1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 1: Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of the sit Down. 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: I'm Mattrolope, a writer and editor for OZ open dot com. 3 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:11,119 Speaker 2: And I'm Viv Christie, managing editor for Australian Tennis Magazine. 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 2: And Matt, why are we sitting down this week with 5 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 2: Lindsay Davenport. 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:15,000 Speaker 1: Yeah? 7 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:16,720 Speaker 3: This was a great one, wasn't it, Viv. 8 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:18,960 Speaker 1: Lindsay was one of the many people we were lucky 9 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,480 Speaker 1: enough to chat to during AO twenty six. This is 10 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: a player who I guess a lot of her career 11 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: breakthroughs came here at the Australian Open, and it turns 12 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: out that this was one of her favorite tournaments to play, 13 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: and eventually she would go on to win it in 14 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: the year two thousand when she was at a bit 15 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: of a career peak. So yeah, lots of happy memories 16 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: for her here that we got to chat about in 17 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 1: this interview. 18 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 2: And this interview was also a fabulous reminder of the 19 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 2: eras that she competed in, because her career did span generations. 20 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: She competed against Stepie Graff, Martina Hingis, Monica Sallis, Serena Williams, 21 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:52,960 Speaker 2: Maria Sharapova, so many great champions. 22 00:00:53,520 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 4: She took us through. 23 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 2: Some great stories, you know, the origins of the pressures 24 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 2: a privilege phrase. Yes, never learned to read Serena Williams, 25 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 2: So you really want to tune into this one. 26 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,400 Speaker 1: Lindsay Davenport, welcome to the sit down. It's great to 27 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: have you in the studio with us. 28 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me. This is podlav Arena. I saw 29 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 3: it amazing looking around. I'm gonna believe it. We've got 30 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:21,240 Speaker 3: seveal Aka and the Mona Lisa, right, you've got golf 31 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 3: and Fritz. I love it. It looks it's pretty cool. 32 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:24,279 Speaker 3: Love the old. 33 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 1: Rackets to Yeah, it's got a nice be inteage for 34 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: viving here. Yeah. How good is it for you to 35 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,680 Speaker 1: be back at the Australian Open somewhere that you've had 36 00:01:31,720 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: great success, you're a former champion, Yet what's it like 37 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: being back? 38 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's funny because it was always my most favorite 39 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 3: Slam to come to to play, and I think the 40 00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:42,440 Speaker 3: fact that it's in the beginning of the season, so 41 00:01:42,480 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 3: a lot of players, myself included, they really eager to 42 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 3: come down and get the season started. Obviously, coming from 43 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 3: the States where it's winter, coming to a great climate here. 44 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 3: But I think also the fans here, more so than 45 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 3: the other majors, made it and still continue this day, 46 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 3: make it more of a fun kind of atmosphere out there, 47 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 3: and it's not kind of as strict as maybe some 48 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:05,639 Speaker 3: of the others, and you get a few more laughs, 49 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 3: and you get the crowds involved. And it had been 50 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,080 Speaker 3: six years since i'd been here. Twenty twenty was the 51 00:02:10,120 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 3: last time I had been here in person, so it 52 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 3: was so excited when we decided that we were going 53 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 3: to come back here, and I've loved it. These last 54 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 3: two weeks have been absolutely amazing to see how much 55 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 3: this tournament has grown and changed. And I mean all 56 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:28,519 Speaker 3: the people coming through the gates the first week was crazy. 57 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:31,239 Speaker 3: It's great to see how well tennis is doing here. 58 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, so sixties since you've been here, just physically 59 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: at all. And I think last time you competed here 60 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 1: was two thousand and eight. That was the courts became blue, 61 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: and I guess the first year of a lot of change, 62 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: as you referred to. So, yeah, like, how what do 63 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 1: you think of the tournament now? What struck you most 64 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: about what's changed or grown about it? 65 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 3: I mean, first of all, the attendance is crazy. I 66 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,519 Speaker 3: mean there was times in my generation where we would 67 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,679 Speaker 3: play some matches and maybe the stands weren't totally full, 68 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 3: maybe they were only half full. And I mean if 69 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:02,359 Speaker 3: you were around the grounds of first week, I mean, 70 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:05,080 Speaker 3: it must be so exciting for these players. Every single 71 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 3: match was played in front of a packed house, and 72 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 3: I loved that atmosphere that it provides the players here. 73 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 3: Obviously the court colors changed, but also the stadiums, like 74 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 3: Key Arena was not there. I was like, wait, there 75 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 3: used to be field courts on both sides, right, And 76 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 3: I think that TA has done such a wonderful job 77 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:29,080 Speaker 3: of making these stadiums so nice and so modern at 78 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:31,320 Speaker 3: the same time kind of keeping the charm as well 79 00:03:31,360 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 3: of the tournament, but also the atmosphere. If you walk 80 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 3: around the grounds, which is something you can't do when 81 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 3: you're playing, right, you're so you have such tunnel vision, 82 00:03:40,320 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 3: you're just worried about yourself and your tennis. All of 83 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 3: a sudden, when you step on the other side, you 84 00:03:44,880 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 3: start to see tournaments from a different lens, and you 85 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 3: walk around the grounds here and it is such a 86 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 3: fun atmosphere. Whether you're a child going through the ballpark, 87 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 3: or you're older and looking to have some fun. You 88 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,080 Speaker 3: can watch the amazing tennis, but it gives them other 89 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,280 Speaker 3: people reasons to come, which maybe otherwise these fans wouldn't 90 00:04:01,280 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 3: come to a tennis tournament. So I think that everything 91 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 3: that has happened here in this tournament has been tremendous. 92 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 2: Speaking of fun, hot hitting question for you. I remember 93 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 2: many things about your straying up and Korea, but the 94 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 2: iconic photo after you won on. 95 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 4: The like, so what do you remember about that? 96 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:23,919 Speaker 3: You know, it's so funny because I was scheduled to 97 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 3: play a tournament the week after in two thousand in Tokyo, 98 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 3: and so all of a sudden, when I came off 99 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 3: the court winning, like normally you kind of like relax 100 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 3: and you're celebrating, and the WTA did an amazing job. 101 00:04:36,320 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 3: But I was supposed to be on a plane the 102 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 3: next morning flying to another tournament. So everything was like 103 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 3: had to be done right then, and I really wasn't 104 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 3: ready for it. It was my third major, and I 105 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:48,440 Speaker 3: had like decided that i'd won. I decided like, okay, 106 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 3: I'm going to enjoy this, and all of a sudden, 107 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 3: it's like, okay, you gotta go to makeup. You gotta 108 00:04:51,520 --> 00:04:53,719 Speaker 3: get to the photo shoot, and most players do it 109 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 3: the next day, right, And so all of a sudden, 110 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 3: I was rushed off to go do all this stuff. 111 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 3: And a funny side is my new boyfriend at the 112 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 3: time he's now my husband, but his brother was playing 113 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 3: in the men's doubles final, which was right after, so 114 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:09,920 Speaker 3: I was like, well, I'd kind of like to watch 115 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:12,040 Speaker 3: the men's doubles final. I was like, no, you gotta go, 116 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 3: you gotta go do all these photo shoots, you gotta 117 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,200 Speaker 3: go do everything, And yeah, it's funny. It was never 118 00:05:18,279 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 3: really a comfort zone of mine to like do that 119 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 3: kind of stuff, but I do remember going out there. 120 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 3: I ended up back in my hotel room a couple 121 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 3: hours later, and the men's doubles within the was in 122 00:05:28,560 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 3: the fifth set, so I watched the end of it 123 00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 3: for my hotel room. But you know, for me, it 124 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 3: was always about the tennis. I never quite became comfortable 125 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 3: with a lot of the off court stuff. I was 126 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 3: fortunate because in my generation I had the emergence of 127 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 3: the Williams sisters and a Cornerkova played Martina Hingis, and 128 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 3: they were the players that really loved to do that stuff, 129 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 3: so I could kind of skate by with not doing 130 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,600 Speaker 3: much and then the irony that I'm the one who 131 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 3: ends up, you know, in television covering it, but I 132 00:05:55,560 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 3: don't know such his life. 133 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:01,159 Speaker 2: Right well, speaking of the tennis, and you had such 134 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 2: an amazing Australian Open career even before you won the title, 135 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: I think it was two quarter finals and two semifinals 136 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 2: the year. The years before you won, it must have 137 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:13,719 Speaker 2: felt like that success was due when you got there 138 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: in two thousand. 139 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,360 Speaker 3: You know, two of my most crushing losses were in 140 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 3: the semifinals here before I won. One year, I lost 141 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 3: in three sets to Kencheetah Martinez. I think I was 142 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,400 Speaker 3: a pretty heavy favorite in that one. And the next 143 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:26,160 Speaker 3: year I lost to Omily Maresmo, who a lot of 144 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 3: people didn't know at the time. And on this surface, 145 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 3: you know, I was a better hard court player than 146 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 3: Maresmo at that time, and I couldn't get through to 147 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 3: the final, and that one really killed me. I was 148 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 3: on the heels of winning the US Open, you know, 149 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 3: five months previous, so that was one of actually my 150 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 3: most toughest losses to kind of get over. So it 151 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 3: was really kind of a relief the following year when 152 00:06:50,120 --> 00:06:51,719 Speaker 3: I was able to kind of get over the hump 153 00:06:51,839 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 3: and be able to win here. I grew up in California, 154 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,520 Speaker 3: I grew up on this surface, so it always felt 155 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:00,800 Speaker 3: like I should be playing well here, So it was 156 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 3: a lot of celebration maybe a little bit of relief 157 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,760 Speaker 3: when I was able to win. This was also the 158 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 3: first Grand Slam that I broke through and got to 159 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 3: the quarterfinals, so it really kind of jump started my career. 160 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 3: And a funny side note is I was in the 161 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 3: qualifying here in ninety three as a sixteen year old, 162 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 3: and I kind of made my way through the qualifying 163 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 3: and I was here with the USTA and I was 164 00:07:22,200 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 3: I think actially supposed to play the juniors as well, 165 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 3: and I ended up getting to the third round. I 166 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 3: lost to Mary Pierce. But this was the tournament that 167 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 3: really opened up everything for me, and I kind of 168 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 3: earned my way there to the third round. Everything changed 169 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,480 Speaker 3: after this tournament. That year, I went back home to 170 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 3: high school regular school, and all of a sudden people 171 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 3: knew then who I was, and then I was kind 172 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,200 Speaker 3: of on my way. So I always look back here 173 00:07:46,320 --> 00:07:48,520 Speaker 3: that this tournament really kind of broke things open for 174 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 3: me amazing. 175 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: Matt. 176 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 2: We took about that a lot, actually, like the path 177 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 2: of qualifying and how valuable that can be in a 178 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 2: place career. 179 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 3: I love that I went through it. I mean I 180 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 3: lost second round of Roland Garrel's qualities. The year before, 181 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 3: I lost first round of Wimbledon qualities. If you ever 182 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:04,960 Speaker 3: played at Roehampton in the nineties, it was like, oh 183 00:08:04,960 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 3: my god, good luck. And then the next year the 184 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 3: US Open, I would get wild cards being an American 185 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 3: and being one of their prospects. But then here in 186 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 3: Australia is back in the qualities, and so I've never 187 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,320 Speaker 3: felt more like pride when I got through the qualities 188 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 3: and able to get into the main draw for the 189 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 3: first time. 190 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,120 Speaker 1: I love hearing that, Yeah it is good everyone's I mean, 191 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,680 Speaker 1: we had it with Madison English like qualified, got through 192 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: it eventually to the fourth round. People say, you feel 193 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:31,840 Speaker 1: like you maybe we've adapted the conditions and you deserve 194 00:08:31,880 --> 00:08:34,240 Speaker 1: your place more, your battle hard, and it's great. 195 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 3: I love following the qualities and one of my most 196 00:08:36,040 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 3: favorite things at slams amazing. 197 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:41,360 Speaker 1: So you winning Io in two thousand kind of was 198 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: this period in your career that was incredible you won 199 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:47,000 Speaker 1: your three majors in the space of six slams were 200 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: number one, and you would when you won the Io, 201 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,200 Speaker 1: you were three quarters of the way to a career slam. 202 00:08:51,280 --> 00:08:53,840 Speaker 1: So like incredible success at that period. Was that when 203 00:08:53,880 --> 00:08:56,319 Speaker 1: you feel you were playing the best tennis of your career. 204 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, definitely, from probably the summer of ninety nine through 205 00:09:00,440 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 3: the summer of two thousand. I won here in two 206 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:05,200 Speaker 3: thousand and then also got to the final of Wimbledon 207 00:09:05,280 --> 00:09:08,320 Speaker 3: and the US Open. But that's right when Venus started 208 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:10,199 Speaker 3: to hit her stride. I mean, all of a sudden, 209 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,839 Speaker 3: like things started to really click for her. She was 210 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 3: obviously such a great talent the previous three or four years, 211 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 3: but like something special happened during two thousand and for 212 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 3: someone like me. I mean, she was a really tough 213 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 3: matchup because she hit just as hard as I did, 214 00:09:23,559 --> 00:09:25,960 Speaker 3: had to better serve and move much better, so I 215 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,880 Speaker 3: was trying to find ways to get through. But I 216 00:09:29,920 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 3: after winning here, I went on to lose four slam finals. 217 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 3: I won my first three loss the next four, so 218 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,320 Speaker 3: the level of tennis really started to rise. Then you 219 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:42,959 Speaker 3: got Serena that really started to get going. In one 220 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 3: to oh two, and you know, and we had Clisters 221 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 3: and Hannah. That generation, that like eight year period was 222 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:52,480 Speaker 3: so incredibly tough because once like Steph walked away in 223 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:55,480 Speaker 3: ninety nine, you thought like, Okay, maybe there's gonna be 224 00:09:55,480 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 3: an opening, and then all of a sudden, it was 225 00:09:57,200 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 3: like Venus and Serena really picked up their games as 226 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:01,360 Speaker 3: they got more mature. 227 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 2: Uh. 228 00:10:02,320 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 3: And then you know, we had the Belgian and then 229 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 3: it was like, oh my gosh. Then we had the 230 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:07,559 Speaker 3: Russians come through, and we had share A Pova and 231 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 3: Mentieva and all these players. So I look back at 232 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 3: the period of which I played tennis in and I'm like, man, 233 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 3: that was that was tough from start to finish. 234 00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, this is exactly what we wanted to talk 235 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: to you about. This is such a golden generation you 236 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,640 Speaker 1: refer to. First, firstly, look at who you played in 237 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,400 Speaker 1: major finals. Your opponents were Martine Hingez, Steppie Graf, Venus Williams, 238 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 1: Serena Williams. 239 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 3: Who was the toughest to face for you? For me, 240 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 3: it was always Serena and everything about her game was better. 241 00:10:38,760 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 3: I think, you know, her serve, the way she was 242 00:10:40,800 --> 00:10:44,160 Speaker 3: able to hit every serve with the same toss. She 243 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 3: was the first player that I ever played that that 244 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 3: was an issue because I was a pretty good returner 245 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:53,320 Speaker 3: and I could kind of really prided myself in trying 246 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 3: to read what my opponent was going to do, Like 247 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:57,680 Speaker 3: what toss they were gonna like with what toss was 248 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 3: their serve? Gonna go? Where's their favorite serve? I watch 249 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,079 Speaker 3: videos like okay almost every break point. This was before 250 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,280 Speaker 3: data was really available to players, so we had to 251 00:11:05,320 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 3: really do it ourselves with our coaches. And then I 252 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 3: get to play Serena and I would be like, I 253 00:11:09,880 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 3: have no idea where she go? 254 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:12,439 Speaker 1: Eight? 255 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:16,560 Speaker 3: Wait, that toss didn't go there. So it was always 256 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:20,280 Speaker 3: really tough for me, and similar to Venus Venus sometimes 257 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 3: you had a little opening with the forehand, like for 258 00:11:22,520 --> 00:11:24,319 Speaker 3: a couple of years there. She would make some errors 259 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 3: at times, Like I'd get out against Serena and be like, yeah, no, 260 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 3: every groundstroke, every stroke is perfect. So that one was 261 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 3: really tough for me. That was the player I was like, wow, gosh, 262 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 3: I really don't want to go out there against her. 263 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 3: I was managed to win a few, but her record 264 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 3: was pretty overwhelming in her hat on her side, so 265 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:47,520 Speaker 3: most players I was at least even if not had 266 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 3: a better record, it was just an impossible matchup for 267 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,480 Speaker 3: me against Serena. And did you ever learn to rate 268 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 3: the boat? Never? Yeah, never, No, exactly, And that's what 269 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 3: I think was so special about her, among many other attributes. 270 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 3: But you know, first straight tennis was what something that 271 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 3: I tried was was a real focus of myself, like 272 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 3: I need to do that better than everyone. I wasn't 273 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 3: as fast as everybody. I didn't want to play long points, 274 00:12:14,120 --> 00:12:16,320 Speaker 3: so I've got to be better in first strike tennis. 275 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,320 Speaker 3: And I just couldn't figure out how to be better 276 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:18,920 Speaker 3: than Serena. 277 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:21,320 Speaker 1: And that. Yeah, we're hearing a lot of this on 278 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,320 Speaker 1: the men's side because we had that incredible Big three, 279 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: Big four era and now we're in the Sinkorez era, 280 00:12:25,679 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 1: which is amazing, and naturally a lot of comparison comes up. 281 00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: We don't hear as much of that on the women's side, 282 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: But on the women's side we do have now Sabolenka 283 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,080 Speaker 1: and chion Tech, who I've been number one and two 284 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:39,640 Speaker 1: for a while now ten Grand Slam titles between them. 285 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: What they're doing is incredible. It's maybe a tough question, 286 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:45,719 Speaker 1: but if we picked sabal Anka and Fiuntech up and 287 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,600 Speaker 1: drop them in that Golden generation. 288 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,600 Speaker 3: How would they go? You know, it's so funny. We 289 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 3: were I was just talking to this about this morning. Actually, 290 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 3: there was a clip played from an old US Open match, 291 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,120 Speaker 3: and I'm going to get the year wrong, but it 292 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 3: was like either three or two or something, and it 293 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 3: was Serena Williams versus Jennifer Capriotti. And I was like, 294 00:13:05,800 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 3: oh my gosh, that level is really high, and it 295 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 3: wasn't too far off of like what we saw in 296 00:13:12,160 --> 00:13:14,680 Speaker 3: the late teen years, like twenty eighteen, twenty nineteen, and 297 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 3: normally you get a wider gap of levels in a 298 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:21,559 Speaker 3: fifteen year time frame. I think that the physicality of 299 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 3: Sabalanka and everything that she does well would be overwhelmingly good. 300 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 3: Whatever era you kind of dropped her into, I think 301 00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 3: it would be very high. Venus Williams reached two Grand 302 00:13:34,559 --> 00:13:38,640 Speaker 3: Stem finals in twenty seventeen. She was not as good 303 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 3: a player then as she was at the height of 304 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,280 Speaker 3: her career, kind of in that three to five range, 305 00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:45,600 Speaker 3: So pretty remarkable that she was still able to get 306 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,960 Speaker 3: to finals. When I thought like, wow, she was faster 307 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 3: fifteen years earlier. She hit the ball a little bit better. 308 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,080 Speaker 3: But I think the tennis in the last few years 309 00:13:53,120 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 3: has jumped up a couple of notches again. And I 310 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:57,960 Speaker 3: think that the players at the top of women's tennis 311 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 3: are so good now really is amazing. I think they're 312 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 3: all in Sabalanc everything she does to train to get good. 313 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 3: You have no doubt that Schriantek is trying everything she 314 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:10,560 Speaker 3: can to continue to add to her six majors. I 315 00:14:10,559 --> 00:14:13,439 Speaker 3: think Rebeckena is level right now. The last six or 316 00:14:13,480 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 3: seven months has been arguably maybe the best in women's tennis, 317 00:14:16,760 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 3: and so I don't know. I'm really in awe of 318 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 3: the generation that we have playing tennis right now. 319 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: That's amazing. Oh one thing I thought of a lot 320 00:14:25,040 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: of people compare these days Rebeckin it to you in 321 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:30,320 Speaker 1: terms of like the hot the ball stripe and sive. 322 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: Do you think that's a fair comparison. Is there another 323 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 1: play maybe now that reminds that reminds you more of them? 324 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 3: That's funny. I love that Rebaccina has a server's mentality. 325 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 3: That was something that is really I think forgotten in 326 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,240 Speaker 3: women's tennis, and a lot of women's players don't grow 327 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,520 Speaker 3: up thinking like, hey, I need to take some pride 328 00:14:49,520 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 3: in holding my serve. It's much more. You know, men's 329 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,440 Speaker 3: tennis of breaks don't come that often, so they are 330 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 3: really always working on their serve and that first shot 331 00:14:57,880 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 3: after the serve and patterns they want to play. And 332 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 3: I find that a lot of girl junior players when 333 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 3: they come up, it's just like, oh, I'm just going 334 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 3: to get the serve in, and so Rebakkina, I love 335 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 3: the way that she approaches that. I think Sabalanca is 336 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 3: quite similar also, like, hey, I'm going to step to 337 00:15:11,600 --> 00:15:13,480 Speaker 3: the line, I control this shot. I want to win 338 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 3: the point on my terms. So I could see that 339 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 3: a little bit. She's a better version of me, certainly. Rebakna. 340 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,600 Speaker 3: I love the way she plays. I love the way 341 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 3: she's always working on things. Her forehand has gotten so 342 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 3: much better in the last few months. She seems to 343 00:15:28,720 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 3: be headed towards the top. But I think in her 344 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:34,200 Speaker 3: overall mentality of how the game should be played, I 345 00:15:34,280 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 3: think that I had a very similar outlook on how 346 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 3: I wanted my game to develop. 347 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 2: Your career had so many milestones, three major singles titles, 348 00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 2: Olympic gold medal in singles, FED Cup titles, World number 349 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 2: one in both singles and doubles. 350 00:15:50,120 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 3: What was the highlight, h I know, it's so tough. 351 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,760 Speaker 3: I had a couple of different ones. First, I was 352 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:05,440 Speaker 3: raised in a very sports centric family, two sisters, and 353 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 3: you know, in the early eighties. I was born in 354 00:16:07,360 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 3: seventy six. When I was growing up, my dad was 355 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:13,440 Speaker 3: still really into his daughter's doing sports. He was an Olympian, 356 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 3: he played volleyball. My parents both worked the nineteen eighty 357 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 3: four Olympics when they came to Los Angeles. So for 358 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 3: them and my entire family, the fact that I even 359 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 3: made the Olympic team in nineteen ninety six was like 360 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 3: they couldn't believe it. I would just turned twenty, I 361 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 3: was going to represent the USA in the Olympics, and 362 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 3: like it was just seemed like kismet, like everything came together. 363 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 3: I wasn't supposed to win. I think it was outside 364 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 3: the top ten, and I walked away with the gold medal. 365 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 3: That was huge and it meant more to my family 366 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 3: than anything else. The US Open. I grew up dreaming 367 00:16:45,520 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 3: of winning that major, so for that to happen was overwhelming. 368 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,680 Speaker 3: I look back sometimes, you know, they'll show like match point, 369 00:16:51,720 --> 00:16:54,000 Speaker 3: like I couldn't smile. I just kept crying. It was 370 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 3: like I wish I could go back and be like 371 00:16:56,480 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 3: just happy. But it was above like my wildest imagination 372 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 3: that that was actually going to happen for me. So 373 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 3: those two are really similar in my in my mind 374 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 3: because and both of them were really overwhelming for me 375 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 3: to kind of process that I was able to do that. 376 00:17:13,720 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 2: So it was that joy or relay for a combination 377 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 2: of both those things. 378 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:25,080 Speaker 3: Disbelief. I believe that that happened, you know, on my single, 379 00:17:25,320 --> 00:17:28,560 Speaker 3: Like one of my greatest moments ever was at the 380 00:17:28,680 --> 00:17:31,639 Speaker 3: US Open. You know, you're waiting for the trophy ceremony 381 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,800 Speaker 3: and for at that time, the USTA President would come 382 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 3: down and I don't know, I always had a nice 383 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:39,879 Speaker 3: relationship with them, and I finally had gotten it together, 384 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 3: like stopped crying, and I was going to go up 385 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 3: and get my trophy. And I had another thing where 386 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:45,719 Speaker 3: I didn't believe you should put a trophy over your 387 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 3: head unless it was a Grand Slam. So I would 388 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:50,199 Speaker 3: play I was winning all these other trophies and I 389 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 3: put it to the side, and the photographers would be 390 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,440 Speaker 3: like lifted up and I wouldn't, but only my coach, 391 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:56,320 Speaker 3: and I knew that, so I was like, Okay, I'm 392 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 3: going to get to do this. And I walk up 393 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 3: to get my trophy from the USTA President, a wonderful gentleman, 394 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 3: Harry Marmy, and he was crying. So it made me 395 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 3: just absolutely start balling again right before I got the trophy, 396 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:08,959 Speaker 3: and he gave me a hug and said, there's no 397 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:11,520 Speaker 3: one more I'd rather give this too. So then I 398 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 3: got the trophy and I put it above my head 399 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 3: and I was a blobbering man. 400 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: It was. 401 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 3: It was honestly like, I couldn't believe how perfect that 402 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 3: moment was. So you dream of that as a kid, 403 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:24,960 Speaker 3: so for that to kind of happen for me, it 404 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,560 Speaker 3: was it was it was like a kid's fantasy come 405 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 3: to life. 406 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:32,920 Speaker 1: That's awesome. On ly in here, we jumped into Casi 407 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: Delca and form a guess of the pub. We love 408 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: Casey and she mentioned you're bulls trocking, and he said 409 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:41,679 Speaker 1: to U, stop stealing out questions because that's what we 410 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: were going to ask you about. You were so well 411 00:18:44,040 --> 00:18:46,399 Speaker 1: known for that style of play, the clean hit on 412 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,919 Speaker 1: the ball, that the true sound that came of your 413 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 1: racket how did you develop the game you did that 414 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: became so famous for that. 415 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I'm really lucky in the sport that 416 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 3: you come across some amazing people. Casey Delocke was one 417 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 3: of them. She's so sweet and everybody loves her. But 418 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,240 Speaker 3: when I was little, I happened to be being raised 419 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 3: in the same town that Pete Sampers and Tracy Austin 420 00:19:08,040 --> 00:19:11,240 Speaker 3: came through, and there was a legendary coach there, Robert Lansdorp. 421 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 3: He had a daughter who happened to be my exact 422 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 3: same age, and he was trying to keep his daughter 423 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 3: in tennis. So he started like an under ten academy. 424 00:19:19,600 --> 00:19:22,399 Speaker 3: It was like crazy luck, right, And so because I 425 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 3: was in the area somehow, you know, I ended up 426 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 3: there and he, you know, would work with me a 427 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,239 Speaker 3: ton and I started to then get private lessons and 428 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:32,760 Speaker 3: we would you know, I would hit thousands and thousands 429 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,400 Speaker 3: and thousands of groundstrokes. But even from a young age, 430 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 3: at nine, ten or eleven years old, I was like 431 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 3: fine to stay out there for hours. I think that's 432 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,680 Speaker 3: what separates a lot of the players I get into 433 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 3: individual sports from team sports is at a young age 434 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:46,840 Speaker 3: you have to have that tunnel vision, and that was 435 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 3: something I had, and he taught perfection in perfect technique. 436 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 3: It evolved a little bit over time, like as more 437 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:57,359 Speaker 3: spin came in and some the different strings as well. 438 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 3: But I went through my career and I never broke 439 00:20:00,240 --> 00:20:03,800 Speaker 3: a string in a match. It just didn't happen. Rarely 440 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:06,600 Speaker 3: ever hit a mis hit as well, So I don't know. 441 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,680 Speaker 3: I think it was just one of those natural talents 442 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:11,919 Speaker 3: that I had. But certainly the perfect technique helped a 443 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:15,959 Speaker 3: ton broke a string. No, not him, mad I don't know. 444 00:20:16,280 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 3: It was crazy, but it's true. I would put them 445 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:22,600 Speaker 3: out and get him restrung, but never had to go like, 446 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:24,360 Speaker 3: oh man, like I got a slice here and run 447 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 3: to net. So I think I, you know, made contacted 448 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 3: the same spot a lot, and I don't know, it's 449 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 3: one of those things. I love that. 450 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 2: For all the achievements that we talked about a few 451 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 2: minutes ago, you were known for being unassuming and in 452 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 2: a lot of ways, I guess a humble champion. 453 00:20:41,560 --> 00:20:43,960 Speaker 4: Was that something that just came naturally for sure? 454 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:46,639 Speaker 3: I mean I hated it in my family. I was 455 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 3: the youngest of three girls, so it's not like I 456 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:50,800 Speaker 3: wanted the talk around the dinner table to be centered 457 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,239 Speaker 3: around me. My parents tried really hard to treat us 458 00:20:54,240 --> 00:20:56,560 Speaker 3: all the same, so it was just we never really 459 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 3: talked about it. Then, you know, it wasmfortable for me. 460 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 3: I didn't like to read articles about myself. I don't 461 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 3: think I could have survived in the social media age 462 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:07,800 Speaker 3: when I was playing. That was not something I was 463 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 3: comfortable about. And if you go into our house now, 464 00:21:10,320 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 3: there's nothing up, Like my kids laugh like all the time, like, Mom, 465 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 3: you were such a boss, aren't you going to put 466 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:16,719 Speaker 3: something up? 467 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: Like? 468 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 3: They had no clue for like the first ten years 469 00:21:18,960 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 3: of their life, and it was something to like my husband, 470 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 3: I was like, this is this My whole life revolves 471 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 3: around them. Yeah, they don't need to live like, oh, 472 00:21:26,680 --> 00:21:28,960 Speaker 3: mom's putting her stuff up Like I don't know, it's 473 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,880 Speaker 3: just not something that is. I just never been one 474 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:32,680 Speaker 3: to talk about it. 475 00:21:32,720 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 4: So do you keep your trophy? 476 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 3: That's a great question. A couple times, and at one 477 00:21:37,720 --> 00:21:41,880 Speaker 3: point my mom actually misplaced my gold medal. My husband 478 00:21:42,080 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 3: then was on her case for like a year and 479 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:47,240 Speaker 3: we found it. So he then kind of took control 480 00:21:47,280 --> 00:21:49,399 Speaker 3: of all that stuff. And I'm sure it's like in 481 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 3: a nice safe or somewhere somewhere, but somewhere safe it is. 482 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 3: I trust him, but yeah, I don't know. It's just, 483 00:21:59,280 --> 00:22:01,560 Speaker 3: you know, go both ways with it. I'm certainly very 484 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 3: proud of everything that I've accomplished, but it's never defined 485 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 3: me and never something that has been really you know, 486 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:09,919 Speaker 3: simple or easy for me to talk about. 487 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:12,959 Speaker 1: I'm not sure if I'm remembering this correctly or not, 488 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:15,080 Speaker 1: but is it true that you did you keep your 489 00:22:15,080 --> 00:22:18,719 Speaker 1: makeup brushes in a trophy the Australian. That wasn't you, 490 00:22:18,800 --> 00:22:21,040 Speaker 1: That wasn't me. Okay, now I'm not sure who I'm remembering. 491 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:21,800 Speaker 1: I don't know. 492 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:25,320 Speaker 3: I can say that confidently because I've never owned them brushes. 493 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 3: All right, So we're back on track. That's good. 494 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 1: So after your retirement, obviously you became you became a mom. 495 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:34,560 Speaker 1: Well you played on too while you were a mum 496 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: one year. Yes. And you stay connected to tennis, well, 497 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: you were a mentor and a coach to Madison Keith 498 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: as well. You've become Billy Jinking Cup captain for the US. 499 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:45,760 Speaker 1: How important was it for you to stay connected to 500 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:47,400 Speaker 1: the sport? Did you imagine you would? 501 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:52,280 Speaker 3: I've always loved tennis, Like literally always loved it. You know, 502 00:22:52,320 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 3: when I was growing up, it wasn't easy to find 503 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 3: on TV, but if we could find it, I would 504 00:22:56,160 --> 00:22:59,240 Speaker 3: put it on. Obviously, now kids around the world have 505 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 3: much greater access to be able to watch what's happening. 506 00:23:02,960 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 3: I ended up marrying a man who played tennis as well. 507 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 3: I'll be it at a different level. All four of 508 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,560 Speaker 3: our kids learned to play. Like my husband thought like, okay, 509 00:23:10,560 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 3: we're going to do this. All four kids are going 510 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 3: to be least great players. Only one played. Three girls 511 00:23:16,560 --> 00:23:18,040 Speaker 3: all said, you know what, I'm going to do a 512 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 3: different sport. So I've always loved being involved in it. 513 00:23:21,720 --> 00:23:23,639 Speaker 3: It's a It's an honor and a pleasure for me 514 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:25,879 Speaker 3: to be able to come back to tournaments, just like 515 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 3: the Australian Open. I have always enjoyed following the sport. 516 00:23:30,359 --> 00:23:32,560 Speaker 3: What makes it different now than ten years ago to 517 00:23:32,600 --> 00:23:35,280 Speaker 3: twenty years ago. It's always something that's really interested me. 518 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:39,160 Speaker 3: So I'm I feel so lucky that I'm still able 519 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 3: to have all these roles. I love. Being the Billy 520 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:44,000 Speaker 3: Jing King Cup Captain American women's tennis right now is 521 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 3: absolutely killing it. Not only that, I mean talk about 522 00:23:47,359 --> 00:23:49,920 Speaker 3: like this the greatest group of ladies you could possibly 523 00:23:49,960 --> 00:23:54,159 Speaker 3: imagine as well. So that part is like I'm so 524 00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:56,760 Speaker 3: lucky to be able to, you know, be around them, 525 00:23:56,840 --> 00:24:00,000 Speaker 3: learn from them, try and help them if I possible, 526 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 3: blee can. So it's it's been great. Yeah. 527 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:06,959 Speaker 1: And on Madison watching her win last year after her 528 00:24:07,000 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: involvement with her what was what was that lost? 529 00:24:08,880 --> 00:24:12,040 Speaker 3: So last year I was actually working the tournament but 530 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:14,720 Speaker 3: from a studio in Los Angeles, and now Madison's making 531 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 3: a run and my son was actually in the juniors 532 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,199 Speaker 3: and he was making a run and like getting I 533 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,719 Speaker 3: think he was in the Semis and my boss is like, 534 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:23,320 Speaker 3: you need to fly down there. You need to fly 535 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 3: down there and go watch Madison and go watch my 536 00:24:26,680 --> 00:24:30,240 Speaker 3: son Jagger. And I'm like yeah, And my passport was 537 00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:34,360 Speaker 3: in Florida at our house and I was like, oh, man, 538 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 3: I can't do it. I couldn't get it in time. 539 00:24:36,880 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 3: So I was up in the middle of the night 540 00:24:39,440 --> 00:24:43,280 Speaker 3: in California watching Madison talking to her agent who was 541 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,399 Speaker 3: in Florida. We were both so nervous all night long, 542 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:48,520 Speaker 3: in the middle of the night, and it was honestly 543 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 3: one of the best moments I couldn't believe it, like 544 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:53,880 Speaker 3: so happy for her. I filmed a show the next 545 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:57,880 Speaker 3: day just like my eyes swollen shut from crying. So 546 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,840 Speaker 3: it was it was amazing. She he is a wonderful woman. 547 00:25:02,000 --> 00:25:04,840 Speaker 3: I mean we've been super close for what eleven years 548 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 3: now or so, and it's fun to just watch her 549 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 3: evolve consistently every year. 550 00:25:09,920 --> 00:25:10,400 Speaker 1: Amazing. 551 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:14,120 Speaker 2: And your son Jega, Yeah, you know, as you said, 552 00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 2: he supplied Junior's he done really well and I think 553 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 2: now he's playing college tennis. 554 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:20,359 Speaker 4: What's it like being the tennis parent. 555 00:25:21,280 --> 00:25:24,200 Speaker 3: It's pretty easy. He's a great kid. He's always tried 556 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,560 Speaker 3: super hard. He looks at the relationship with myself and 557 00:25:28,600 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 3: my husband as a positive. And sometimes when you get 558 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 3: into like the parent coach, it can get really complicated. 559 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:38,200 Speaker 3: It hasn't been our experience to be complicated at all. 560 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 3: You know, last year he was out over six months 561 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:44,080 Speaker 3: with like an elbow injury, so it was really he 562 00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 3: didn't take that well at all. But now he's back healthy. 563 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:49,719 Speaker 3: He's playing up at Stanford Collegiate Tennis right now, so 564 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:51,639 Speaker 3: that's been really fun to follow. But I mean he 565 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,439 Speaker 3: wants to go to the pro, so maybe it was 566 00:25:54,480 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 3: delayed a little bit. Maybe in the long run it helps. 567 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,760 Speaker 3: I mean, it's tough to know with injuries, but it's 568 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:02,359 Speaker 3: so fun to be able. First in the junior circuit, 569 00:26:02,359 --> 00:26:04,520 Speaker 3: we were going back to like local junior tournaments that 570 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 3: my husband and I both played. Were like, oh, this 571 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:08,480 Speaker 3: is so funny. Then all of a sudden, we're traveling 572 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 3: the world with him and we look forward to the 573 00:26:10,520 --> 00:26:14,239 Speaker 3: next step, whatever that may be. But it's been a 574 00:26:14,480 --> 00:26:17,000 Speaker 3: it's awesome to be on the court with him. It's 575 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:20,880 Speaker 3: impossible not to get nervous, right, But then like, you know, well, 576 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 3: it doesn't really matter if this match happened, if he 577 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:25,920 Speaker 3: wins or loses. He's eighteen, but it matters to him, 578 00:26:26,000 --> 00:26:28,440 Speaker 3: So then you care and it gets a little complicated. 579 00:26:28,520 --> 00:26:32,400 Speaker 3: But for the most part, I'm pretty pretty chill when 580 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:33,240 Speaker 3: he plays. 581 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:37,480 Speaker 4: Billy Jane King famous. 582 00:26:37,119 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 3: Phrase I know you know, yeah, you've heard pressure is. 583 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,399 Speaker 2: She attributes that to a conversation that she had with 584 00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 2: you during a fed Cup match. 585 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 4: What do you remember of that? 586 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 3: So Billy was writing a book in the early two 587 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,639 Speaker 3: thousand years and I remember I sat down with her 588 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,399 Speaker 3: because she wanted some help with like recollections from some 589 00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:57,680 Speaker 3: of our great we had amazing teams like Monica, myself, 590 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 3: like Venus, Serena. Jennifer was like crazy and she we 591 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,359 Speaker 3: were going over some of the stories and she brought 592 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 3: that up and I'm like, Billy, I hate to tell you, 593 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 3: I don't remember. She was like what. I was like, 594 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:14,600 Speaker 3: what of my greatest lives to totally And it was 595 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 3: I mean, it's a little bit of a dig at me. 596 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:19,119 Speaker 3: Not I mean we were laughing about it because I 597 00:27:19,119 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 3: would get so nervous. I was like crazy, Like I 598 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:23,920 Speaker 3: got a ton of anxiety to play. And you wouldn't 599 00:27:23,920 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 3: think someone that maybe was at the top for so 600 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,840 Speaker 3: long or played so many big matches, but everyone felt 601 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,040 Speaker 3: like a pit in my stomach. And that's why I 602 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 3: think I played so well in these team events or 603 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:36,840 Speaker 3: representing your country, because I had someone like Billy talking 604 00:27:36,880 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 3: me through it. You couldn't have coaching back then in 605 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:41,879 Speaker 3: you know, the Grand Slams, but in these events you could. 606 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:45,119 Speaker 3: And Billy was like did a masterful job with me, 607 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:47,400 Speaker 3: first getting me to believe that I could become a 608 00:27:47,440 --> 00:27:50,639 Speaker 3: good to great player, and second like talking me through it. 609 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:55,760 Speaker 3: That's a special skill that not everybody has. And you know, 610 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:59,159 Speaker 3: for whatever reason, I mean, she commanded respect because she 611 00:27:59,359 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 3: everything that she a chief. But like everything she said, 612 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 3: I could process, and you know someone could be telling 613 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:07,399 Speaker 3: you the same thing, but you don't really hear it 614 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 3: the same way. And everything Billy would say, I would 615 00:28:09,840 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 3: get it. So, I mean, I was so nervous to 616 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 3: play that day, which I would believe, and she's like, 617 00:28:14,800 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 3: come on, there's you know you got this. You're so 618 00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:20,600 Speaker 3: privileged to be out here and all of this, and yeah, 619 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:22,200 Speaker 3: I know she said it to me, but I don't 620 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,680 Speaker 3: even know the match or anything. I was like, man, Billy, 621 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:26,439 Speaker 3: that's a good one, but I don't remember it. 622 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:28,760 Speaker 4: So funny, do you have to use that phrase yourself? 623 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:31,720 Speaker 3: No, no, I see it going out to the court, 624 00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:33,879 Speaker 3: and I like give over myself like a little smile 625 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:37,119 Speaker 3: because not many people know it. Ironically, this year, my 626 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 3: husband was dropping our son off at Stanford and for 627 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 3: all the freshmen that were there, you know, they welcome 628 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 3: you and there's you know, thousands of kids and the 629 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 3: man speaking I don't know if it was the head 630 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 3: of the school was like, oh, a famous line for 631 00:28:49,240 --> 00:28:51,400 Speaker 3: Billy Jean King, which I think one of the parents of. 632 00:28:51,600 --> 00:28:52,800 Speaker 4: Of marsh fresh were here. 633 00:28:53,000 --> 00:28:55,120 Speaker 3: My husband was like, oh my gosh, I wasn't there, 634 00:28:55,160 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 3: of course, but he was textedv like, I think you 635 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:01,800 Speaker 3: were just referenced. Sometimes I'm getting like the props from it. 636 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:05,200 Speaker 1: That's so good. Yeah, thank you so much, Lindsay. It's 637 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: been great to have you in Podlov Arena with us. 638 00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:09,320 Speaker 4: Thank you, Lindsey. 639 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,360 Speaker 1: Well, Viv We say this about a lot of our guests, 640 00:29:13,400 --> 00:29:15,400 Speaker 1: but I really feel we could have talked to Lindsay 641 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,880 Speaker 1: for about another hour after that, just such great recall 642 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 1: of like moments and times and dates and rounds of 643 00:29:21,680 --> 00:29:24,880 Speaker 1: her career, which makes sense now that she's become a 644 00:29:24,920 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: broadcaster and an analyst and she's also been a coach. 645 00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: But yeah, it really took us behind the curtain and 646 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 1: gave us some great insights into life on tour around 647 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,200 Speaker 1: that time, which I never knew at the time. So 648 00:29:35,440 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 1: I just found that so enjoyable. 649 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:38,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it felt like we could have asked 650 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:41,560 Speaker 2: Lindsay anything. And probably the reason we could do that 651 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:43,720 Speaker 2: is that for all that she's achieved in tennis, you know, 652 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 2: world number one, multiple Grand Slam titles, Olympic gold medal 653 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:49,760 Speaker 2: in singles, she really is one of the game's most 654 00:29:49,840 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 2: humble champions and I think still a wonderful role model 655 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 2: for the sport. 656 00:29:54,120 --> 00:29:54,320 Speaker 3: Yeah. 657 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,200 Speaker 1: Absolutely agree. Well, we'll be back again next week with 658 00:29:57,280 --> 00:30:00,000 Speaker 1: another episode of the sit Down. Please remember to subscribe 659 00:30:00,040 --> 00:30:01,800 Speaker 1: so you never miss an episode when it lands in 660 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 1: your feed, and if you could leave us a rating 661 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,000 Speaker 1: or a review, we'd love that too. We'll see you 662 00:30:06,080 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 1: next week. 663 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:07,240 Speaker 4: To see you then, Matt