WEBVTT - The Sit-Down with Michael Chang (Part 2)

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<v Speaker 1>Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Sitdown.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm Ntrolope, a writer for oz open dot.

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<v Speaker 2>Com and I embraced you it from the AO Show

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<v Speaker 2>and I'm here filling in four viv Christi, who's currently

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<v Speaker 2>in Shanghai. So let's get started. Why are we sitting

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<v Speaker 2>down with Michael Chang this week?

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<v Speaker 1>Matt, Well, we've actually already sat down with him, but

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<v Speaker 1>we thought it would be cool to split out interview

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<v Speaker 1>with him that we did during the US hard court

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<v Speaker 1>season into two parts because a really cool thing about

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<v Speaker 1>Chang's career was his success in Asia. More than a

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<v Speaker 1>third of his career titles came in Asia. Amazing, yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>incredible record, and he had enormous support there, which he

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<v Speaker 1>talked about in the interview, and he won the very

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<v Speaker 1>first edition of the China Open, which was played in

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<v Speaker 1>nineteen ninety three. So we thought it might be cool

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<v Speaker 1>to get his thoughts on Asian tennis how the game

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<v Speaker 1>has grown in that region, working with Japan's Kane is Hikori,

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<v Speaker 1>and we thought we'd bring you out this week while

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<v Speaker 1>those players are all playing there. So here is the

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<v Speaker 1>other thing we wanted to chat to you about was

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<v Speaker 1>your success in Asia. You won twelve titles there. Looking

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<v Speaker 1>back at your history, why do you think he was

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<v Speaker 1>so successful there?

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<v Speaker 3>I mean Asia with for me, it was just, uh,

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<v Speaker 3>it was so easy to play and it didn't really

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<v Speaker 3>matter I guess to what part of Asia, whether I

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<v Speaker 3>was in Japan, I think it was probably most difficult

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<v Speaker 3>to play me. I would say, uh, probably in China

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<v Speaker 3>and in Hong Kong, just because of the crowd support

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<v Speaker 3>that I got there, you know, and I it was crazy,

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<v Speaker 3>and it's even you know, it's it's tough to describe,

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<v Speaker 3>and in some instances it didn't really necessarily feel like

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<v Speaker 3>a tennis match because the crowd was was so you know,

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<v Speaker 3>was pulling for me. You know, my days over there

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<v Speaker 3>were we're pretty crazy just to go to go do

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<v Speaker 3>normal things. Actually was was very difficult, but it was

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<v Speaker 3>obviously very exciting at the same time. And you know,

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<v Speaker 3>I just think whenever you're you're in situation where you're

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<v Speaker 3>playing and the crowd is just you know, cheering for

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<v Speaker 3>you and they're always behind you. For me, I really

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<v Speaker 3>enjoyed that I thrived on that, and you know, I

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<v Speaker 3>just played some of my some of my best tennis

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<v Speaker 3>you know, over in Asia, and you know, relatetionous the

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<v Speaker 3>opportunities to to always go back back in the day,

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<v Speaker 3>we used to actually go twice a year. Now actually

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<v Speaker 3>it's only once a year, but we used to go

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<v Speaker 3>twice a year, once in April and then coming back

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<v Speaker 3>again in October. So so I did spend you know,

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<v Speaker 3>quite a bit of time over there, you know, playing tournaments.

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<v Speaker 1>That's amazing how the calendar has changed. I guess the

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<v Speaker 1>Asian swing is still that septempoc tiber times post Us Open.

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<v Speaker 1>You won the first China Open in nineteen ninety three,

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<v Speaker 1>and I think it was a completely different tournament than

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<v Speaker 1>it might have been on like indoor carpet.

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<v Speaker 4>Or something like that.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, what do you remember about that tournament and what

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<v Speaker 1>tednis was like in China then, because that was very

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<v Speaker 1>early day.

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<v Speaker 4>Oh, it was very different. You know.

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<v Speaker 3>Now obviously you've got these uh, you know, these beautiful

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<v Speaker 3>stadiums and and uh, you know, basically these tennis facilities.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean when I played, when I played in Beijing

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<v Speaker 3>and and uh and you know shop well, Beijing actually

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<v Speaker 3>it was probably been one of the first ones, and

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<v Speaker 3>it was played almost like in a almost like in

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<v Speaker 3>a in a basketball like arena almost and it was

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<v Speaker 3>it was.

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<v Speaker 4>Not that big. It It probably only seeded maybe.

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<v Speaker 3>Maybe twenty five hundred people, you know, and uh, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>they didn't really have pure tennis facilities like they do now.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, obviously we've we've had the Shanghai you know Masters,

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<v Speaker 3>You've got huge tournaments in different parts of of China.

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<v Speaker 3>So when I first came out, there were no tournaments

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<v Speaker 3>in China. There was one tournament in Hong Kong. And

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<v Speaker 3>it took some time before, you know, before a particular

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<v Speaker 3>a couple of particular promoters really kind of took took

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<v Speaker 3>tennis by the helm and said, hey, I'm gonna start

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<v Speaker 3>bringing tennis tournaments to to China.

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<v Speaker 4>It took a little while, but they did a good job.

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<v Speaker 4>And and you.

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<v Speaker 3>Know, in fact, the uh you know, Michael Leveno, who

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<v Speaker 3>who is still running uh, you know, the tournament in Shanghai,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, was running a lot of those tournaments.

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<v Speaker 2>Uh.

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<v Speaker 4>You know, back in in in the day when I

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<v Speaker 4>first started playing.

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<v Speaker 1>I just had one other thing you made me think of,

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<v Speaker 1>were there any Chinese players?

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<v Speaker 3>Then there were Chinese players, they weren't certainly as well

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<v Speaker 3>known and certainly didn't do do that well. A lot

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<v Speaker 3>of times they would be offered, you know, wild cards

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<v Speaker 3>obviously to play, but there were very few that I

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<v Speaker 3>don't think there were any that I can think of

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<v Speaker 3>that were in.

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<v Speaker 4>Inside the top two hundred. I think, Yeah, Michael.

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<v Speaker 5>What have you made of the growth of tennis in

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<v Speaker 5>China to you won that title to A two years ago?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I mean it's been exciting to be honest with you,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, and I know that uh, you know, leading

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<v Speaker 3>a success obviously, you know, I think spurred a lot

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<v Speaker 3>of a lot of kids to pick up the sport.

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<v Speaker 3>And uh, interestingly enough, tennis actually among amongst.

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<v Speaker 4>Diplomats actually was very very popular back in my day.

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<v Speaker 2>Uh.

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<v Speaker 3>Sometimes I would have to go to events and say, hey,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, this particular diplomat wants to play tennis, and

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<v Speaker 3>I'd be kind of taken back a little bit, like, oh,

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<v Speaker 3>he knows how to play tennis. I'm thinking, okay, maybe

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<v Speaker 3>I'm giving a beginner a lesser or something like that.

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<v Speaker 3>And I get on the court and I mean, these

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<v Speaker 3>guys can play, and it's it's obvious that you know

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<v Speaker 3>that they they know how to play, They've played for

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<v Speaker 3>quite some time, they understand the game. But I think

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<v Speaker 3>for the general public, not that many people were playing tennis,

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<v Speaker 3>and so to be able to see tennis, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>pick up in the in the universities and people you know,

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<v Speaker 3>having interest to going to to.

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<v Speaker 4>Learn the sport.

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<v Speaker 3>And and obviously now you've got you know, quite a

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<v Speaker 3>few different academies. You've got academies that are being started

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<v Speaker 3>by you know, you know, by teams coming from Europe

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<v Speaker 3>or teams coming from from the US.

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<v Speaker 4>It's a whole different ballgame.

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<v Speaker 3>So what what it was back then, uh, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>where it was just really kind of a an introductory

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<v Speaker 3>sport is now mainstream.

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<v Speaker 4>You know, it's uh, it's it's it's huge.

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<v Speaker 3>And you know, all these different provinces obviously are are

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<v Speaker 3>investing their time and their effort and their and their

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<v Speaker 3>funds into you know, trying to create champions coming from

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<v Speaker 3>their particular region.

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<v Speaker 4>And it's great to see.

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<v Speaker 5>Chris Clary interview that Matt referenced earlier, you commented on

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<v Speaker 5>seeing Asian names in junior draws and in junior draws

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<v Speaker 5>to cheats and he said, it's special because I played

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<v Speaker 5>a role in part of that and in helping some

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<v Speaker 5>of these young kids maybe believe that Asians can go

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<v Speaker 5>out there and play these sports and do well at it.

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<v Speaker 5>In terms of your career legacy, how high does that sit?

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<v Speaker 3>Well, I mean for me, it's I mean for me,

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<v Speaker 3>and I mean not not just in the States, but obviously,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, like I said, in in Asia as well.

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<v Speaker 3>You know, I've taken time to you know, introduce the

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<v Speaker 3>sport to uh two kids obviously wherever wherever I go.

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<v Speaker 4>But I'm going to have you know, a little bit more.

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<v Speaker 3>Influence in in the in the Asia Pacific rim I'm

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<v Speaker 3>gonna have a little bit more influence with some of

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<v Speaker 3>the you know, some of the Asian children, you know, naturally,

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<v Speaker 3>and you know, I think it's a I think they

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<v Speaker 3>gain a little bit of confidence in certain situations where

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<v Speaker 3>they're like, gosh, I'm looking and I'm seeing Michael in person.

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<v Speaker 3>He's really not that big, that much bigger than I am.

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<v Speaker 3>He's not that much stronger than I am. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>if he's able to go out there and be successful,

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<v Speaker 3>you know, why can't die?

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<v Speaker 4>Uh?

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<v Speaker 3>You know, in the United States, I I don't think

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<v Speaker 3>that sports was ever really a big focus. Obviously it's

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<v Speaker 3>changed now, you know, the general mentality for for Asian

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<v Speaker 3>families and their children would be education music that would

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<v Speaker 3>be more of the tendency. But but now, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>you have a lot of a lot of success and

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<v Speaker 3>in a lot of other sports, and you know, people

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<v Speaker 3>are starting to realize that, you know, in order to

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<v Speaker 3>go and and you know, get into a great college.

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<v Speaker 3>You you it's great to be smart, but it's even

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<v Speaker 3>more beneficial if you've got other other qualities or other

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<v Speaker 3>interests or other hobbies that you're really really good at

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<v Speaker 3>that can also you know, help you become more more

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<v Speaker 3>well rounded as a person. And sports is a is

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<v Speaker 3>a great way to uh obviously connect people. You know,

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<v Speaker 3>sports is also an unbelievable way to you know, to

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<v Speaker 3>work on different characteristics in your in your in your

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<v Speaker 3>personhood and uh and you learned a lot, a lot

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<v Speaker 3>of lifelong lessons, you know, certainly through the sport of tennis,

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<v Speaker 3>and I can imagine through other sports as well.

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<v Speaker 5>Is it just a coincidence that in your coaching career

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<v Speaker 5>you worked with a player of Asian descent in Kani

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<v Speaker 5>sha kori or was that something that you always targeted

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<v Speaker 5>and wanted to set out to do.

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<v Speaker 3>I did actually target it. I did not actually seek

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<v Speaker 3>the coaching position to work with K. But when the

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<v Speaker 3>opportunity did come around and I was asked to the

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<v Speaker 3>possibility of working with K, I I jumped at the

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<v Speaker 3>opportunity because you know, at that particular time, there really

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<v Speaker 3>weren't a whole lot of you know, Asian men that

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<v Speaker 3>have done that have done very well. You know that

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<v Speaker 3>at that time, I think Paradorn had gotten into the

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<v Speaker 3>top ten. You know, Cecil had played you know, some

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<v Speaker 3>some good tennis Cecil Mammet, but there weren't a whole

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<v Speaker 3>lot of uh, you know, Asian men doing well. So

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<v Speaker 3>you know, at that particular time, you know, K had

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<v Speaker 3>been ranked in the top twenty I think for for

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<v Speaker 3>the last couple of years, and you know, for one

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<v Speaker 3>reason or another, you know, had difficulty breaking into the

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<v Speaker 3>top ten. And and so I looked at it more

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<v Speaker 3>as as an opportunity to help, you know, a talented

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<v Speaker 3>young Asian player and try to be able to go

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<v Speaker 3>out there and and uh and help him in his

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<v Speaker 3>game and and uh you know, have an influence on

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<v Speaker 3>him as a as a person, to help him, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>help him strive and become the best player that that

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<v Speaker 3>he can be. And and obviously was exciting to be

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<v Speaker 3>able to see him, you know, that first year not

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<v Speaker 3>only break into the top ten, you know, reach number

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<v Speaker 3>four in the world, but also get to the finals

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<v Speaker 3>of the US Open.

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<v Speaker 4>So yeah, it was you know, certainly.

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<v Speaker 3>A you know, exciting time and uh, you know for

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<v Speaker 3>me and and Amber, you know, our youngest daughter at

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<v Speaker 3>the time was really really young. But even even that,

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<v Speaker 3>to have my daughter be at all these Grand Slam events,

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<v Speaker 3>be at all the biggest Masters one thousands tournaments around

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<v Speaker 3>the world, I'm grateful for it because she loves tennis. Now,

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<v Speaker 3>she's thirteen years old now and she's playing you know

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<v Speaker 3>a lot of you know girls sixteen another tournaments nationally,

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<v Speaker 3>she's playing some international tournaments, you know, and I'm thankful

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<v Speaker 3>to Kay for giving her that opportunity to be, you know,

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<v Speaker 3>in that kind of situation. Honestly, if you have any

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<v Speaker 3>young person, then they're getting a chance to watch you know,

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<v Speaker 3>matches on center court and all the Grand Slams and

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<v Speaker 3>all these big venues. How do you not fall in

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<v Speaker 3>love with the sport of tennis. Yeah, that's so true.

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<v Speaker 1>You mentioned obviously before Michael, you'll weed at Roland Garross.

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<v Speaker 1>So that was in nineteen eighty nine. Do you consider

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<v Speaker 1>that your brightest triumph or with the other like bigger

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<v Speaker 1>milestones of highlights that came later in your career for you.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, I've had a lot of you know, great

0:12:07.800 --> 0:12:11.079
<v Speaker 3>accomplishments and big milestones. I don't think anything will ever

0:12:11.160 --> 0:12:13.679
<v Speaker 3>top the French Open in eighty nine. I think, had

0:12:13.720 --> 0:12:17.920
<v Speaker 3>I actually even won another Grand Slam, if I had

0:12:17.960 --> 0:12:22.920
<v Speaker 3>won the US Open in ninety six, I actually don't.

0:12:23.160 --> 0:12:26.360
<v Speaker 3>I don't know if if, if, if, that would be

0:12:26.920 --> 0:12:29.199
<v Speaker 3>bigger than winning the you know, the French Open in

0:12:29.240 --> 0:12:29.640
<v Speaker 3>eighty nine.

0:12:29.640 --> 0:12:30.840
<v Speaker 4>I think I still think people.

0:12:30.600 --> 0:12:33.680
<v Speaker 3>Would know me for for the eighty nine victory, so,

0:12:35.400 --> 0:12:36.960
<v Speaker 3>you know, just in the in the way that it

0:12:37.040 --> 0:12:41.040
<v Speaker 3>was played, you know, in the situation in Tiannemn, was

0:12:41.040 --> 0:12:42.480
<v Speaker 3>was happening during the tournament.

0:12:42.920 --> 0:12:43.600
<v Speaker 4>I mean, there were just.

0:12:43.559 --> 0:12:46.720
<v Speaker 3>So many things going on that that it wasn't just

0:12:46.760 --> 0:12:48.280
<v Speaker 3>about you know, tennis.

0:12:48.320 --> 0:12:51.360
<v Speaker 4>Those those couple of weeks amazing, Thanks so much. It

0:12:51.400 --> 0:12:51.880
<v Speaker 4>was really cool.

0:12:51.920 --> 0:12:54.200
<v Speaker 1>You've got great recall, so it was really great to

0:12:54.240 --> 0:12:57.280
<v Speaker 1>hear all of those different, you know, decades and stories.

0:12:57.559 --> 0:12:58.680
<v Speaker 4>I really enjoyed that.

0:12:59.000 --> 0:13:02.480
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, I think it's some aspects when you've when you've well,

0:13:02.520 --> 0:13:03.160
<v Speaker 3>you love tennis.

0:13:03.320 --> 0:13:04.520
<v Speaker 4>You're so passionate about it.

0:13:04.800 --> 0:13:07.120
<v Speaker 3>Some of these things are just still so so vivid

0:13:07.160 --> 0:13:09.440
<v Speaker 3>in your mind, even though they happen some so, you know,

0:13:10.000 --> 0:13:11.120
<v Speaker 3>quite a number of years ago.

0:13:11.360 --> 0:13:13.439
<v Speaker 4>So amazing.

0:13:13.520 --> 0:13:17.480
<v Speaker 3>I'm going through a different phase now with tennis. But hopefully,

0:13:18.240 --> 0:13:19.960
<v Speaker 3>you know, hopefully I'll be back out on those Grand

0:13:19.960 --> 0:13:23.280
<v Speaker 3>Slam courts. Uh uh, you know, watching my daughter, my son,

0:13:23.840 --> 0:13:25.120
<v Speaker 3>you know, play somewhere down the road.

0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:26.600
<v Speaker 4>That'll be uh, that'll be fun.

0:13:26.760 --> 0:13:27.559
<v Speaker 1>That'd be amazing.

0:13:27.880 --> 0:13:30.120
<v Speaker 5>It's wonderful that I love tennis so much. You must

0:13:30.120 --> 0:13:30.880
<v Speaker 5>be really proud.

0:13:31.000 --> 0:13:31.400
<v Speaker 4>Yeah.

0:13:31.440 --> 0:13:35.280
<v Speaker 3>And my wife is a tennis player as well, so yeah,

0:13:35.320 --> 0:13:39.120
<v Speaker 3>So I mean, you know, regardless, I think that if

0:13:39.120 --> 0:13:42.240
<v Speaker 3>they play professionally, great, but you know, first things first,

0:13:42.280 --> 0:13:45.200
<v Speaker 3>you want them to be passionate about something that that

0:13:45.200 --> 0:13:47.320
<v Speaker 3>that means a lot to you. And let's face it,

0:13:47.360 --> 0:13:49.520
<v Speaker 3>I mean, tennis is really a sport for a lifetime

0:13:49.600 --> 0:13:54.960
<v Speaker 3>and and you know, just to have the opportunity to uh,

0:13:55.400 --> 0:13:58.240
<v Speaker 3>to play all around the world, you know, use the

0:13:58.280 --> 0:14:01.280
<v Speaker 3>sport to to meet so many different people is such

0:14:01.320 --> 0:14:03.720
<v Speaker 3>a wonderful thing. And all the leafe lessons you learn

0:14:03.760 --> 0:14:07.080
<v Speaker 3>along the way.

0:14:07.760 --> 0:14:11.720
<v Speaker 2>How interesting that just his performance through Asia and then

0:14:11.760 --> 0:14:14.880
<v Speaker 2>winning in nineteen eighty nine at the French Open, now

0:14:14.960 --> 0:14:17.800
<v Speaker 2>rolling Garross. I was four years old when he won that,

0:14:18.160 --> 0:14:21.400
<v Speaker 2>and I really do remember his name because obviously he

0:14:21.440 --> 0:14:24.840
<v Speaker 2>went well into the nineties playing top tennis as well,

0:14:24.880 --> 0:14:28.880
<v Speaker 2>and those were my peak years of sitting with my

0:14:29.120 --> 0:14:31.000
<v Speaker 2>parents watching tennis.

0:14:31.360 --> 0:14:33.480
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, well, I'm a very similar age to you. I

0:14:33.520 --> 0:14:35.560
<v Speaker 1>was around that age in eighty nine. And yeah, I

0:14:35.640 --> 0:14:38.040
<v Speaker 1>started watching tennis in the mid nineties and Chang's actually

0:14:38.040 --> 0:14:40.880
<v Speaker 1>one of the first players I ever saw play, because

0:14:41.400 --> 0:14:43.760
<v Speaker 1>I don't think i'd heard of tennis and it came

0:14:43.800 --> 0:14:45.800
<v Speaker 1>on at the ninety six Australian Open and I got

0:14:45.880 --> 0:14:47.840
<v Speaker 1>hooked on it as a primary school kid watching and

0:14:47.920 --> 0:14:49.640
<v Speaker 1>Chang made the final that year. So I watched a

0:14:49.640 --> 0:14:52.480
<v Speaker 1>lot of his tennis then, and yeah, remember him through that,

0:14:52.640 --> 0:14:55.120
<v Speaker 1>through that era. So it's kind of cool to talk

0:14:55.120 --> 0:14:57.760
<v Speaker 1>to someone that you kind of watched growing up. For me, actually, yeah,

0:14:57.800 --> 0:15:00.760
<v Speaker 1>you get to meet them, it's really little special. Yeah

0:15:00.800 --> 0:15:02.760
<v Speaker 1>all right, Well, we'll be back again next Monday with

0:15:02.800 --> 0:15:05.400
<v Speaker 1>another episode of The Sitdown. In between now and then

0:15:05.440 --> 0:15:07.520
<v Speaker 1>you can join John and Bree and the team on

0:15:07.560 --> 0:15:10.000
<v Speaker 1>the next episode of the aoshow weekly on Thursday.

0:15:10.360 --> 0:15:11.680
<v Speaker 4>Details for how to contact.

0:15:11.440 --> 0:15:13.280
<v Speaker 1>Us are in the show notes below, and please, as

0:15:13.320 --> 0:15:16.680
<v Speaker 1>we always ask, subscribe, rate and review. See you next week, Bri.

0:15:16.760 --> 0:15:21.640
<v Speaker 2>Thanks for having me. Bye,