1 00:00:02,450 --> 00:00:05,190 Speaker 1: Hi everyone and welcome to another episode of The Sit Down. 2 00:00:05,610 --> 00:00:08,390 Speaker 1: I'm Matt Trollope, a writer for ozopen.com. 3 00:00:07,970 --> 00:00:10,330 Speaker 2: And I'm Brie Stewart from The AO Show and I'm 4 00:00:10,390 --> 00:00:13,550 Speaker 2: here filling in for Viv Christie who's currently in Shanghai. 5 00:00:14,150 --> 00:00:17,270 Speaker 2: So let's get started. Why are we sitting down with 6 00:00:17,329 --> 00:00:18,910 Speaker 2: Michael Chang this week Matt? 7 00:00:19,170 --> 00:00:21,470 Speaker 1: Well we've actually already sat down with him but we 8 00:00:21,510 --> 00:00:23,430 Speaker 1: thought it would be cool to split our interview with 9 00:00:23,510 --> 00:00:25,910 Speaker 1: him that we did during the US hardcore season into 10 00:00:25,980 --> 00:00:29,090 Speaker 1: two parts because A really cool thing about Chang's career 11 00:00:29,150 --> 00:00:31,450 Speaker 1: was his success in Asia. More than a third of 12 00:00:31,500 --> 00:00:35,120 Speaker 1: his career titles came in Asia. Yeah, incredible record. And 13 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: he had enormous support there, which he talked about in 14 00:00:37,180 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: the interview. And he won the very first edition of 15 00:00:39,580 --> 00:00:42,200 Speaker 1: the China Open, which was played in 1993. So we 16 00:00:42,220 --> 00:00:43,700 Speaker 1: thought it might be cool to get his thoughts on 17 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:46,860 Speaker 1: Asian tennis, how the game has grown in that region, 18 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 1: working with Japan's Kei Nishikori. And we thought we'd bring 19 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,020 Speaker 1: you that this week while those players are all playing there. 20 00:00:52,100 --> 00:00:53,019 Speaker 1: So here he is. 21 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 3: Oh, oh. 22 00:00:56,500 --> 00:00:58,580 Speaker 1: The other thing we wanted to chat to you about 23 00:00:58,620 --> 00:01:02,190 Speaker 1: was your success in Asia. You won 12 titles there, 24 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:04,630 Speaker 1: looking back at your history. Why do you think you 25 00:01:04,650 --> 00:01:05,730 Speaker 1: were so successful there? 26 00:01:06,610 --> 00:01:10,290 Speaker 3: I mean, Asia, for me, was just so easy to play. 27 00:01:11,790 --> 00:01:14,710 Speaker 3: And it didn't really matter, I guess, to what part 28 00:01:14,730 --> 00:01:18,990 Speaker 3: of Asia, whether I was in Japan. I think it 29 00:01:19,030 --> 00:01:22,330 Speaker 3: was probably most difficult to play me, I would say, 30 00:01:23,230 --> 00:01:26,090 Speaker 3: probably in China and in Hong Kong. just because of 31 00:01:26,140 --> 00:01:29,580 Speaker 3: the crowd support that I got there. You know, and I, 32 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 3: it was crazy. It's even, you know, it's tough to describe. 33 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 3: In some instances, it didn't really necessarily feel like a 34 00:01:40,020 --> 00:01:43,850 Speaker 3: tennis match because the crowd was so, you know, was 35 00:01:43,890 --> 00:01:47,930 Speaker 3: pulling for me. You know, my days over there were 36 00:01:47,950 --> 00:01:51,490 Speaker 3: pretty crazy. Just to go do normal things actually was 37 00:01:51,610 --> 00:01:54,580 Speaker 3: very difficult. But it was obviously very exciting at the 38 00:01:54,590 --> 00:01:58,980 Speaker 3: same time And, you know, I just think whenever you're 39 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,540 Speaker 3: you're in a situation where you're playing and the crowd 40 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:05,860 Speaker 3: is just, you know, cheering for you and they're always 41 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:06,559 Speaker 3: behind you. 42 00:02:07,500 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 4: For me, I really enjoyed that. I thrived on that. 43 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:13,530 Speaker 3: And, you know, I just played some of my some 44 00:02:13,540 --> 00:02:16,829 Speaker 3: of my best tennis, you know, over in Asia and, 45 00:02:17,050 --> 00:02:19,709 Speaker 3: you know, realized the opportunities to to always go back. 46 00:02:20,490 --> 00:02:22,669 Speaker 4: Um, back in the day, we used to actually go 47 00:02:22,830 --> 00:02:23,530 Speaker 4: twice a year. 48 00:02:23,550 --> 00:02:25,820 Speaker 3: Um, now actually it's only once a year, but we 49 00:02:25,860 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 3: used to go twice a year, uh, once in April, uh, 50 00:02:29,300 --> 00:02:33,100 Speaker 3: and then coming back again in, uh, in October. So, um, 51 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 3: so I did spend, you know, quite a bit of 52 00:02:35,220 --> 00:02:37,300 Speaker 3: time over there, um, you know, playing tournaments. 53 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,250 Speaker 4: That's amazing how the calendar's changed. 54 00:02:40,550 --> 00:02:43,350 Speaker 1: I guess the Asian swing is still that September, October 55 00:02:43,370 --> 00:02:48,190 Speaker 1: time post, post US Open. You won the first China 56 00:02:48,330 --> 00:02:51,370 Speaker 1: Open in 1993. and I think it was a completely 57 00:02:51,389 --> 00:02:53,549 Speaker 1: different tournament than it might've been on like indoor carpet 58 00:02:53,570 --> 00:02:56,030 Speaker 1: or something like that. What do you remember about that 59 00:02:56,090 --> 00:02:58,769 Speaker 1: tournament and what tennis was like in China then? Cause 60 00:02:58,790 --> 00:03:00,050 Speaker 1: that was very early days. 61 00:03:00,570 --> 00:03:01,730 Speaker 4: Oh, it was very different. 62 00:03:02,169 --> 00:03:05,530 Speaker 3: Um, you know, now obviously you've got these, uh, you know, 63 00:03:05,570 --> 00:03:09,630 Speaker 3: these beautiful stadiums and, and, uh, you know, basically these 64 00:03:09,690 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 3: tennis facilities. I mean, when I played, um, when I 65 00:03:12,860 --> 00:03:15,940 Speaker 3: played in Beijing and, and, uh, and you know, Sean, well, 66 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 3: Beijing actually was probably one of the first ones and 67 00:03:18,340 --> 00:03:22,590 Speaker 3: it was played almost like in a, almost like in 68 00:03:22,630 --> 00:03:27,410 Speaker 3: a basketball arena almost. And it was not that big. 69 00:03:28,090 --> 00:03:37,580 Speaker 3: It probably only seated maybe 2,500 people. And they didn't 70 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 3: really have pure tennis facilities like they do now. Obviously, 71 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:46,830 Speaker 3: we've had the Shanghai Masters. You've got huge tournaments in 72 00:03:46,870 --> 00:03:50,910 Speaker 3: different parts of China. So when I first came out, 73 00:03:50,970 --> 00:03:54,730 Speaker 3: there were no tournaments in China. There was one tournament 74 00:03:54,790 --> 00:04:00,780 Speaker 3: in Hong Kong, and it took some time before a 75 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 3: couple of particular promoters really kind of took tennis by 76 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:08,820 Speaker 3: the helm and said, hey, I'm going to start bringing 77 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 3: tennis tournaments to China. 78 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 4: It took a little while. 79 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 3: Um, but they did a good job and, and, um, 80 00:04:14,780 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 3: you know, in fact, the, uh, you know, Michael Leveno, who, who, um, 81 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 3: is still running, uh, um, you know, the tournament in Shanghai, um, 82 00:04:23,060 --> 00:04:24,860 Speaker 3: you know, was running a lot of those tournaments, uh, 83 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 3: you know, back in, in, um, in the day when 84 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 3: I first started playing. 85 00:04:28,380 --> 00:04:29,930 Speaker 1: I just had one other thing you made me think of. 86 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:31,719 Speaker 1: Were there any Chinese players then? 87 00:04:32,339 --> 00:04:36,160 Speaker 3: There were Chinese players. Um, they weren't, uh, certainly as 88 00:04:36,220 --> 00:04:40,929 Speaker 3: well known. Um, and certainly didn't do, do that well. Uh, 89 00:04:40,990 --> 00:04:42,990 Speaker 3: a lot of times they would be offered, um, you know, 90 00:04:43,010 --> 00:04:46,690 Speaker 3: wild cards obviously to play. Um, but there were very 91 00:04:46,750 --> 00:04:49,510 Speaker 3: few that, um, I don't think there were any that 92 00:04:49,550 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 3: I can think of that were in inside the top 200, 93 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:54,260 Speaker 3: I think. 94 00:04:54,820 --> 00:04:55,580 Speaker 4: Yeah. 95 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 5: Michael, what have you made of the growth of tennis 96 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,100 Speaker 5: in China since you won that title 30 years ago? 97 00:05:02,890 --> 00:05:03,110 Speaker 1: Yeah. 98 00:05:03,150 --> 00:05:05,830 Speaker 4: I mean, it's been exciting, um, to be honest with you. 99 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 3: Um, you know, and I know that, uh, you know, 100 00:05:08,860 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 3: lead now success, obviously, um, you know, I think spurred 101 00:05:12,580 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 3: a lot of, uh, a lot of kids to pick 102 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:19,700 Speaker 3: up the sport. And, uh, um, interestingly enough, uh, tennis 103 00:05:19,810 --> 00:05:26,690 Speaker 3: actually among amongst, um, diplomats actually was very, very popular, um, 104 00:05:26,910 --> 00:05:29,730 Speaker 3: back in my day. Uh, sometimes I would have to 105 00:05:29,770 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 3: go to events and say, Hey, you know, this, particular 106 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:34,780 Speaker 3: diplomat wants to play tennis and I'd be kind of 107 00:05:35,460 --> 00:05:37,279 Speaker 3: taken back a little bit like oh he knows how 108 00:05:37,300 --> 00:05:40,060 Speaker 3: to play tennis I'm thinking okay maybe I'm giving a 109 00:05:40,100 --> 00:05:42,020 Speaker 3: beginner a lesser or something like that and I get 110 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:44,260 Speaker 3: on the court and I mean these guys can play 111 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:48,860 Speaker 3: and it's it's obvious that you know that they're they 112 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:50,729 Speaker 3: know how to play they played for quite some time 113 00:05:50,750 --> 00:05:53,790 Speaker 3: they understand the game but I think for the general 114 00:05:53,890 --> 00:05:58,130 Speaker 3: public not that many people were playing tennis and so 115 00:05:58,529 --> 00:06:00,860 Speaker 3: to be able to see tennis you know, pick up 116 00:06:00,940 --> 00:06:04,060 Speaker 3: in the, in the universities and people, you know, having 117 00:06:04,100 --> 00:06:07,180 Speaker 3: interest to going to, to learn the sport. And, and 118 00:06:07,420 --> 00:06:10,840 Speaker 3: obviously now you've got, you know, quite a few different academies. 119 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:14,940 Speaker 3: You've got academies that are being started by, you know, 120 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,990 Speaker 3: you know, by teams coming from Europe or teams coming from, 121 00:06:19,050 --> 00:06:22,150 Speaker 3: from the U S it's a whole different ball game. 122 00:06:23,510 --> 00:06:26,070 Speaker 3: So what, what it was back then, you know, where 123 00:06:26,089 --> 00:06:29,370 Speaker 3: it was just really kind of a, an introductory sport, 124 00:06:30,750 --> 00:06:31,710 Speaker 3: is now mainstream. 125 00:06:32,250 --> 00:06:34,650 Speaker 4: You know, it's huge. 126 00:06:34,990 --> 00:06:39,810 Speaker 3: And, you know, all these different provinces obviously are investing 127 00:06:40,270 --> 00:06:44,740 Speaker 3: their time and their effort and their funds into trying 128 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:46,820 Speaker 3: to create champions coming from their particular region. 129 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:48,460 Speaker 4: And it's great to see. 130 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:53,260 Speaker 5: Chris Clary interview that Matt referenced earlier, you commented on 131 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:58,260 Speaker 5: seeing Asian names in junior draws to cheats. And you said, 132 00:06:58,900 --> 00:07:01,220 Speaker 5: it's special because I played a role in part of 133 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:03,740 Speaker 5: that and in helping some of these young kids maybe 134 00:07:03,779 --> 00:07:05,900 Speaker 5: believe that Asians can go out there and play these 135 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,830 Speaker 5: sports and do well at it. In terms of your 136 00:07:08,950 --> 00:07:11,910 Speaker 5: career legacy, how high does that sit? 137 00:07:13,270 --> 00:07:16,860 Speaker 3: Well, I mean, for me, it's, I mean, for me, 138 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,820 Speaker 3: I mean, not just in the States, but obviously, you know, 139 00:07:19,840 --> 00:07:23,260 Speaker 3: like I said, in Asia as well. You know, I've 140 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 3: taken time to you know, introduce the sport to, uh, 141 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,020 Speaker 3: to kids, um, obviously wherever, wherever I go, but I'm 142 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,380 Speaker 3: going to have a, you know, a little bit more. 143 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,920 Speaker 4: Influence in, in the, uh, in the Asia Pacific rim. 144 00:07:34,940 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 3: I'm going to have a little bit more influence with 145 00:07:36,690 --> 00:07:39,770 Speaker 3: some of the, you know, some of the Asian children, um, 146 00:07:40,230 --> 00:07:43,870 Speaker 3: you know, naturally. And, um, you know, and I think it's, uh, uh, 147 00:07:43,910 --> 00:07:45,590 Speaker 3: I think they gain a little bit of confidence in 148 00:07:45,630 --> 00:07:48,670 Speaker 3: certain situations where they're like, gosh, I'm, I'm looking and 149 00:07:48,710 --> 00:07:51,650 Speaker 3: I'm seeing Michael in person. He's really not that big, 150 00:07:51,750 --> 00:07:53,610 Speaker 3: not much bigger than I am. He's not that much 151 00:07:53,630 --> 00:07:56,060 Speaker 3: stronger than I am. you know, if he's able to 152 00:07:56,080 --> 00:08:00,220 Speaker 3: go out there and be successful, you know, why can't I, uh, 153 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,230 Speaker 3: you know, in the United States, I, I don't think that, um, 154 00:08:03,940 --> 00:08:08,390 Speaker 3: sports was ever really a, uh, a big focus. Um, 155 00:08:08,670 --> 00:08:11,790 Speaker 3: obviously it's changed now, you know, the, the, the general 156 00:08:11,830 --> 00:08:16,690 Speaker 3: mentality for, um, for Asian families and their children, uh, 157 00:08:16,710 --> 00:08:20,770 Speaker 3: would be education, music, that would be more of the tendency, but, uh, 158 00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:24,580 Speaker 3: But now you have a lot of success in a 159 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:27,510 Speaker 3: lot of other sports, and people are starting to realize 160 00:08:27,570 --> 00:08:33,569 Speaker 3: that in order to go and get into a great college, 161 00:08:34,270 --> 00:08:36,949 Speaker 3: it's great to be smart, but it's even more beneficial 162 00:08:36,990 --> 00:08:39,770 Speaker 3: if you've got other qualities or other interests or other 163 00:08:39,809 --> 00:08:43,449 Speaker 3: hobbies that you're really, really good at that can also 164 00:08:44,950 --> 00:08:47,490 Speaker 3: help you become more well-rounded. 165 00:08:47,070 --> 00:08:47,570 Speaker 4: As a person. 166 00:08:48,190 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 3: And sports is a great way to– obviously connect people. 167 00:08:53,620 --> 00:08:57,320 Speaker 3: You know, sports is also an unbelievable way to, you know, 168 00:08:57,340 --> 00:09:01,560 Speaker 3: to work on different characteristics in your personhood. 169 00:09:03,540 --> 00:09:04,590 Speaker 4: And you learn. 170 00:09:04,450 --> 00:09:07,910 Speaker 3: A lot of lifelong lessons, you know, certainly through the 171 00:09:07,929 --> 00:09:10,130 Speaker 3: sport of tennis and I can imagine through other sports 172 00:09:10,170 --> 00:09:10,449 Speaker 3: as well. 173 00:09:11,090 --> 00:09:13,910 Speaker 5: Is it just a coincidence that in your coaching career, 174 00:09:13,950 --> 00:09:17,510 Speaker 5: you worked with a player of Asian descent in Kaini Shikori, 175 00:09:17,530 --> 00:09:20,440 Speaker 5: or was that something that you always... targeted and wanted 176 00:09:20,500 --> 00:09:21,540 Speaker 5: to set out to do? 177 00:09:22,350 --> 00:09:25,070 Speaker 3: I didn't actually target it. I did not actually seek 178 00:09:25,130 --> 00:09:28,970 Speaker 3: the coaching position to work with Kay. But when the 179 00:09:29,030 --> 00:09:32,829 Speaker 3: opportunity did come around, and I was asked to the 180 00:09:33,480 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 3: possibility of working with Kay, I jumped at the opportunity because, 181 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 3: you know, at that particular time, there really weren't a 182 00:09:41,679 --> 00:09:43,219 Speaker 3: whole lot of, you. 183 00:09:43,179 --> 00:09:47,210 Speaker 4: Know, Asian men that had done very well. 184 00:09:48,790 --> 00:09:52,050 Speaker 3: You know, at that time, I think Peridorn had gotten 185 00:09:52,070 --> 00:09:55,929 Speaker 3: into the top 10. You know, Cecil had played, you know, 186 00:09:55,950 --> 00:09:59,950 Speaker 3: some good tennis, Cecil Mamet. But there weren't a whole 187 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 3: lot of Asian men doing well. So at that particular time, 188 00:10:04,980 --> 00:10:08,670 Speaker 3: Kay had been ranked in the top 20, I think, 189 00:10:08,730 --> 00:10:12,910 Speaker 3: for the last couple of years. And for one reason 190 00:10:12,929 --> 00:10:16,870 Speaker 3: or another, had difficulty breaking into the top 10. And 191 00:10:16,929 --> 00:10:19,550 Speaker 3: so I looked at it more as an opportunity to 192 00:10:19,620 --> 00:10:24,570 Speaker 3: help you know, a talented young Asian player, um, and 193 00:10:24,610 --> 00:10:26,650 Speaker 3: try to be able to go out there and, and, uh, 194 00:10:26,770 --> 00:10:29,550 Speaker 3: and help him in his game and, and, uh, you know, 195 00:10:29,570 --> 00:10:32,610 Speaker 3: have an influence on him as a, as a person, um, 196 00:10:32,770 --> 00:10:36,070 Speaker 3: to help him, you know, help him, uh, strive and 197 00:10:36,110 --> 00:10:39,880 Speaker 3: become the best player that, uh, that he can be. And, uh, 198 00:10:39,980 --> 00:10:42,080 Speaker 3: and obviously it was exciting to be able to see him, 199 00:10:42,600 --> 00:10:45,099 Speaker 3: you know, that first year, um, not only break into 200 00:10:45,140 --> 00:10:47,900 Speaker 3: the top 10, um, you know, reach number four in 201 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:49,579 Speaker 3: the world, but also get to the finals of the 202 00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:54,059 Speaker 3: U S opens. So, yeah, it was, you know, certainly 203 00:10:54,980 --> 00:10:59,380 Speaker 3: an exciting time. And, you know, for me and Amber, 204 00:10:59,660 --> 00:11:02,990 Speaker 3: you know, our youngest daughter at the time was really, 205 00:11:03,010 --> 00:11:10,429 Speaker 3: really young. But even that, to have my daughter be 206 00:11:10,550 --> 00:11:13,150 Speaker 3: at all these Grand Slam events, be at all the 207 00:11:13,230 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 3: biggest Masters 1000 tournaments around the world, I'm grateful for 208 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,640 Speaker 3: it because she loves tennis now. She's 13 years old 209 00:11:21,679 --> 00:11:27,140 Speaker 3: now and she's playing, you know, a lot of, you know, 210 00:11:27,179 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 3: girls 16 and under tournaments nationally. She's playing some international tournaments, 211 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,530 Speaker 3: you know, and I'm thankful to Kay for giving her 212 00:11:35,570 --> 00:11:39,550 Speaker 3: that opportunity to be, you know, in that kind of situation. Honestly, 213 00:11:40,230 --> 00:11:42,390 Speaker 3: if you have any young person and they're getting a 214 00:11:42,429 --> 00:11:46,410 Speaker 3: chance to watch, you know, matches on center court and 215 00:11:46,550 --> 00:11:49,070 Speaker 3: all the grand slams and all these big venues how 216 00:11:49,090 --> 00:11:50,829 Speaker 3: do you not fall in love with the sport of tennis. 217 00:11:51,390 --> 00:11:55,150 Speaker 1: Yeah that's so true you mentioned obviously before Michael your 218 00:11:55,170 --> 00:11:58,069 Speaker 1: win at Roland Garros so that was in 1989 do 219 00:11:58,090 --> 00:12:01,230 Speaker 1: you consider that your greatest triumph or were there other 220 00:12:01,710 --> 00:12:04,050 Speaker 1: like bigger milestones or highlights that came later in your 221 00:12:04,070 --> 00:12:04,730 Speaker 1: career for you. 222 00:12:04,910 --> 00:12:07,250 Speaker 3: I mean I've had a lot of um you know 223 00:12:07,650 --> 00:12:10,850 Speaker 3: great accomplishments and big milestones I don't think anything will 224 00:12:10,890 --> 00:12:13,660 Speaker 3: ever top the French Open in 89. I think had 225 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 3: I actually even won another Grand Slam, if I'd won 226 00:12:18,179 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 3: the US Open in 96, I. 227 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:23,900 Speaker 4: Actually don't know. 228 00:12:25,540 --> 00:12:29,150 Speaker 3: If that would be bigger than winning the French Open 229 00:12:29,230 --> 00:12:31,350 Speaker 3: in 89. I still think people would know me for 230 00:12:32,010 --> 00:12:36,709 Speaker 3: the 89 victory. So, you know, just in the way 231 00:12:36,730 --> 00:12:40,420 Speaker 3: that it was played, you know, the situation in Tiananmen 232 00:12:40,460 --> 00:12:43,320 Speaker 3: was was happening during the tournament. I mean, there was 233 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 3: just so many things going on that, that it wasn't 234 00:12:46,500 --> 00:12:50,200 Speaker 3: just about, you know, tennis those, those couple of weeks. Amazing. 235 00:12:50,679 --> 00:12:52,880 Speaker 4: Thanks so much. It was really cool. You've got great recall. 236 00:12:53,100 --> 00:12:55,420 Speaker 1: So it was really great to hear all of those different, 237 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:57,179 Speaker 1: you know, decades and stories. 238 00:12:57,380 --> 00:12:59,270 Speaker 4: I really enjoyed that. Yeah. 239 00:12:59,330 --> 00:13:02,490 Speaker 3: I think in some aspects when you've, when you've, when 240 00:13:02,510 --> 00:13:04,989 Speaker 3: you love tennis, you're so passionate about it. Some of 241 00:13:05,010 --> 00:13:07,570 Speaker 3: these things are just still so, so vivid in your mind, 242 00:13:07,630 --> 00:13:09,430 Speaker 3: even though they happen. Some of them, so, you know, 243 00:13:10,070 --> 00:13:13,850 Speaker 3: quite a number of years ago. So, um, I'm going 244 00:13:13,870 --> 00:13:17,830 Speaker 3: through a different phase now with tennis. Um, but hopefully, um, 245 00:13:18,230 --> 00:13:19,910 Speaker 3: you know, hopefully I'll be back out on those grand 246 00:13:19,929 --> 00:13:22,809 Speaker 3: slam courts, uh, uh, you know, watching my daughter or 247 00:13:22,850 --> 00:13:25,010 Speaker 3: my son, uh, you know, play somewhere down the road. 248 00:13:25,030 --> 00:13:27,510 Speaker 4: That'll be, uh, that'll be fun. That'd be amazing. 249 00:13:27,950 --> 00:13:30,050 Speaker 5: It's wonderful that they love tennis so much. You must 250 00:13:30,090 --> 00:13:30,870 Speaker 5: be really proud. 251 00:13:30,910 --> 00:13:31,290 Speaker 3: Yeah. 252 00:13:31,470 --> 00:13:35,190 Speaker 4: And my wife is a tennis player as well. So, um, yeah. 253 00:13:35,330 --> 00:13:39,109 Speaker 3: So, I mean, you know, Regardless, I think that if 254 00:13:39,130 --> 00:13:42,210 Speaker 3: they play professionally, great. But, you know, first things first, 255 00:13:42,230 --> 00:13:45,530 Speaker 3: you want them to be passionate about something that means 256 00:13:45,570 --> 00:13:47,590 Speaker 3: a lot to you. And let's face it, I mean, 257 00:13:47,830 --> 00:13:52,059 Speaker 3: tennis is really a sport for a lifetime. And, you know, 258 00:13:52,900 --> 00:13:56,660 Speaker 3: just to have the opportunity to play all around the world, 259 00:13:57,620 --> 00:13:59,680 Speaker 3: you know, use the sport to meet so many different 260 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:03,059 Speaker 3: people is such a wonderful thing. And all the life 261 00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:03,939 Speaker 3: lessons you learn. 262 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:04,180 Speaker 4: Along the way. 263 00:14:07,740 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 2: How interesting that just his performance through Asia and then 264 00:14:12,059 --> 00:14:15,660 Speaker 2: winning in 1989 at the French Open, now Roland Garros. 265 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,260 Speaker 2: I was four years old when he won that. And 266 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:21,570 Speaker 2: I really do remember his name because obviously he went 267 00:14:21,610 --> 00:14:25,010 Speaker 2: well into the 90s playing top tennis as well. And 268 00:14:26,290 --> 00:14:29,470 Speaker 2: those were my peak years of sitting with my parents 269 00:14:29,550 --> 00:14:30,990 Speaker 2: watching tennis. 270 00:14:31,010 --> 00:14:33,350 Speaker 1: Yes. Yeah. Well, I'm a very similar age to you. 271 00:14:33,410 --> 00:14:35,590 Speaker 1: I was around that age in 89 and yeah, I 272 00:14:35,630 --> 00:14:37,990 Speaker 1: started watching tennis in the mid nineties and Chang's actually 273 00:14:38,050 --> 00:14:40,770 Speaker 1: one of the first players I ever saw play because 274 00:14:41,470 --> 00:14:43,790 Speaker 1: I don't think I'd heard of tennis and it came 275 00:14:43,850 --> 00:14:46,090 Speaker 1: on at the 96 Australian Open and I got hooked 276 00:14:46,150 --> 00:14:48,110 Speaker 1: on it as a primary school kid watching and Chang 277 00:14:48,130 --> 00:14:49,750 Speaker 1: made the final that year. So I watched a lot 278 00:14:49,770 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: of his tennis then and yeah, remember him through that era. 279 00:14:52,620 --> 00:14:55,620 Speaker 1: So It's kind of cool to talk to someone that 280 00:14:55,660 --> 00:14:57,730 Speaker 1: you kind of watched growing up and then you actually 281 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:00,090 Speaker 1: get to meet them. That's really nice. It's even more special. 282 00:15:00,230 --> 00:15:00,530 Speaker 3: Yeah. 283 00:15:00,870 --> 00:15:02,770 Speaker 1: All right. Well, we'll be back again next Monday with 284 00:15:02,830 --> 00:15:05,370 Speaker 1: another episode of The Sit Down. In between now and then, 285 00:15:05,430 --> 00:15:07,510 Speaker 1: you can join John and Bree and the team on 286 00:15:07,530 --> 00:15:09,930 Speaker 1: the next episode of the AO Show Weekly on Thursday. 287 00:15:10,450 --> 00:15:11,930 Speaker 1: Details for how to contact us are in the show 288 00:15:11,970 --> 00:15:15,020 Speaker 1: notes below. And please, as we always ask, subscribe, rate 289 00:15:15,220 --> 00:15:15,580 Speaker 1: and review. 290 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 4: See you next week, Bree. 291 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:17,520 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. 292 00:15:17,780 --> 00:15:18,060 Speaker 1: Bye.