1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: It was life changing for me because I guess people 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: knew who I was and I wasn't expecting that. 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 2: Hello and welcome to the sitdown. I'm Viv Christine, Managing 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 2: editor for Australian Tennis Magazine and. 5 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 3: I'm at Trolope, a writer and editor for oz open 6 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:17,480 Speaker 3: dot com. And Viv, why are we sitting down this 7 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 3: week with Heath Davidson. 8 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,159 Speaker 2: Well, it's an exciting time for wheelchair tennis with the 9 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 2: announcement that there will be integrated wheelchair tennis events at 10 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 2: tournaments in Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide this summer. Heath is 11 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,279 Speaker 2: very passionate about the growth of wheelchair tennis and has 12 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 2: been advocating for this development for many years. 13 00:00:34,680 --> 00:00:36,880 Speaker 3: While we were joined in pod labor Arena by Heath, 14 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 3: it was a chance to reflect on his incredible careers. 15 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 3: So at age thirty eight, he's still going strong in 16 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,159 Speaker 3: the top ten and that's almost ten years after his 17 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,840 Speaker 3: star exploded when him and Dylan Orcott won doubles gold 18 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 3: for Australia in the quad wheelchair events at the Rio Paralympics. 19 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 3: And he's also played the slamspe He has been in 20 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 3: slam finals, peaked as high as well number three, so yeah, 21 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 3: incredible achievements. 22 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: Heath is very candid about the journey that has taken 23 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,479 Speaker 2: him to this point, including his battles with addiction and 24 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: some mental health struggles. 25 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 4: This is a. 26 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:10,840 Speaker 2: Story of resilience, humility and determination and we think that 27 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: you will love this chat. Heath Davidson, Welcome to Podlover arena. 28 00:01:16,360 --> 00:01:17,679 Speaker 2: It's great to have you on the sit down. 29 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 1: Thank you very much for having me. I appreciate the 30 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: invite and happy to have a chat. 31 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 2: Fantastic. Well, tell us what brought you, first of all 32 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:26,559 Speaker 2: to Melbourne Park today. 33 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: Specifically, I was asked to be a guest speaker at 34 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,559 Speaker 1: the launch of the All Abilities Week for January Moving Forward, 35 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: and yeah, it was a chat with a champion or 36 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: it was named, which is sort of weird to say 37 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,959 Speaker 1: out loud because I don't see myself as one of them. 38 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 1: But yeah, it was just a really good, really good 39 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: chat and it was just me out there talking about 40 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: my experience of growing up with the disability and how 41 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: far Tennis has come in the inclusion space and how 42 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: thankful I am for everyone at Tennis Australia for taking 43 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: the risk many many years ago and allowing us to 44 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: play the AO because we were the first Slam to 45 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: do that, so it was it's amazing and if. 46 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 4: You fast forward to now, it's incredible. 47 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 1: We have a fully fledged world tour where next year 48 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: is our first year, we're about to have fourteen integrated 49 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 1: events with Aberbody tournaments. So we've come such a long 50 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,400 Speaker 1: way and I'm just happy to be a part of 51 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,119 Speaker 1: the growth and happy to give back to the next 52 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: generation that are coming up and going to start beating 53 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: me down. 54 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 2: Well, it has actually been a long journey for you. 55 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:42,320 Speaker 2: What are you up to these days? 56 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:46,359 Speaker 1: Tell us, Oh, trying to stay healthy. It's getting a 57 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: little bit harder, I think, I'm I think. I was 58 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: talking to my girlfriend the other night because she is 59 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: a massive Novak fan and he's obviously just been and 60 00:02:56,760 --> 00:03:02,639 Speaker 1: played the six Kings tournament. Is it's crazy to think 61 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: that he's still able to do what he does at 62 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 1: the elite level that he does. And then my partner 63 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: Eden turned around and said, hey, you're older than him. 64 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, yeah, you don't have to say that out loud, 65 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: but I mean it's sort of true. Like obviously, playing 66 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,520 Speaker 1: wheelchair tennis is a little bit less stressful on the body. 67 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,119 Speaker 1: But yeah, just still trying to hang in there. I mean, 68 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: had a little bit of time off this year which 69 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,239 Speaker 1: was very much needed, and got the bug back and 70 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 1: back out on court, trying to figure out how I'm 71 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: going to catch these younger, younger fellas and out on court. 72 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: So yeah, just keep chipping away and looking forward to 73 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: the AA. 74 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 3: If you think about where it all began for you, 75 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 3: how did you how did your tennis story begin? How 76 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 3: did you get introduced to the sport and discover it? 77 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: Well, I don't know if you guys know that one 78 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 1: of my really good friends played wheelchair tennis. 79 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,040 Speaker 4: His name is still in all Court. So we grew 80 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 4: up together. 81 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 1: And he and myself, would you really overweight kids? We 82 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,840 Speaker 1: didn't really do much stuff outside of like playing video 83 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 1: games and whatnot. 84 00:04:06,200 --> 00:04:08,800 Speaker 4: We didn't really know we could do a lot of sport. 85 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 1: And my dad and his dad got together and they 86 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: called a local tennis club in Moraban, because we grew 87 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: up about ten minutes from each other, and a guy 88 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,119 Speaker 1: by the name of Marco Percy picked up the phone 89 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:26,479 Speaker 1: and my dad, then Martin's dad, said would you be 90 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: able to coach our two sons there in wheelchairs, and 91 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 1: Marco is like, I'm not sure, do they want to 92 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: play tennis? And my dad and Marty said yes, and 93 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,159 Speaker 1: He's like, then, yeah, I guess I can. Like he'd 94 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: never coached anyone in a wheelchair before, he never really 95 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: had anything to do with anyone with a disability before, 96 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,120 Speaker 1: but he said it can't be too hard, and he 97 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,240 Speaker 1: treated just like everybody else, which I think was a 98 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 1: really really amazing thing back in those days. I think 99 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: these days it's a lot more prevalent in society that 100 00:04:57,279 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 1: people with disability. It's been normalized a lot, so we 101 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 1: see it everywhere. Went back when we were kids, we 102 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 1: never saw it on TV. The Paralympics wasn't on TV. 103 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 1: I mean you, I didn't know there was a jet 104 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: tennis growing up. And then yeah, I started when I 105 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: was fourteen with Dylan and played for four five years 106 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:24,200 Speaker 1: when I was a kid, and then left tennis for 107 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: a long time and came back in twenty fifteen. 108 00:05:27,760 --> 00:05:31,200 Speaker 3: So right, yeah, yeah, Well, when we were researching for 109 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 3: this interview, obviously Dylan's famous as well for having played 110 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 3: basketball at an elite level, and I saw that you 111 00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,599 Speaker 3: did really well in table tennis. Is it common to 112 00:05:37,640 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 3: do many other sports. 113 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 4: No, well it's not. 114 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: But back when I was a junior, we used to 115 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: have the Australian National Championships every year and to compete 116 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 1: in that you had to play two sports. So I 117 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: think it was just to encourage people with disabilities to 118 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:56,159 Speaker 1: get out there and try new things. And yeah, obviously 119 00:05:56,160 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 1: I went up there for tennis and I didn't have 120 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: a second sport, so I played table tennis and managed 121 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: to win to silver medals in table. 122 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:04,120 Speaker 4: Tennis and didn't get one in tennis. 123 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:05,159 Speaker 2: So I love that. 124 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: I think I made the right decision moving forward and 125 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,559 Speaker 1: stuck the tennis. But yeah, I mean I love table tennis. 126 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: I just love sport. I've always loved sport. If I 127 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:18,240 Speaker 1: wasn't in a wheelchair, I would have to say I 128 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: probably would have been playing football at some level. I 129 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:27,119 Speaker 1: love AFL. But in saying that, I love playing duards, 130 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: I love law and bowls. I just love sports like anything. Really, 131 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 1: I woke up at four o'clock this morning to watch 132 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 1: the Grand Prix. I just yeah, anything, if it's sporty, old. 133 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,679 Speaker 3: Have you on, You'll be invested in it. You alluded 134 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 3: to your break from tennis, which was ten years, so, 135 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 3: and I know you also chatted a little bit about 136 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,480 Speaker 3: it today for our listeners. What was that ten years 137 00:06:50,600 --> 00:06:52,479 Speaker 3: like for you? And also how did you find your 138 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:54,080 Speaker 3: way back to tennis after all that time? 139 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,240 Speaker 1: So that ten years was it was? 140 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 4: It was a rough. 141 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 1: One, to be honest with you, I ended up falling 142 00:07:01,560 --> 00:07:04,840 Speaker 1: into the wrong crowd and got myself into a little 143 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: bit of trouble. I ended up becoming a drug addict 144 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: for seven of those ten years. But yeah, kicking addiction 145 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: is probably my personal biggest achievement. So yeah, it was 146 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: just a lot of doing nothing. 147 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:21,600 Speaker 4: Really. 148 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 1: It was pretty sad and miserable life there for a 149 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: long time. To be honest with you, I had a 150 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 1: lot of friends that I thought were friends because of 151 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: the circles that I hung around in, and then obviously 152 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,560 Speaker 1: when you stop involving yourself in that sort of culture, 153 00:07:34,680 --> 00:07:37,239 Speaker 1: then they all disappear and you sort of left going. 154 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 4: Okay, well that was a waste. 155 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 1: But at the same time, I could honestly sit here 156 00:07:44,560 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: today and say, if I could have made it shorter, 157 00:07:48,120 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: I would have. But I'm happy that it happened. My 158 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: life's happened the way it's happened because It's made me 159 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:58,200 Speaker 1: who I am today, and I've had those lived experiences 160 00:07:58,520 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: of struggling with addiction, being homeless, because I was homeless 161 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: from fourteen to eighteen, so I lived in a warehouse 162 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,600 Speaker 1: by myself because my mum and dad split up, and 163 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: then my dad's new wife didn't want me or my 164 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: brother to be a part of their family, and I 165 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 1: moved out with dad. I moved out with Dad in 166 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: the divorce because Dad was the one that took me 167 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: to all my ton of stuff. And then, yeah, it 168 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: was sort of it was tough, Like me and my 169 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:29,520 Speaker 1: dad have a great relationship now, but it was a 170 00:08:29,640 --> 00:08:32,320 Speaker 1: bit of a struggle back in those days because yeah, 171 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:35,880 Speaker 1: he obviously chose his wife at the time, and he 172 00:08:35,920 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: didn't see my brother much, and I got left in 173 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: the factory that he worked at, and yeah, I sort 174 00:08:43,480 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: of guess I grew up pretty quick. So I mean, 175 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,880 Speaker 1: it'd still takes me to tennis twice or three times 176 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:51,120 Speaker 1: a week, but he dropped me off after that and 177 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 1: then he'd go back to his house and I just 178 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,520 Speaker 1: stay in a factory. It was pretty rough, but at 179 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 1: the same time, it was sort of cool. 180 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 3: Does that somehow in a way like you said you 181 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,880 Speaker 3: wouldn't perhaps change the path you've been on because it's 182 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 3: made you who you are. Has that made things that 183 00:09:06,720 --> 00:09:09,160 Speaker 3: happen on the tennis court or competing in those high 184 00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:10,800 Speaker 3: pressure moments easier in a way? 185 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:11,480 Speaker 4: Not at all. 186 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: No, No, I still really struggle, really struggle with those 187 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: high pressure moments. I mean, I've been lucky enough to 188 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: have a couple that have come out the other side 189 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: of but no, I think everyday life, I'm pretty laid 190 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: back and cruisy and things don't affect me. And I've 191 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: seen some stuff that a lot of people haven't seen, 192 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: and I've been involved in some stuff that a lot 193 00:09:31,840 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 1: of people haven't been involved in. But I can't seem 194 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,000 Speaker 1: to switch that mentality on when it comes to competing 195 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: and sport. Like I remember when my current my missus 196 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,080 Speaker 1: came to watch me play for the first time, and 197 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 1: we've been chatting because we met during COVID, so we 198 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 1: hadn't met. She lived in New South Wales and I 199 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 1: lived here, and the first time she watched me play tennis, 200 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: She's like, you're a completely different person out there. I'm like, yeah, 201 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:02,839 Speaker 1: I'm just so stressed out all of the time when 202 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 1: I'm on the tennis squad. Except when I played doubles 203 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: with Dylan, I felt a lot more like myself and 204 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,240 Speaker 1: it was just good banter. I think we used to 205 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: get in trouble a fair bit. It's the Austrayin Open, because 206 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: we'd forget that their courts are miked and we'd be 207 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: talking about drinking beers at a revolver and all of 208 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: that sort of stuff instead of like playing the game. 209 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 1: And some people have asked us if like, it looks 210 00:10:26,160 --> 00:10:28,679 Speaker 1: like we're not taking it seriously, but that's just when 211 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,959 Speaker 1: we played our best mind you're relaxed. Yeah, Like Dylan 212 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: knew that if he could make me just feel like 213 00:10:34,679 --> 00:10:38,040 Speaker 1: a Saturday hit down at a rabin indoor, he was 214 00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: going to get the best out of me, And we 215 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: never put pressure on each other. It was always if 216 00:10:42,679 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: I missed five hundred four hands, he didn't care, and 217 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: if he missed a thousand volleys, I didn't care. It 218 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,560 Speaker 1: was still going to be mates afterwards. So it was 219 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:51,960 Speaker 1: just cool that we got to do it together. 220 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 5: I guess the final part of that. 221 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:56,840 Speaker 3: So you made your way back to tennis, probably a 222 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:58,680 Speaker 3: changed person or a different person. As you said, you 223 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 3: grew up very fast in time. It didn't turn off 224 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 3: the thing that makes you very stressed about competing. But 225 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:06,679 Speaker 3: was there any kind of I guess, life lessons or 226 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:09,560 Speaker 3: anything you brought into the when you rediscovered the sport 227 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 3: and you were playing tennis again that maybe helped you 228 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:13,680 Speaker 3: or you'd grown in a way. 229 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 5: I don't know. I don't know. 230 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:21,000 Speaker 1: I think when I got clean and stopped using I 231 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,280 Speaker 1: sort of had made a commitment to myself than anything 232 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,680 Speaker 1: that I do, I'm going to do properly and jump 233 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 1: in full, which in the past had sort of never 234 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: been the case. Like I dropped out of high school, 235 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,600 Speaker 1: so I'd never finished school. I had had a couple 236 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: of jobs here or there, but never went for a 237 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: day and then didn't go back, and sort of stuff 238 00:11:40,679 --> 00:11:44,760 Speaker 1: like that. Like so that commitment to myself that if 239 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 1: I'm going to do something, I want to see it through. 240 00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: And tennis was a funny one to come back because 241 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: there was so much fear about coming back because I 242 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 1: was quite a successful junior, like I represented Australia twice 243 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: for World Team Cup. I'd never lost a Dylan, I 244 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: was world number three in the juniors, so I had 245 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:09,680 Speaker 1: a really good junior career, and obviously just life got 246 00:12:09,679 --> 00:12:11,719 Speaker 1: in the way and I chose a different path there 247 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 1: for a while, and the fear of coming back and 248 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:17,600 Speaker 1: not being as good as I was was really, really 249 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 1: heavily weighing on me. But I just said, you know what, 250 00:12:23,559 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: this is what I want to do, so I'm going 251 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: to do it, and I jumped in and I think 252 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: I was hitting just I rang my local coach. Actually, 253 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,719 Speaker 1: one night I watched Nick Kurios beat Rafa I think 254 00:12:33,720 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: it was twenty and fifteen at Wimbledon, and my girlfriend 255 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,719 Speaker 1: at the time said, used to play wheelchair tennis, didn't you? 256 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:41,959 Speaker 1: And I said I did, and she's like, if you 257 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 1: ever thought about going back. I'd been cleaned for a 258 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,800 Speaker 1: few years by then, and I sort of went, no, 259 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: not really, and then that sort of just it was 260 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: in the back of my head. 261 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:53,839 Speaker 5: Yep, the seed had been yeah, and I'm like. 262 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: I wonder if I wonder if I should. And then 263 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: a couple of days later, I rang my coach, Marco Percy, 264 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: that I'd hit with from fourteen to eighteen, and he 265 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: used to come and look after me and come and 266 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:08,160 Speaker 1: check on me when I live by myself. He's like 267 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,440 Speaker 1: my big brother these days. I rang him and he's like, 268 00:13:11,679 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 1: this is a blast from the passing. Let me do 269 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 1: from you again. And I said, any chance I could 270 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:19,040 Speaker 1: come down and have a bash, and he's like, I'll 271 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 1: say the same thing as I did back when your 272 00:13:21,520 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: dad rang me. Do you want to come and have 273 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: a bash? I said yes, So I rang. I didn't 274 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 1: have a wheelchair or anything, so I rang wheelchair sports Victoria, 275 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:37,240 Speaker 1: borrowed a wheelchair, went down, had to hit. It was fun. 276 00:13:38,160 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 1: I forgot how much I missed just hitting tennis balls. 277 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,240 Speaker 1: And then I think I posted I think I was 278 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 1: hitting for three or four weeks. And then I posted 279 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,800 Speaker 1: a photo of me back on a tennis court and 280 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: Dylan had seen that post and then had to chat 281 00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,120 Speaker 1: with Tennis Australia and said, hey, he used to play tennis. 282 00:14:02,040 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: He used to be pretty good. Let's get him down 283 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 1: and just have a chat to him, see what's going on. 284 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: And I came in had a hit with Dylan. 285 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 4: I was terrible. 286 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:14,760 Speaker 1: He was world double one at the time, so he 287 00:14:15,000 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 1: pasted me. I met Francois and Brenda, who used to 288 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 1: be in charge of our department, and yeah, that conversation 289 00:14:22,600 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 1: led to would you like to come in and we'll 290 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,200 Speaker 1: have a chat and see if we can move forward. 291 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:33,040 Speaker 1: And then, yeah, I went from hitting once or twice 292 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:35,560 Speaker 1: a week to being here five days a week with Dylan, 293 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: not having any idea what it was meant to be 294 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: a professional athlete. I mean at the time, I was 295 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: still eating junkford four days a week and doing. 296 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 4: All the wrong things. 297 00:14:44,480 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: And yeah, really really struggled to adapt to that lifestyle. 298 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:56,680 Speaker 1: But huge thanks to Dylan for being there every step 299 00:14:56,680 --> 00:14:58,400 Speaker 1: of the way with me and helping me and pushing me. 300 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:02,640 Speaker 1: And he he's a really good motivated that boy. He 301 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:06,320 Speaker 1: just he knows the right things to stay to get 302 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: me to go. And I mean it was a well 303 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: win twelve months because twelve months later we won a 304 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:12,520 Speaker 1: gold medal at the Paralympics. 305 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 4: So yeah, it was pretty pretty wild. 306 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 2: We will talk more about Rio shortly, but also, you 307 00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:21,400 Speaker 2: won your first singles title international singles title in Korea 308 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 2: in May twenty seventeen. What did that mean for you 309 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 2: at the time. 310 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:29,120 Speaker 1: It was mean a lot because obviously all of my 311 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: success leading up to that had been in the doubles, 312 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: and it was I mean, my first top ten win 313 00:15:37,080 --> 00:15:40,840 Speaker 1: was a few months before that would have been late 314 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: twenty sixteen, and then yeah, I managed to win Korea 315 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: and played some good tennis. And I think I've always 316 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: enjoyed playing doubles more because I enjoy the like partnership. 317 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,280 Speaker 1: And I think I've always been a very negative singles 318 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:00,040 Speaker 1: player in the sense of, like, I get him my 319 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: own head and I'm really negative to myself, and I mean, 320 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,040 Speaker 1: I've been working with a sports like now for six 321 00:16:06,120 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: years and it's still there, but we're starting to get better. 322 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: So yeah, it meant a lot to actually finally get 323 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: out there and get one by myself. I liked being 324 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:17,120 Speaker 1: in Dylan's shadow. 325 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 4: It was nice. 326 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: He was the showtime man and I was the guy 327 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 1: that just sort of did his job and I could. 328 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 4: Go home and go to bed and nobody knew who. 329 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: I was, which I quite enjoy so yeah, but no, 330 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: it was it was cool. I don't really think about 331 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,560 Speaker 1: I guess my titles and stuff like that. I just 332 00:16:37,600 --> 00:16:40,400 Speaker 1: sort of do it because I love it and I 333 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:42,120 Speaker 1: like competing in singles. 334 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 2: You did get to world number three, it was in 335 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:48,640 Speaker 2: sorry twenty twenty two, and you're a Wimbledon singles finalist 336 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 2: the following year. In twenty twenty three. Was that when 337 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 2: you felt like you're playing your best. 338 00:16:52,040 --> 00:16:55,960 Speaker 1: Tennis That week of wimbled and I don't think I've 339 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: played as good ever. I love the grass. I happened 340 00:17:00,040 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 1: to be playing world number two in the semi final, 341 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:08,119 Speaker 1: and I woke up in the morning I felt good. 342 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,240 Speaker 1: And then we got to the tennis. We got to Winmoeden, 343 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: and and the stars aligned. Everything that I wanted to 344 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: go right went right. It was super windy. Sam, who 345 00:17:20,520 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 1: I was playing, doesn't really like slice, so the grass 346 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:24,639 Speaker 1: was perfect for me. 347 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 4: And yeah, I just played really well. 348 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,960 Speaker 1: I ended up hitting I think it was four all 349 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,280 Speaker 1: in the third set, and I hit four drop shots 350 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:38,960 Speaker 1: to win the game to go five four, which I did. 351 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,200 Speaker 1: Don't ask me why I decided to go four job shots, 352 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 1: but I did. 353 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:45,240 Speaker 5: And then I feeling pretty confident. 354 00:17:45,359 --> 00:17:48,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I felt just I feel it's a tournament. 355 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: I'm not sure what it is about winmoured and I 356 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: just love I love the grass. I feel like I 357 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,920 Speaker 1: play well there, so I'm always way more confident leading 358 00:17:57,960 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: into that tournament. I've had really good results of when 359 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: over the years, so yeah, I was playing really well 360 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: and then obviously played Neils Vink in the final and 361 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,879 Speaker 1: I don't think I've played better than I did that 362 00:18:11,000 --> 00:18:15,679 Speaker 1: day and got pasted, like kill me. It was like 363 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: one in love. I'm looking up at his coach at 364 00:18:18,280 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: the end of the first set and he's like, I 365 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 1: know you don't want to hear this from me. Maybe 366 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: you're playing unreal, so keep going, and I'm like, cheers, dude, 367 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: thank you. But yeah, like, it was an awesome experience 368 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 1: to make my maiden single slam final. Unfortunately I haven't 369 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: been able to make another one as of yet. I 370 00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: plan on doing it again, so hopefully we can get there. 371 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: But yeah, it was cool and well number three, I 372 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: just I'd had a good year. I made semi finals 373 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:52,920 Speaker 1: at three slams or two slams in a final at one, 374 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:54,239 Speaker 1: so it was. 375 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was a good year. 376 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 3: If you cast your mind back to Rio and the 377 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:01,200 Speaker 3: gold with Dylan, he said, yeah, being in his shadow 378 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 3: a bit and not minding going under the radar. I 379 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,080 Speaker 3: can't imagine after winning gold in the Paralympics when it's 380 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:09,640 Speaker 3: on TV, you could have really gone under the radar 381 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:11,760 Speaker 3: after that, Like how life changing was it? I mean 382 00:19:11,800 --> 00:19:13,879 Speaker 3: Dylan was already quite famous. I guess but yeah, you 383 00:19:13,960 --> 00:19:16,240 Speaker 3: were both famous for winning that and that A lot 384 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 3: of people watch that here. What was it like for 385 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,080 Speaker 3: your life? Was it quite for your profile or how 386 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 3: life changing? 387 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:21,920 Speaker 2: Was it? 388 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:22,239 Speaker 3: Well? 389 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, definitely. And when I say I was in deadland shadow, 390 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:27,399 Speaker 1: that's not a bad thing. I liked Dylan being the 391 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 1: front man. I was happy to sit back. Dylan always 392 00:19:31,280 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: always made me feel included and made people recognize who 393 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: I was. So my life changed dramatically. I came home 394 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 1: and people knew a name. I was like, what's going on, 395 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:45,680 Speaker 1: Like this is crazy, But it was a perfect storm. 396 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:50,200 Speaker 1: Like we were over there, our match got delayed because 397 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:53,399 Speaker 1: of weather, and then it just so happened that it 398 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,760 Speaker 1: worked out to be perfect time. Back at home, it 399 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: was like eight nine o'clock in the morning. It ended 400 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:01,200 Speaker 1: up being on one at school was watching it. 401 00:20:01,320 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 4: It was crazy. 402 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: I didn't actually realize what we'd achieved until I got home, 403 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: because over there, I was just it's another tournament. Dylan 404 00:20:08,680 --> 00:20:10,640 Speaker 1: was playing singles the next day, so don'torry about the doubles. 405 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 1: Let's focus on Dylan singles and whatnot. I mean, we 406 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: celebrated pretty hard after both, so but yeah, it was 407 00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:23,679 Speaker 1: life changing for me. Because I guess people knew who 408 00:20:23,720 --> 00:20:27,239 Speaker 1: I was, and I wasn't expecting that, like because growing up, 409 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: we didn't see any of that sort of stuff on 410 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:34,199 Speaker 1: the TV. Like back when I was a kid and 411 00:20:34,240 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 1: a teena like a young teenager, you would never have 412 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: seen a person with a disability on TV. And to 413 00:20:40,359 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: have come just from Rio to have your doubles gold 414 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: medal match live on television and you come home and 415 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: everybody's like, oh my god, congratulations, that's so cool. 416 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 4: I'm like, yeah, it's pretty sweet. I want to go 417 00:20:54,800 --> 00:20:56,880 Speaker 4: home now, but yeah, no. 418 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:00,600 Speaker 1: It's it's Yeah. It definitely changed my life. It opened 419 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: up a lot of doors. It gave me a little 420 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: bit of a profile. And I think the success that 421 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:16,160 Speaker 1: we've had over there and moving forward has helped helped 422 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,560 Speaker 1: a lot with I guess pushing boundaries with TA and 423 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: having us on main courts, and I mean, I know, 424 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 1: as I mentioned before, Austrain Open was the first Slam 425 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: to have wheelchair tennis and were the first Slam to 426 00:21:28,119 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 1: have center court matches and with the first Slam to 427 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:35,199 Speaker 1: go to sixteen and like, we're always the first to 428 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 1: do things, so it's really cool and I think that 429 00:21:38,080 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: has a lot to do with the success that we've 430 00:21:41,080 --> 00:21:42,880 Speaker 1: had over the journey, and we have had a lot 431 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: of great wheelchair tennis players, and it's cool to see 432 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,560 Speaker 1: that a little country down at the bottom of the world, 433 00:21:49,960 --> 00:21:53,239 Speaker 1: surrounded by the water, can have so much influence on 434 00:21:53,640 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: sport and just life in general. 435 00:21:55,680 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 3: Our Paralympic medals, for you, bigger than Grand Slam success 436 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 3: or Grand Slain trophies. 437 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 4: Oh, that is that loaded question. 438 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:09,560 Speaker 1: I would have said back in back in twenty sixteen. Yes, 439 00:22:11,880 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: my opinion has changed on that now given that we've 440 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:16,760 Speaker 1: I don't know whether that's just because I've won a 441 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:20,600 Speaker 1: Paralympic medal, but I feel like wheelchair tennis as a 442 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: whole has grown exponentially that I feel like if you 443 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:29,120 Speaker 1: would ask the vast majority of players that play wheelchair 444 00:22:29,160 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: tennis now whether they prefer to win wimbled in Australian Open, 445 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:34,360 Speaker 1: US Open, or French Open or a gold medal, they'd 446 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:39,359 Speaker 1: probably go with the Slam. I definitely would. I feel 447 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: like the slams are the mecca of our tennis, like 448 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:48,000 Speaker 1: the ablebodied versions essentially. So yeah, I don't know if 449 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:51,679 Speaker 1: it's a hot take, but yeah, I'd probably take a 450 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,919 Speaker 1: Windy or an ao over over my gold. 451 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:57,719 Speaker 2: There are so many milestones that we could list in 452 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,560 Speaker 2: your career, doubles world number one, eight straight seasons you 453 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,199 Speaker 2: finished in the year and top ten. You won the 454 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:07,159 Speaker 2: World Team Cup for Australia in twenty sixteen, Order of 455 00:23:07,200 --> 00:23:11,920 Speaker 2: Australian Medal in twenty seventeen. What makes you the most proud. 456 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:21,360 Speaker 1: Probably coming back to the sport giving it, like managing 457 00:23:21,359 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: to get over addiction, probably more so than anything. But 458 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:29,240 Speaker 1: I mean one that stands out to me more than anything, 459 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: and it's not even something that is an achievement on paper. 460 00:23:36,119 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 1: It's I had my first top ten win at Rio 461 00:23:39,520 --> 00:23:42,160 Speaker 1: and the Singles, as I mentioned before, and I think 462 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,600 Speaker 1: that really stands out to me. It's just a milestone 463 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:49,280 Speaker 1: that I'm really happy with. The AOM I actually had 464 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:49,840 Speaker 1: to message to. 465 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:56,920 Speaker 4: On and ask what it was. I didn't know, So, yeah, 466 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:00,639 Speaker 4: I'm just a I don't know. 467 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 1: I'm a normal guy that is very fortunate enough to 468 00:24:03,080 --> 00:24:06,560 Speaker 1: play sport and be somewhat talented at it, I guess. 469 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 4: So. I think all my trophies. 470 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: Get I mean, my girlfriend takes the one she likes 471 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:15,320 Speaker 1: and puts them in the trophy. 472 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:15,480 Speaker 4: Cabinet, but. 473 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,320 Speaker 1: They're up to me, they'd be in the garage hidden. 474 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,960 Speaker 1: I don't show them off for anything. I think I've 475 00:24:21,960 --> 00:24:24,080 Speaker 1: got two photos in my house with me playing tennis, 476 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:26,639 Speaker 1: and that's one with Dylan and one with my doubles 477 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:30,720 Speaker 1: partner Rob when we played in the finals. And I 478 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:32,280 Speaker 1: mean I think there's one of me and Dealing kissing 479 00:24:32,280 --> 00:24:37,359 Speaker 1: a trophy. But yeah, other than that, I just I 480 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: love doing what I do. But I don't necessarily really 481 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:45,640 Speaker 1: think about any of that stuff. I just enjoy being 482 00:24:45,680 --> 00:24:48,240 Speaker 1: out there and competing and hopefully I can keep doing 483 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: it for a while. 484 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:53,240 Speaker 2: I'm I'm really struck by your humility, and I guess, resilience. 485 00:24:53,280 --> 00:24:56,639 Speaker 2: What qualities do you think have been most important in 486 00:24:56,680 --> 00:24:57,199 Speaker 2: your career? 487 00:24:57,720 --> 00:24:58,440 Speaker 4: A resilience? 488 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: I guess just in my life in general, because I 489 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: mean there's been a few curveballs thrown and I think 490 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,200 Speaker 1: you would probably know, and a lot of people here 491 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: would know that I don't like taking no for an answer. 492 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 1: So they say no, I feel like that's just a 493 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:21,160 Speaker 1: just a pathway for them to say yes eventually. So yeah, 494 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,800 Speaker 1: resilience and just I've I mean, I've always been happy 495 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:29,280 Speaker 1: to ask questions and put myself out there, and I 496 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:31,000 Speaker 1: wear my heart on my sleeve. I guess I'm pretty 497 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:34,400 Speaker 1: vulnerable when people talk to me, so I don't try 498 00:25:34,440 --> 00:25:37,840 Speaker 1: and hide who I am or who I was. I 499 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:40,000 Speaker 1: did for a little while there when I first came back, 500 00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:44,440 Speaker 1: but you know, I am who I am today because 501 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:47,280 Speaker 1: of my past and my journey. So and I think 502 00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:50,000 Speaker 1: I have a really good platform and an opportunity to 503 00:25:51,119 --> 00:25:53,920 Speaker 1: tell people that it's okay to have problems and go 504 00:25:54,000 --> 00:25:58,120 Speaker 1: through really hard times and you can still come out 505 00:25:58,119 --> 00:26:01,639 Speaker 1: the other end, because if I and pretty much anyone 506 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 1: can because like as I said, I don't. I didn't 507 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,479 Speaker 1: really have much going for me, and I've somehow managed 508 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: to change my life completely and turn myself into a 509 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:16,120 Speaker 1: professional tennis player and a spokesperson for disability and inclusion. 510 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 5: What could that? 511 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 3: So provided you said you really enjoy it still and 512 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 3: you hope you can stay healthy, what can that professional 513 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:26,520 Speaker 3: tennis player still achieve at this point in their career 514 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 3: or what would you like. 515 00:26:28,240 --> 00:26:31,280 Speaker 4: To I still really want to win a single slam. 516 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:33,200 Speaker 1: I don't know if I'll be able to because Neils 517 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 1: is bloody good, but just I mean, I really want 518 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 1: to make another Paralympics. As I said, I didn't get 519 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:47,160 Speaker 1: to play twenty twenty four because my mom passed away. Well, 520 00:26:47,160 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 1: my mum got put into pallative care the day before 521 00:26:49,440 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 1: I was supposed to leave, So I made the best 522 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,959 Speaker 1: decision for myself and for her to stay home and 523 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:05,480 Speaker 1: miss out. I would love to get to LA And. 524 00:27:05,440 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 4: I mean, I don't know. 525 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:12,320 Speaker 1: I'm still still hanging around that top ten. So I'm 526 00:27:12,320 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 1: still playing good tennis. I'm still going to keep going. Yeah, 527 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,439 Speaker 1: and I'm enjoying it again, which is something that I 528 00:27:18,480 --> 00:27:20,760 Speaker 1: hadn't done in a while. I'd sort of fallen out 529 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:23,680 Speaker 1: of love. I guess it sounds cliche, but I'd fallen 530 00:27:23,680 --> 00:27:25,600 Speaker 1: out of love with it. It became a chore and a job, 531 00:27:27,240 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 1: and I was hated being away from home. I hated 532 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:34,840 Speaker 1: being away from my partner. And then yeah, having that 533 00:27:34,920 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: time off I think really helped me find the love 534 00:27:37,560 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: for it again and really gave me the urge and 535 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 1: the fire to really get back in and try and 536 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 1: try and catch these boys again. 537 00:27:46,280 --> 00:27:49,080 Speaker 2: You've been really open about your journey with mental health. 538 00:27:49,200 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 2: Do you see yourself as an advocate? 539 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,440 Speaker 1: I talk about it a lot more these days because 540 00:27:55,440 --> 00:28:04,280 Speaker 1: I have had my struggles, especially more recent days. But yeah, 541 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I'm happy to talk about it. I think 542 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:11,920 Speaker 1: it's really important to talk about it. I've noticed more 543 00:28:11,960 --> 00:28:13,960 Speaker 1: recently a few tennis players have come out and said 544 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,840 Speaker 1: that they're having struggles with it as well. It's a 545 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,080 Speaker 1: pretty lonely sport that we play. When you think about it. 546 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:22,120 Speaker 1: We're on the road, Like I'm on the road seven 547 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,080 Speaker 1: months of the year, and that's not nothing compared to 548 00:28:24,080 --> 00:28:27,600 Speaker 1: the able body players like they some of them leave 549 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,560 Speaker 1: in February and get back in November, like they're away 550 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:30,960 Speaker 1: from home. 551 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,880 Speaker 4: So yeah, it's a lonely sport. 552 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 1: And I think it I struggled a little bit more 553 00:28:37,320 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 1: and Dylan left because I didn't have a mate troubling 554 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:45,040 Speaker 1: with me all the time. But yeah, it's something that 555 00:28:45,560 --> 00:28:49,520 Speaker 1: I've worked really hard to get better at. And I 556 00:28:49,560 --> 00:28:53,360 Speaker 1: think asking for help. I was a typical, typical male, 557 00:28:54,240 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: like you know, we don't ask for help. It's and 558 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 1: especially with the crowds that I grew up with and 559 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,960 Speaker 1: was a part of. It didn't show weakness, you didn't 560 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:06,040 Speaker 1: say you needed help. You bottled everything up. And then 561 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,960 Speaker 1: I found out one day that it explodes at some 562 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:12,440 Speaker 1: point and it took me a long time to ask 563 00:29:12,520 --> 00:29:14,640 Speaker 1: for help, but I'm really happy that I did ask 564 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: for help, because I didn't, I don't think i'd be 565 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:17,680 Speaker 1: sitting here talking to you guys. 566 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,240 Speaker 4: It was got pretty hairy there for a while. 567 00:29:20,240 --> 00:29:25,480 Speaker 1: But yeah, everybody, everybody that I reached out to and 568 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 1: stuff and. 569 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:28,719 Speaker 4: Were there to support me. 570 00:29:28,800 --> 00:29:33,280 Speaker 1: And I thanked Danniga Shite earlier in my speech downstairs, 571 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:37,600 Speaker 1: because when all this kicked off, I messaged her and 572 00:29:37,680 --> 00:29:39,080 Speaker 1: just said, I, look, I've got to get home, and 573 00:29:39,120 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 1: she's like, yeah, whenever you need sort of thing. And 574 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: we had a bit of a chat and i'd explained 575 00:29:44,840 --> 00:29:46,120 Speaker 1: that I didn't think I was going to come back. 576 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:50,280 Speaker 1: I wasn't sure, and it was the first time in 577 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,400 Speaker 1: my life that somebody from a senior position and a leader. 578 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:57,440 Speaker 4: I guess even after I. 579 00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: Told her that I didn't know what my future was 580 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,440 Speaker 1: and stuff like that, she sat in contact and reached 581 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: out and made sure I was okay and stuff like that. 582 00:30:03,520 --> 00:30:07,040 Speaker 1: So I can't thank her enough and everybody here for 583 00:30:07,280 --> 00:30:09,720 Speaker 1: just being supportive and giving me the time that I needed. 584 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:13,200 Speaker 1: And I guess them staying in contact with me as 585 00:30:13,240 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 1: much as they did probably helped me come back because 586 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 1: I'm like, well, they do care and they do want 587 00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 1: me around. 588 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:23,080 Speaker 4: So yeah, I mean, I don't mind talking about it. 589 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:25,920 Speaker 1: If people want to say that I'm an advocate, I'm 590 00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: more than happy to wear that badge. 591 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:29,160 Speaker 4: Yeah. 592 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:32,080 Speaker 1: I think it's a really important thing and I think 593 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 1: we need to be more vocal about it. And if 594 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:40,520 Speaker 1: you're not, okay, talk to people because it is daunting, 595 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: but it does help. 596 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:44,960 Speaker 3: Hearing you talk about the able body game has been 597 00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:47,520 Speaker 3: really cool as well. You do come across as a 598 00:30:47,520 --> 00:30:51,480 Speaker 3: big tennis fan. One of your tennis memories was being 599 00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:55,360 Speaker 3: in the crowd for the Federer Hewitt's Davis Cup semi 600 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:57,440 Speaker 3: final and under you took it watching Curios in the 601 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 3: Wimbledon quarters against US sorry, Wimbledon fourth round against Rapha 602 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:03,520 Speaker 3: and Roger's your idol. I know you also really like 603 00:31:03,560 --> 00:31:06,800 Speaker 3: Savalinka as well. Yeah, so I guess that must be 604 00:31:06,840 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 3: really cooled in with the wheelchair sport being much closer 605 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 3: to the able body game and more integrated, I guess, yeah, 606 00:31:15,360 --> 00:31:17,520 Speaker 3: you're being a tennis fan. It must be a really 607 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:19,239 Speaker 3: cool time to be part of whelchair sports because it's 608 00:31:19,240 --> 00:31:21,200 Speaker 3: so much closer to the able body game too. 609 00:31:21,440 --> 00:31:22,120 Speaker 4: Well, that's it. 610 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:24,000 Speaker 5: Is that fair to say you are a big tennis fan, 611 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 5: A huge. 612 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 4: Tennis fan, massive tennis fan. 613 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:31,040 Speaker 1: I mean, if you've noticed more recently, Yannick Sinner was 614 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 1: talking about wheelchair tennis in a press conference at the 615 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:37,360 Speaker 1: US Open. I was played a match of the Australian 616 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:39,960 Speaker 1: Open one year and he came in and said he 617 00:31:40,040 --> 00:31:42,840 Speaker 1: played really well, nice win. And I'm like, hold on, 618 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: what are you talking about. He's like, yeah, you played well, 619 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:50,360 Speaker 1: like one and two. Why do you know my scores? 620 00:31:51,400 --> 00:31:55,320 Speaker 1: And it's really cool and it's it's awesome that we 621 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: have the facilities here in Melbourne and around Australia that 622 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:02,040 Speaker 1: we're all together, so we do feel included. Like I'm 623 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,080 Speaker 1: in the gym with TK and with Balty and when 624 00:32:05,120 --> 00:32:09,080 Speaker 1: Omar's around, like we're all here training together and it's 625 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:13,080 Speaker 1: not separate. I mean, yes, we don't hit together, but 626 00:32:13,120 --> 00:32:15,760 Speaker 1: we're all doing the same sort of stuff doing gym. 627 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:16,840 Speaker 4: They're doing gym. 628 00:32:17,120 --> 00:32:20,640 Speaker 1: And props to all the able body plays for making 629 00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:23,400 Speaker 1: us feel welcome and not making us feel excluded or 630 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:26,200 Speaker 1: we shouldn't be around or anything like that. I think 631 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:29,960 Speaker 1: everyone here has done such a great job of making 632 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:31,320 Speaker 1: us all feel welcome. 633 00:32:32,840 --> 00:32:35,880 Speaker 4: And as I said earlier, the Aussie. 634 00:32:35,600 --> 00:32:39,720 Speaker 1: Open taking a shot on some people in whel chess 635 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:42,120 Speaker 1: playing sport, and we're the only sport in the world 636 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 1: that is integrated, which is unreal. I mean AFL, even 637 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:48,720 Speaker 1: though it's only just started, they have certain clubs that 638 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:52,080 Speaker 1: are integrated, but when it comes to the big, big sports, 639 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:56,320 Speaker 1: we are the only sport that are doing integrated events 640 00:32:56,360 --> 00:32:59,160 Speaker 1: and we've come so far and it's just so cool 641 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: to see. I personally believe that wheelshare tennis is the 642 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:05,840 Speaker 1: bigges wheelchair sport in the world and it's not slowing down, 643 00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:06,880 Speaker 1: so it's awesome. 644 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:09,760 Speaker 2: How much has it grown during your time? 645 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 4: So my first ever. 646 00:33:18,320 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: Shane Open back in the day, this is before I 647 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:22,640 Speaker 1: came back, So when I was a junior, when we 648 00:33:22,760 --> 00:33:29,000 Speaker 1: used to play two weeks after five Yeah, there used 649 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:29,920 Speaker 1: to be two weeks after. 650 00:33:30,320 --> 00:33:30,960 Speaker 4: We used to have. 651 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 1: To pay an entry fee, and you fast forward to 652 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 1: now where you have sixteen of the best players in 653 00:33:39,440 --> 00:33:43,040 Speaker 1: the world winning over one hundred thousand dollars. It's crazy. 654 00:33:43,240 --> 00:33:44,800 Speaker 1: I mean, there's still a lot of work to be 655 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: done in our tour because the Grand Slams are the 656 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 1: only time we ever really win lots of prize money 657 00:33:53,280 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 1: or prize money at all really, but yeah, it's come 658 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 1: so far. The games of too you've got guys serving 659 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:05,680 Speaker 1: at one hundred and sixty k an hour and now 660 00:34:05,840 --> 00:34:08,719 Speaker 1: it's crazy. Everyone's hitting the ball on one bounce, they're 661 00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:13,000 Speaker 1: flying around the court and then you've got old guys 662 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 1: like me China hang in there. So it's definitely definitely 663 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:20,720 Speaker 1: gotten way bigger and just the game's. 664 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,560 Speaker 4: Changed with all the racquets and the chairs. 665 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:26,880 Speaker 1: The chairs are crazy now it's I mean my whole 666 00:34:26,880 --> 00:34:31,600 Speaker 1: tennis wheelchair ways, I think six killers, seven killers, which 667 00:34:31,640 --> 00:34:36,399 Speaker 1: is crazy compared to a rugby chairs ways sixteen. Okay, 668 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:39,680 Speaker 1: we've got the technology has just got a lot better, 669 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:43,000 Speaker 1: which has allowed us to play a lot, a lot 670 00:34:43,040 --> 00:34:45,680 Speaker 1: more of a similar game to the able body plays. 671 00:34:45,760 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 3: There's obviously the integration of the summer events before the 672 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:54,120 Speaker 3: Australian opens, so we know that there will be wheelchair 673 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:57,280 Speaker 3: tennis at the Brisbane International, Adelaide International and United Cup 674 00:34:57,680 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 3: in January, which must be Yeah, I guess it's part 675 00:35:00,520 --> 00:35:02,880 Speaker 3: of that, like you know, streamline more integrated to a 676 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 3: next you just for wheelchairs. This is a really cool thing, 677 00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:08,080 Speaker 3: you know, Australia leading the way again. There's a summer 678 00:35:08,120 --> 00:35:11,000 Speaker 3: of tennis, get integrated summer of tennis for wheelchair players. 679 00:35:11,080 --> 00:35:14,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, that'd be great. It's become And this is what 680 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:19,360 Speaker 1: I was saying earlier. I have asked that question for 681 00:35:19,719 --> 00:35:23,440 Speaker 1: six years now. We're going to be there? Are we 682 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 1: going to be there? Are we going to be there? 683 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:27,919 Speaker 1: Are we going to be there? And it's unfortunately we can't. 684 00:35:27,960 --> 00:35:30,279 Speaker 1: Unfortunately we can't. Oh, there's a little bit of time 685 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:32,120 Speaker 1: for an exhibition if you want to come fro an exhibition. 686 00:35:32,840 --> 00:35:34,400 Speaker 1: So we went up to Sydney last year and did 687 00:35:34,440 --> 00:35:38,520 Speaker 1: an exhibition and stuff like that, and working with Daniel O'Neill, 688 00:35:38,560 --> 00:35:42,120 Speaker 1: who is an absolute legend, his tournament director for all 689 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:45,359 Speaker 1: of our Wazzi stuff, And I've been working with him 690 00:35:45,400 --> 00:35:49,799 Speaker 1: closely and probably really annoying him because I just keep 691 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:52,160 Speaker 1: asking him and asking him and asking any news, any news, 692 00:35:52,160 --> 00:35:53,000 Speaker 1: any news. 693 00:35:53,040 --> 00:35:55,040 Speaker 4: And yes, this that's how stuff gets done. 694 00:35:55,040 --> 00:36:00,480 Speaker 1: This coming January, we will be the first country in 695 00:36:00,520 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 1: the world to have three fully inclusive tennis tournaments. So 696 00:36:06,200 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 1: the quads will be at one, the women will be 697 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:10,160 Speaker 1: at one, and the men will be at one. So 698 00:36:10,880 --> 00:36:15,200 Speaker 1: it's unreal and I'm super excited to be a part 699 00:36:15,239 --> 00:36:19,920 Speaker 1: of it and just can't wait to see what happens 700 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:22,200 Speaker 1: after that. I mean, I think on the Wheelchair Tour 701 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:27,480 Speaker 1: next year, there's fourteen fourteen or sixteen integrated events across 702 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:30,279 Speaker 1: the year, so that's pretty crazy. Consideringly you sed to 703 00:36:30,320 --> 00:36:32,520 Speaker 1: have to pay to play in Grand sign. 704 00:36:32,560 --> 00:36:35,000 Speaker 3: Well, that seems like a really great not to finish 705 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:36,840 Speaker 3: on it. It's very exciting one of the bit like 706 00:36:36,840 --> 00:36:38,919 Speaker 3: the Summer of Tennis. Obviously there's lots of great things 707 00:36:38,920 --> 00:36:40,480 Speaker 3: to look forward to, but that's a really kind of 708 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:43,160 Speaker 3: new innovative thing and I think a lot of people 709 00:36:43,400 --> 00:36:45,919 Speaker 3: and it gives people an opportunity to see wheelchair tennis 710 00:36:45,920 --> 00:36:47,600 Speaker 3: in cities that might not have before as well, So 711 00:36:47,640 --> 00:36:49,799 Speaker 3: that's another thing too, just for visibility. 712 00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:50,720 Speaker 4: And not only wheelchair tennis. 713 00:36:50,840 --> 00:36:54,080 Speaker 1: Like this year, I think we've got all bar one 714 00:36:55,080 --> 00:36:58,799 Speaker 1: adaptive tennis events at the Australian Open. 715 00:36:59,320 --> 00:37:01,360 Speaker 4: I mean, standing is the only one that's. 716 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:04,680 Speaker 1: Not here yet, but everything else is and it's all 717 00:37:05,320 --> 00:37:08,480 Speaker 1: all amazing. I remember, over the past couple of years, 718 00:37:08,520 --> 00:37:10,759 Speaker 1: you've obviously had the wheelchair tennis, and you've had the 719 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:13,879 Speaker 1: visually impaired stuff and the ID stuff but they've all 720 00:37:13,920 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 1: been separate all over the grounds, like some's been it 721 00:37:17,040 --> 00:37:19,879 Speaker 1: over at NTC on the eastern side, and then you've 722 00:37:19,880 --> 00:37:22,120 Speaker 1: got some over here. This year, it's all on the 723 00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:24,960 Speaker 1: western side so everyone can see it. 724 00:37:24,960 --> 00:37:26,280 Speaker 4: It's just so cool how far. 725 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:29,759 Speaker 1: We've come and the team that works on all that 726 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:32,919 Speaker 1: shades and Kerry and all of those guys and girls 727 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:36,959 Speaker 1: have just done an amazing job. And I can't wait 728 00:37:37,560 --> 00:37:39,279 Speaker 1: to be here in January. I can't wait to see 729 00:37:39,280 --> 00:37:42,600 Speaker 1: what the AO does. And yeah, I can't wait for 730 00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:46,840 Speaker 1: everyone to come out and just cheer and have a 731 00:37:46,840 --> 00:37:47,359 Speaker 1: great time. 732 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 3: Well, it was an honor to be joined by Heath 733 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:54,520 Speaker 3: for this week's episode, and just it was so great 734 00:37:54,520 --> 00:37:56,840 Speaker 3: to hear his story and how candid and open he 735 00:37:56,960 --> 00:37:58,880 Speaker 3: was with us. And I'm also really looking forward to 736 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:02,520 Speaker 3: seeing how he competes this January and more broadly, this 737 00:38:03,160 --> 00:38:05,520 Speaker 3: new and improved summer of events and the integrated events. 738 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:07,280 Speaker 3: It'll be so exciting to see them unfold. 739 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:09,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, and we wish Heath so much luck in all 740 00:38:09,920 --> 00:38:11,840 Speaker 2: of those events, because I think there are still so 741 00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 2: many things for him to achieve in the sport. 742 00:38:14,000 --> 00:38:14,399 Speaker 4: For sure. 743 00:38:14,840 --> 00:38:16,280 Speaker 5: And we'll be back again next Monday. 744 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:18,440 Speaker 3: With another episode of the sit Down, but in the 745 00:38:18,480 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 3: meantime you can listen to breeze Ave and the team 746 00:38:20,640 --> 00:38:22,000 Speaker 3: this Thursday on the tennis. 747 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:24,920 Speaker 2: Please remember to subscribe to The sit Down so all 748 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:27,440 Speaker 2: our interviews land in your podcast feed, and we'd love 749 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:29,360 Speaker 2: if you could leave us a rating and a review. 750 00:38:29,800 --> 00:38:31,479 Speaker 2: See you next week, mat see them, Viv