 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 3: one of them had to move to the first court. 32 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 3: They're both second court players, so John Piers showed a 33 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 3: lot of versatility to be able to move across from 34 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 3: the side that he plays on all the time, basically 35 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 3: move across under pressure on a clay court and play 36 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 3: in that first court. He deserves a lot of credit 37 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 3: for that and a lot of kudos. So yeah, they 38 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,960 Speaker 3: can play this game of doubles. It's probably not as 39 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:45,960 Speaker 3: high profile as we know, it's not as the singles, 40 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 3: but it plays an important part in our sport and 41 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 3: was great to see some of the Aussies do well 42 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 3: traditionally we have in this country. 43 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 2: That leads into our next question. Actually, there's been this 44 00:01:57,240 --> 00:02:00,400 Speaker 2: camaraderie between that golden era of Australian and US back 45 00:02:00,400 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 2: in the sixties and into the seventies Labor Rosewall YUKM 46 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 2: and I guess that camaraderie in that culture has continued 47 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 2: to this day. Do you reckon that's contributing to why 48 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: we're so good on the doubles court. 49 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,880 Speaker 3: Well, it's probably a little longer discussion than that. That's 50 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 3: part of it. I think a big part of it. 51 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:17,600 Speaker 3: I think court surfaces play a bit of a part. 52 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 3: You know, we learned a lot of our tennis in 53 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 3: this country on faster courts. Initially most of them have 54 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 3: slowed down these days. They're higher bouncing and slower court surfaces, 55 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,799 Speaker 3: even the hard courts and the grass by the way, 56 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 3: which sounds amazing, but it's true. So I think in 57 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 3: the old days, when they played with faster courts, that 58 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 3: style of play was more conducive to playing doubles. So 59 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 3: the doubles game has changed. It's evolved a little bit, 60 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:43,679 Speaker 3: not as much probably as the singles, but it's still 61 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 3: evolved and players have to adapt. But there's certainly a 62 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:51,120 Speaker 3: history of great doubles players in this country. And you 63 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,359 Speaker 3: know now we've got two more gold medalists that are 64 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 3: they'll never forget that their name will go down in 65 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,560 Speaker 3: history as Olympic gold medal winners. 66 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: John speaking of the great history in Australian doubles players, 67 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: you were, of course a world number one doubles player 68 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 1: and you want every Grand Slam men's doubles title. What 69 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: did it mean to complete that career slam in doubles? 70 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: Well, Wymlham was the last one that I was able 71 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 3: to win, and that was pretty special because as a 72 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 3: little boy, that was the tournament I always got up 73 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,079 Speaker 3: in the middle of the night for out in country 74 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,960 Speaker 3: South Australia in the bush and watched on I began 75 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 3: watching on a black and white TV. Actually I don't 76 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 3: tell any one that, but so that was the last one, 77 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 3: but it was special and I think, you know, probably 78 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 3: halfway through my tennis career, I realized that I was 79 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 3: not likely to win a major singles title. So it 80 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 3: was a nice second for me to be able to 81 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:47,600 Speaker 3: do that. And you know a lot of players have 82 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,119 Speaker 3: not been able to do it. There's there's a lot 83 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 3: more players in the world of men's tennis that have 84 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 3: won all four doubles titles in the Grand Slams than 85 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 3: in terms of singles players. There's only eight of those, right, 86 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 3: it's a very moll number. And then half of those 87 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,360 Speaker 3: have won on all surfaces, and the previous half played 88 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 3: when there were three grass courts used for Grand Slams 89 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 3: in those days. The US Open and Australia of course, 90 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 3: were on grass courts back then. So it's a very 91 00:04:15,480 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 3: small club there, a bigger club in the men's doubles, 92 00:04:17,800 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 3: but still a nice special place to be, of. 93 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: Course, and you won titles with several different partners, but 94 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: your partnership with Andres Yarrett was particularly fruitful. What made 95 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,120 Speaker 1: that so successful. 96 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 3: Well, we really did, I think, compliment each other, not 97 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 3: just in the way our styles of play were, but 98 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 3: in the way our personalities were. I think. You know, 99 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,720 Speaker 3: Anders was a special tennis player. He was a higher 100 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 3: ranked singles player than me. He started winning Grand Slams 101 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:58,039 Speaker 3: with it Stephan Edburgh. He won with a couple of others, 102 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 3: not just me. He won with hands c initially another Swede, 103 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 3: and of course Robert Seguso he won one with as well. 104 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 3: So and a special singles player made the semi finals 105 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 3: of Wimbledon. Some days I just had to turn up 106 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 3: at the court and point him in the right direction. 107 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 3: He'd win for us. I was like a gold mine. 108 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 3: It was magnificent, you know. But some days if he 109 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 3: didn't get hot food. And I'm saying this seriously, you 110 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 3: think I've got my tongue in my cheek, but I don't. 111 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:29,359 Speaker 3: He loved hot food before he played a match, and 112 00:05:29,400 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 3: if he didn't get it, he you know, if he 113 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 3: was listening to this, he'd be laughing because he'd get 114 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,160 Speaker 3: a bit grumpy. So I had to run around try 115 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 3: and find some hot food for him, and then of 116 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:42,599 Speaker 3: course point him in the right direction. But when he 117 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 3: did that, he was He was a mini genius for me. 118 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 3: Is a great person, pretty intense on the court. But 119 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 3: we had a special relationship that remains till today. We 120 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 3: stay in contact with each other, and he paid for 121 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 3: half of my house, so I've got to be very hi. 122 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,520 Speaker 3: Maybe in fact, he paid for three quarters of it. 123 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 3: So a special old friend. 124 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: It's actually really interesting to sort of hear your perspective 125 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: on him as a person as much as a player. 126 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 1: I mean, we talk about how important it is to have, 127 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 1: you know, playing styles that compliment each other. But that 128 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 1: personality has to really gel as well. 129 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 3: It does it does? You know there's a lot of 130 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 3: I bet there's a lot of double s ways. I 131 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 3: know there is a lot that don't necessarily communicate that 132 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 3: well off the court, and they maybe don't socialize as 133 00:06:30,839 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 3: well because they're so different. Maybe sometimes they don't even 134 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 3: like each other, you know. But in our case, we 135 00:06:36,600 --> 00:06:39,080 Speaker 3: would go to dinner together, even though he was a 136 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,040 Speaker 3: Swede and I was an Australian, and we always used 137 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 3: to think as a young person that the Swedes and 138 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,680 Speaker 3: the Aussie's got on really well. You know. They brought 139 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 3: all those crowds out in the early eighties to watch 140 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:50,800 Speaker 3: David's Cup here and they were a strong the strongest 141 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 3: men's nation then. But we had a lot in common 142 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 3: and even though English wasn't his first language, he was 143 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,599 Speaker 3: awfully good at it, and we could communicate easily on 144 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 3: the court. And I think it's important that you get 145 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 3: along well and respect the guy you're playing with. 146 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: Of course, and you also won two mixed doubles titles 147 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: in Grand Slams with Liz Smiley. That must have also 148 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:14,280 Speaker 1: been very special. 149 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 3: Well, Liz paid for the rest of my house, so. 150 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 2: I love that mentality, but it's actually kind of true. 151 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: I got money to pay for a house and a 152 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,120 Speaker 2: partner helped me get it. It's a really nice way 153 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:24,760 Speaker 2: to think about it. 154 00:07:24,800 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 3: Well, Lizzie and I went back to junior tennis days. 155 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 3: She married a good friend of mine, Peter Smiley, and 156 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:33,559 Speaker 3: they're special people to us, their godparents to as second child, 157 00:07:33,920 --> 00:07:38,800 Speaker 3: where godparents to their eldest and you know, so we've 158 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 3: remained friends there. We follow their son Elvis now he 159 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 3: was a bit of an Elvis Presley man. Peter smiling 160 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 3: and his son qualified for the British Open golf this year, 161 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:52,800 Speaker 3: so we stay in touch. We're great old friends. And yeah, 162 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 3: that was they were special days too. We happened to 163 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 3: we happen to lose a few finals. We lost four 164 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:00,280 Speaker 3: Grand Slam mixed doubles finals, Liz and I, but we 165 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 3: managed to win two of them. 166 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: Of course, I'm going to put you on the spot 167 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: a little bit here. You speak so fondly of your 168 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: doubles partners. What would they say about you? 169 00:08:10,320 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 3: Well, I'm not sure it might depend on which one 170 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 3: you ask. They're all good friends. But my special friend 171 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:19,800 Speaker 3: also is John Alexander, who was ten years older than me, 172 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,080 Speaker 3: was in the back half of his career when he 173 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 3: said that he'd played with me and we won an 174 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 3: Australia opened together, and you know, it was incredible that 175 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,480 Speaker 3: part of my life with him. And he took Wally 176 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 3: Massour and Brad Druid, our great friend who's not with 177 00:08:32,800 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 3: us anymore, under his wing and guided us through those 178 00:08:35,640 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 3: early years. Not always with great stuff, you know, there 179 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 3: was a bit of naughty stuff too, but you know, 180 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,880 Speaker 3: we told some good jokes in the locker room. But 181 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 3: he is a man with a heart of gold. John 182 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,920 Speaker 3: Alexander and you know went on, of course to be 183 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 3: a politician and an ethical one at that, and I'm 184 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:55,520 Speaker 3: proud of him and what he's done. And of course 185 00:08:55,520 --> 00:08:58,240 Speaker 3: Thomas Smith, the check player. I won a couple of 186 00:08:58,360 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 3: majors with the US and the French. So I'd like 187 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 3: to think they talked about me as being a friend, 188 00:09:04,920 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 3: a reliable friend. I hope. I think they probably will. 189 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 3: If they don't, then I probably don't want to hear. 190 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:15,520 Speaker 1: About it, full faith that they would speak very fondly. 191 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:15,959 Speaker 3: Thank you. 192 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,880 Speaker 2: We've talked a lot about obviously your double success, but 193 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 2: in singles as well. You were a top twenty five 194 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:23,600 Speaker 2: player and you won six titles. So what Miles Stone 195 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:25,719 Speaker 2: stands out for you most on the singles court. 196 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 3: Well, you know, we've talked recently about being match points 197 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,600 Speaker 3: down in matches and then coming through and winning. And 198 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 3: one of my first titles was in Maui in Hawaii 199 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 3: where I was down match point I had to I 200 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,040 Speaker 3: had to qualify. It was before I'd really established a 201 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 3: big ranking and came through that match and then won 202 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 3: the whole tournament. So the match point save was in qualities, 203 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:49,840 Speaker 3: was in qualified. 204 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:50,200 Speaker 2: Wow. 205 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 3: So things like that happen, you know, and you gain 206 00:09:53,720 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 3: confidence and momentum in sport and two on excuse me, 207 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 3: one on one competition as a two horse race, and 208 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,720 Speaker 3: anything can happen. But I think I think the first 209 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 3: one for me. I did well at the old Sydney International, 210 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:10,160 Speaker 3: which was called the New South Wales Open when it 211 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 3: was on grass. I won that twice and lost in 212 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 3: the final. In fact I had a match point. It 213 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:16,760 Speaker 3: came back to haunt me against my friend John Alexander 214 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:19,720 Speaker 3: and that kind and he won that damn it John, yea, 215 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,200 Speaker 3: where's that dinner? But I think the first one for 216 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 3: me in Kitsbill in Austria was a special moment. It was. 217 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 3: It was on a clay court, my worst surface, but 218 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,960 Speaker 3: it was altitude clay, which gave me a better chance. 219 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 3: I got through to the semifinals, and we got to 220 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,200 Speaker 3: the semifinals and it rained for three days. Now, I 221 00:10:39,240 --> 00:10:41,320 Speaker 3: normally don't tell people the story, but it's so long ago. 222 00:10:41,360 --> 00:10:43,680 Speaker 3: I tell everyone I want a clay court single title. 223 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:46,720 Speaker 3: But it rained for three days. We went indoors. We 224 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,720 Speaker 3: played on a fast, low bouncing supreme court that was 225 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 3: called in those days, and it suited my game perfectly. 226 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:55,760 Speaker 3: And I'll beat Germo Villas, who was probably you may 227 00:10:55,800 --> 00:10:57,319 Speaker 3: have been number two in the world at that stage. 228 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 3: So that for me was the I think the event 229 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 3: that sort of kickstarted my belief. 230 00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,560 Speaker 2: Really wow, But you don't tell me when it wasn't 231 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 2: a you got to the semis on the clay though, 232 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:09,559 Speaker 2: which is good it Yeah, I did. And that's a 233 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 2: beautiful tournament, isn't it. Isn't that the one? It's well, 234 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 2: there's always a good start, or they're both in the mountains. 235 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 3: Well, I think it's where is it where Franzy Klamor 236 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 3: the great downhill skier one gold? I think it's and 237 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 3: he's Wally Mesur's hero, you know, they call him the Kaiser, 238 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:29,199 Speaker 3: not Wally but Franz Klamor. But that it is a 239 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:30,079 Speaker 3: beautiful place. 240 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:30,559 Speaker 2: You know. 241 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 3: This went to New Zealand recent I went to Queenstown, 242 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 3: first time I'd ever been that. You can go. Yeah, 243 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,319 Speaker 3: it is magnificent. It reminded me of Austria and Switzerland. 244 00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 3: What a beautiful place. And yeah, Kitspill was one of those. 245 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 2: Anything we did, we did touch on the Olympics and 246 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,000 Speaker 2: you played two of them and they were nineteen eighty 247 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 2: eight Soul and ninety ninety two Barcelona. So Soul was 248 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 2: significant because that's when tennis came back into the Olympics 249 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 2: after not being a metal sport for about sixty or 250 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 2: seventy years. So it was, yeah, what was the decision 251 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:02,559 Speaker 2: for you? Obviously you wanted to play an Olympics. Not 252 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:04,599 Speaker 2: every tennis player players and Olympics, but you did and 253 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:05,199 Speaker 2: played two. 254 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,840 Speaker 3: I did that. I did want to play, and several 255 00:12:07,880 --> 00:12:10,079 Speaker 3: months earlier I'd torn a calf muscle in the Canadian 256 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:13,719 Speaker 3: Open and was doubtful for a while but got into 257 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,400 Speaker 3: the team. Look, they were funny memories in a way 258 00:12:17,559 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 3: because it was the biggest sporting event globally as it 259 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 3: still is, and tennis as a medal sport for the 260 00:12:25,080 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 3: first time in the modern era. I mean, it had 261 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:29,640 Speaker 3: been a non medal sport in Los Angeles, I think, 262 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 3: where Stephan Edberg won, and then it went to Seoul, 263 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,120 Speaker 3: and I wondered. I was looking over my shoulder a 264 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 3: little bit. I wasn't sure how welcome the tennis players 265 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,640 Speaker 3: would be because it was a professional sport in those 266 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:47,240 Speaker 3: days still is obviously, But I wish that I could 267 00:12:47,280 --> 00:12:50,680 Speaker 3: have my time again, because I felt like I could 268 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 3: have enjoyed that first moment more. I was a little 269 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 3: bit sort of. I don't think I was intimidated, just 270 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 3: wondering how welcome we be, But of course we were, 271 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:04,600 Speaker 3: of course we were. And I think as the Olympics 272 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,520 Speaker 3: have gone past over the last twenty id years, twenty 273 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 3: four or thirty two years since then, I think it 274 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 3: is it has grown in stature our game in the Olympics. 275 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 3: So now it's obvious how important it is to the 276 00:13:20,679 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 3: game of tennis, but I was a bit slow in 277 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 3: recognizing that and understanding it, I think more than anything else. 278 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 3: But nevertheless, an unbelievable experience, staying in the village. Neil 279 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 3: Fraser was our manager. It was a wonderful experience. Darren 280 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:37,360 Speaker 3: k Hill and I lost in the quarter finals one 281 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 3: match before a bronze that would have been nice, but 282 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:43,719 Speaker 3: in retrospect, just to be an Olympian in special and 283 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 3: going to Barcelona. 284 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:47,360 Speaker 2: As well, did you feel better about Barcelona? 285 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 3: I think yeah, I did. I felt better about Barcelona. 286 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:53,559 Speaker 3: And then of course I went to this straight the 287 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 3: Sydney Olympics with my family just as a spectator, bought tickets, 288 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,959 Speaker 3: went up there and watched, took my children. Was a 289 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 3: commentator at the ninety six Olympics for Channel seven in 290 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 3: those days in Georgia in Atlanta, and then as a manager, 291 00:14:09,600 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 3: I was at two Olympics in both Athens and in Beijing. 292 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:19,560 Speaker 3: So I had a plethora of experiences the great Olympic Games, 293 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 3: and I'll never forget them. 294 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: You must love it when Olympics roll around, now, I'm. 295 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 3: Sure, yeah, yeah, it's you know, there's a lot of 296 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,040 Speaker 3: new sports that I'm not necessarily too o fay with, 297 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 3: but nevertheless I got some real joy I think out 298 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 3: of watching some of these young VMX riders and skateboarders 299 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:42,640 Speaker 3: and the joy that brings to them and their families, 300 00:14:42,640 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 3: and the experience of playing, so to speak, for Australia 301 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 3: and cycling for Australia. It's a memorable thing for a 302 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 3: young person to do. Stays with you for life. 303 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: Speaking of representing Australia, you also had a wonderful Davis 304 00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:58,880 Speaker 1: Cup career. You must have some very special memories from that. 305 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 2: I do. 306 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:04,320 Speaker 3: And I think you know all false modesty aside. You know, 307 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 3: when you're halfway through your career and you realize you 308 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 3: can't win your dream, which for me was to win 309 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 3: the Wimbledon singles title. That's what I wanted to do, 310 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: and I realized that, you know, my game probably wasn't 311 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,680 Speaker 3: going to stack up enough to do it. I had 312 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 3: a very close friend in Pat Cash do it. And 313 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 3: I want to quote my old friend Brad Druid, who's 314 00:15:22,840 --> 00:15:25,280 Speaker 3: not with us anymore. He died of MMD in twenty thirteen, 315 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,400 Speaker 3: and he and Wally Masur and I were watching in Newport, 316 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,720 Speaker 3: Rhode Island after we'd left Wimbledon in nine to eighty seven, 317 00:15:31,760 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 3: watching Pat Cash win on TV, and when he'd won, 318 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:37,960 Speaker 3: Brad looked at both Wally and I and he said, 319 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 3: he said, well, he said that that's the greatest moment 320 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 3: in my tennis career and that's how. That's how. Yeah, 321 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:48,160 Speaker 3: it made me get quite emotional what Brad said, and 322 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:49,880 Speaker 3: he was right. It probably was for Wally and I 323 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:54,080 Speaker 3: to a large degree, where you have someone that you 324 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:57,800 Speaker 3: know so well that can win the dream and it 325 00:15:57,960 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 3: was special for us to see cash you do it. 326 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,440 Speaker 3: So when you realize you can't do it yourself, you 327 00:16:03,520 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 3: probably I looked at Davis Cup has been my platform, 328 00:16:07,400 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 3: I think, to be able to perform at my best 329 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:12,960 Speaker 3: in a team situation, which I missed. I missed Australian 330 00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 3: rules football because I made a sliding door moment at 331 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 3: boarding school not to play that anymore, went on and 332 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:21,120 Speaker 3: just concentrate on tennis. And it probably was the making 333 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 3: of my tennis career to say no to AFL at 334 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,240 Speaker 3: that stage. And then I think to playing a Davis 335 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 3: Cup team and win a couple of times, and then 336 00:16:28,960 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 3: the captain was that for me is the most memorable 337 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 3: thing in my career. I mean, the nerves that you 338 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:40,160 Speaker 3: experienced playing for your country is unparalleled for me, and 339 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 3: the pressure that you learn to deal with and sometimes 340 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 3: not deal so well. With is the best learning curve 341 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,320 Speaker 3: I think that the young tennis player can have. 342 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, I remember I was at that Davis Cup final 343 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: in two thousand and three here at Melbourne Park. 344 00:16:55,880 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 3: I thought you're going to say nineteen eighty three, you 345 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 3: wait too young that to say. 346 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:04,680 Speaker 1: Well, I remember watching that I was a well in 347 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: the country then watching on TV. But I do remember 348 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:10,040 Speaker 1: that two thousand and three title. That must be still 349 00:17:10,119 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 1: so vivid in your memory as well. 350 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 3: Well, we had a we had. You've got to mention 351 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,359 Speaker 3: the falls as well as the rises, don't you. But 352 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 3: two years earlier than that, we were on paper probably 353 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 3: expected to beat France and a final here and lost 354 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,800 Speaker 3: and no one knew at the time Pat Rafter was 355 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 3: playing with a stress fracture in his arm above the elbow, 356 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,840 Speaker 3: so we couldn't tell anyone that. And all there are 357 00:17:31,960 --> 00:17:35,960 Speaker 3: all sorts of nuances that go into making I think, 358 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:40,640 Speaker 3: decisions at those big moments. And we lost that tie 359 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 3: and it was pretty heartbreaking. Hey, it's only sport, you know, 360 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 3: but it's important in your life at that stage, and 361 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 3: it's important for a country and a culture, I think. 362 00:17:51,359 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 3: And so we had to bounce back and two years 363 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:56,800 Speaker 3: later it was like a monkey off the back. Yeah 364 00:17:56,840 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 3: one here again we won instead of losing the final 365 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 3: here at Melbourne Park on a grass court. 366 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:04,840 Speaker 2: Well, it was returning to exactly the same scene, wasn't it. 367 00:18:04,880 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 2: It was a dropped in grass scene of crime. And 368 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 2: Philippousa's playing with an injury. 369 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 3: Yes he did, he did. He played with a tear 370 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 3: and his pectrol muscle and you know, was up two 371 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 3: sets to love, came back to two sets all, but 372 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:22,040 Speaker 3: went into the locker room and didn't think he could 373 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,840 Speaker 3: probably finish really, and I thought if he'd lost his 374 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 3: first service game in the fifth set, he may have 375 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 3: lost that set to the club. But he held his 376 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:34,080 Speaker 3: excuse me, he broke first game, Oh wow, okay, and 377 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:36,720 Speaker 3: then sorry, he held her first game of the fifth 378 00:18:37,280 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 3: and once he'd done that, he played a good second game. God, 379 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:42,720 Speaker 3: he's momentum going and possibly forgot about the petrol a bit. 380 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 3: But it was a serious injury. So that that was 381 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 3: a great memory and very very different, all just so 382 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 3: different to winning a Davis Cup title as a player 383 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:54,359 Speaker 3: when you're the captain. 384 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 1: How did you manage the stress? 385 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:00,480 Speaker 3: Well, good question, and the first time I'm not sure 386 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 3: I did because I broke out into shingles. So that's 387 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 3: how stressful it was for me. You know, if you 388 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:09,600 Speaker 3: have the chicken pox as a young kid, you can 389 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:13,920 Speaker 3: have that virus. And so after the two thousand and 390 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,120 Speaker 3: one final, which we lost, I went to play golf 391 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 3: with some iusie tennis friends, some of them you know 392 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:23,359 Speaker 3: really well. Viv and Matt went up there and played 393 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 3: in near the Gold Coast. I think we were playing 394 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 3: and I broke out. I thought I had a spider 395 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:30,720 Speaker 3: bight on the top of my head and it started 396 00:19:30,720 --> 00:19:32,320 Speaker 3: to come back down around my eye, and I thought 397 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,240 Speaker 3: I'd better get this checked out, and it was shingles. 398 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 3: So stress related. But there was less stress in O three, 399 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 3: possibly because we won, Viv. 400 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:44,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, and in O three there was also that incredible 401 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: semi final as well. How you know that must have 402 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: been the momentum must have been incredible. 403 00:19:50,720 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 3: Well, there was, and your memory is very good because 404 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 3: the great Roger Federer was just coming into his own 405 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,000 Speaker 3: at that stage, not quite there yet, but a Grand 406 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 3: Slam winner already, and he played well, maybe he wasn't. 407 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 2: A grand said he had won Wimbledon. Yeah, but you 408 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 2: guys played on a hard court, wasn't it probably because 409 00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:12,680 Speaker 2: Federer had won Wimbledon. 410 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:16,200 Speaker 3: Probably, and so it's a long time ago now, and 411 00:20:16,520 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 3: he he was about to come into the great player 412 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:22,199 Speaker 3: that he became, and Layton Hewitt was still down two 413 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:24,320 Speaker 3: sets to love against him, I remember, but that was 414 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:26,400 Speaker 3: an interesting story. I don't know how much time we've got, 415 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 3: but tallis he played three matches that ty Roger. So 416 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:33,879 Speaker 3: he played singles the first day, doubles the second, and 417 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 3: singles the third. Layton had a day off with the 418 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,120 Speaker 3: doubles and would have been because of that a little 419 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:42,360 Speaker 3: bit fresher. But he was down two sets to love 420 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 3: Laighton and came back, was down a break in the third. 421 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 3: Federer couldn't serve it. I think he lost his serve 422 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,920 Speaker 3: at about four to two in that set. Layton comes 423 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:55,560 Speaker 3: back and wins it. So now he's down two sets 424 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 3: to one, and Roger goes off the court for a 425 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 3: bathroom break. So I go in to our locker room 426 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 3: and I see him on the message table and he 427 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:08,720 Speaker 3: had four guys around him. One was rubbing his legs, 428 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:12,320 Speaker 3: and so that's like a window of opportunity for us. 429 00:21:12,359 --> 00:21:14,000 Speaker 3: So I came running out as quick as I could, 430 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 3: said to Layton, you know, you're trying to pump your 431 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,320 Speaker 3: own player up. I said, Roger's in a bit of trouble. 432 00:21:19,359 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 3: He's he's tired, he played, he's played three matches. You're fresh. 433 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,240 Speaker 3: I said, if you get up a break here early 434 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:28,200 Speaker 3: in the fourth, you're going to win this. And I said, 435 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 3: when he comes back out on the court, get over 436 00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 3: there in front of the stairs where he's walking out 437 00:21:33,320 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 3: where he comes down onto rod Laver arena and you 438 00:21:35,520 --> 00:21:37,960 Speaker 3: can see their legs first and then you see their face. 439 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:40,480 Speaker 3: Said get down on the northern end there and show 440 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:42,800 Speaker 3: him you've got plenty of energy. So I thought he'd 441 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:45,400 Speaker 3: just jump around a little bit late, but he took 442 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 3: it literally and he was doing he was doing star 443 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:50,080 Speaker 3: jumps and he was doing knees to chest actually as 444 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 3: Roger came down the stairs. And Roger glanced at it 445 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 3: and looked away, you know. And and he did get 446 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 3: up a break early early on in the fourth and 447 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 3: the rest is history. He won that got us into 448 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 3: the final and we won from there. Amazing. Yeah, but 449 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:08,479 Speaker 3: Roger's got a long memory. I think he beat him 450 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,720 Speaker 3: eighteen times after that in a row. So Layton paid 451 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 3: a heavy price for that one. But two great players 452 00:22:15,119 --> 00:22:19,680 Speaker 3: of the modern era. One transcends generations and Layton was 453 00:22:19,720 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 3: also number one in the world for eighteen months. Two 454 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:24,359 Speaker 3: very special players in that match. 455 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:28,200 Speaker 1: Wow, it's incredible to hear all that detail these years later. Yeah, 456 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 1: I think you touched on a really good point earlier 457 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 1: about you know, the home and away and David's Cup. 458 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: For you from the country perspective, it took us, gave 459 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: us the opportunity to see tennis in different I think so, yeah, 460 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:41,600 Speaker 1: different places. 461 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:44,719 Speaker 3: Yeah, and great great crowds that get to see our 462 00:22:44,840 --> 00:22:48,119 Speaker 3: national team play against great teams from each and you 463 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 3: know when as a player, as a captain too. But 464 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 3: I can speak from both angles. When you go away 465 00:22:55,119 --> 00:23:00,119 Speaker 3: to a South American country or a European country and 466 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 3: you play in a hostile environment, they are some of 467 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 3: the greatest memories you can ever treasure. Difficult, so difficult 468 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 3: that the most difficult environments to play in Davis Cup 469 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:14,920 Speaker 3: in a foreign country like that against ten thousand or 470 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:20,560 Speaker 3: more screaming home fans. That is the toughest test as 471 00:23:20,600 --> 00:23:23,040 Speaker 3: a character you can ever face in I think in 472 00:23:23,880 --> 00:23:24,760 Speaker 3: my experience, and. 473 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: We don't get that anymal Well, we do have other 474 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,400 Speaker 1: team events that we're going to we do and yeah, 475 00:23:32,640 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: you mentioned em earlier. Actually the United Cup and Labor Cup. 476 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: Do you ever know tennis has obviously evolved and team 477 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: tennis has evolved. Are there any events that you think, gosh, 478 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 1: I wish I could play in that one? 479 00:23:43,680 --> 00:23:45,760 Speaker 3: Well, I haven't been to a Labor Cup. They say 480 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 3: the experience is really special, so I'd love to go. 481 00:23:50,240 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 3: I've commentated at the United Cup and I think that's 482 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 3: pretty special. They had an amazing final last year. We 483 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 3: did in in Sydney. I was in Perth initially went 484 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,000 Speaker 3: across to Sydney to the final, a great final. And 485 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 3: there's something special, you know, the Hopman Cup and Paul 486 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 3: McNamee all those years ago had something special on the 487 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:15,119 Speaker 3: agenda and on the calendar and it evolved into a 488 00:24:15,200 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 3: fabulous event. And there's something putting the men and the 489 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 3: women together and finishing it with the mixed doubles. It's 490 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 3: like a toss of the coin almost at the end. 491 00:24:21,840 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 3: But it creates interest and so our events in Australia 492 00:24:26,240 --> 00:24:28,760 Speaker 3: as a lead up to the Austrain Open pretty special. 493 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: I think who do you look forward to watching when 494 00:24:31,359 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 1: it comes to an Australian summer of tennis. 495 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 3: Well, look, I'm a huge fan of Alex demon Or. 496 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 3: I love the way he competes. He's you know, sometimes 497 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 3: I think he's he's a little bit of a featherweight 498 00:24:43,040 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 3: going against heavyweights. But you know in late when we 499 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:50,800 Speaker 3: saw a featherweight beating heavyweights quite often and getting the 500 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:53,399 Speaker 3: number one in the world. And Alex has made himself 501 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 3: into a wonderful play and I have nothing but admiration 502 00:24:56,160 --> 00:25:01,720 Speaker 3: for him. The way he plays, his athleticism speed is 503 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:04,080 Speaker 3: about as quick as you could see around a tennis court. 504 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:07,000 Speaker 3: He had some trouble with Sinner at the end of 505 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:10,080 Speaker 3: last year, you know, in a Davis Cup final. And 506 00:25:10,200 --> 00:25:12,800 Speaker 3: also you know, Yanik was so good at the end 507 00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 3: of the year in all of his events that he 508 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:18,160 Speaker 3: played and finished the year incredibly well. But he's a heavyweight. 509 00:25:18,600 --> 00:25:21,439 Speaker 3: He hits the ball with incredible generates his own power 510 00:25:21,600 --> 00:25:31,160 Speaker 3: like Alcrez does, and like Novak and Roger and Nadal 511 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:33,880 Speaker 3: have all done. They generate their own power. I think 512 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 3: Alex is more in a comfort zone where he can 513 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:39,720 Speaker 3: use the speed of the court a little bit, but 514 00:25:39,840 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 3: he's the one from a strained point of view, and 515 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:45,280 Speaker 3: I love Sinner I just love him. I know he's 516 00:25:45,320 --> 00:25:47,920 Speaker 3: a good kid, our great friend Darren Kale, who we 517 00:25:47,960 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 3: all know so well, who's high quality person. He speaks 518 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 3: so highly of him as an individual, and so I 519 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 3: want him to do well as the years go past. 520 00:25:57,320 --> 00:26:02,080 Speaker 3: I love Alcarez. He's a special talent, and those two 521 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:03,480 Speaker 3: players are going to be the ones that will drag 522 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:05,920 Speaker 3: the men's game along, I think over the next few years. 523 00:26:06,040 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 3: And yeah, from the men's perspective, I'll be interested to 524 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 3: see if Siontek can win one down here. I think 525 00:26:15,080 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 3: clay is her best surface by a long way. That 526 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 3: surface suits her technique and her style of game. But 527 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 3: can she win on the hard court. We'll see. There's 528 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:27,120 Speaker 3: a lot of things happening in the women's game though, 529 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 3: girls coming through the Chinese interest now you know you've 530 00:26:32,560 --> 00:26:35,919 Speaker 3: got Naomia Saka coming back. That would be a special 531 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,800 Speaker 3: story after being a mother, They're all special stories, a 532 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 3: lot to look forward to. 533 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: Absolutely well, that sounds like the perfect place for us 534 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,919 Speaker 1: to finish. And thank you so much for your time today, John, Thank. 535 00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:49,800 Speaker 3: You, viv You bring a smile on my face, and 536 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:50,560 Speaker 3: thank you, thank you. 537 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 2: This is great, really good to talk to you. 538 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:56,520 Speaker 3: Well. 539 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 2: Viv, you've got quite a fan in FITZI there. He 540 00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:00,920 Speaker 2: was fantastic to check too. I had such a good 541 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:02,720 Speaker 2: time with this conversation in this episode. 542 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, I feel very fortunate in my tennis career to 543 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: be able to spend time with legends like Fitsie and 544 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,000 Speaker 1: just to hear all of his experiences in the sport. 545 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:15,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. We said it on last week's episode, 546 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 2: but we would love to know from you who you'd 547 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 2: like us to sit down with, so get in contact 548 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:21,640 Speaker 2: with us. Our details are in the show notes below, 549 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 2: and we'll see if we can make it happen. We'll 550 00:27:23,840 --> 00:27:25,719 Speaker 2: be back next week with another episode of the sit 551 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 2: Down where you vivchat to torben Belts, and on Thursday 552 00:27:29,119 --> 00:27:31,480 Speaker 2: you can hear John and the team on the aoshow Weekly. 553 00:27:31,640 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: Details for how to contact us are in the show notes, 554 00:27:34,160 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: and please remember to subscribe, rate and review. 555 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:39,400 Speaker 2: See you next week, Matt, See you, Viv