1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,440 Speaker 1: Hello and welcome to the sit Down. I'm Viv Christie, 2 00:00:04,440 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: managing editor of Australian Tennis magazine. 3 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 2: And I'm Mattrolop, a writer an editor for ozopen dot com. 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: And Matt, why are we sitting down with Stan Vrinka? 5 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 2: Well, Vive, this was a bit of a first for us, 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,119 Speaker 2: although it wasn't a first for Stan. This was our 7 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:20,040 Speaker 2: first live episode of the Sitdown podcast. We did it 8 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 2: a couple of days ago on the Grand Slam Obile 9 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 2: fan stage where Stan was kind enough to join us 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: and there was a bit of a crowd watching ahead 11 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 2: of his twentieth main draw campaign at the Australian Open, 12 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:32,200 Speaker 2: where he's a wildcard this year. 13 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, and Stan, of course is the AO twenty fourteen 14 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: Men's singles champion, and yeah, that was the start of 15 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,400 Speaker 1: many great things for him. He talks about what this 16 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 1: tournament meant in his career, not just the wins but 17 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: the losses. And yeah, it's also Stan's last Australian Open, 18 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,600 Speaker 1: so he's announced that this will be his retirement season, 19 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: so we are seeing him for the last time as 20 00:00:53,880 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: a playoff. Well, Stan Varinka, thank you for joining us 21 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: on the sit Down. Thank you here at the Australian Open, 22 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: where you first competed in a main draw twenty years ago. 23 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: What do you remember from that time. 24 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:13,720 Speaker 3: It was a long time ago. It was not the 25 00:01:13,760 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 3: same stadium, it was not so many so many court. 26 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 3: I played Quali actually, and it was an amazing experience. 27 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 3: Of course, when you come when you're young and you 28 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 3: come for your first Grandslam, especially in Australia from Europe, 29 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 3: it so far like it's like a big, big travel 30 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 3: and it's like it's the best feeling as a tennis 31 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 3: player to be able to come to player Grandsam. 32 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,199 Speaker 2: You alluded to the fact it's a bit different now 33 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 2: compared to twenty years ago when you were last here. 34 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:42,920 Speaker 2: What do you make of how much the tournament's growing. 35 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 2: I mean it's you know, a few years ago we 36 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:47,800 Speaker 2: probably wouldn't have been doing live podcasts in opening week 37 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:49,600 Speaker 2: with players. So yeah, you've been coming here for two 38 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 2: decades now. What have you made of the tournament's growth. 39 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,320 Speaker 3: Well, I think it's been amazing what Tennis Australia is 40 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,840 Speaker 3: doing here every year. There's something new not only for 41 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 3: the players, but for the fun for the people who's coming. 42 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 3: You can see already the week before the week of 43 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 3: the quality, it's already pack a lot of people. We 44 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:09,160 Speaker 3: as a player enjoy so much to see that, to 45 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 3: see the people coming, the fans in every court, practice court, 46 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:17,919 Speaker 3: and also force the infrastructure like the practice, the fitness side, 47 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,399 Speaker 3: the recovery, everything is like perfect. As a player, that's 48 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 3: what you wish for. 49 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:25,440 Speaker 2: It's good to hear. 50 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: Twenty years on since your maindor JB you have announced 51 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,840 Speaker 1: that this will be your last year on tour, so 52 00:02:33,240 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: this of course makes this your last Australian Open as 53 00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: a player. What are the emotions. 54 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 3: It's so far, they're good. First of all, I'm super 55 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 3: happy that I have the chance to play one more 56 00:02:44,639 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 3: time here. I received the workout from Things Australia from 57 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 3: Correctity tournament director, and I'm really grateful for that because 58 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 3: that's something really special to be able to play one 59 00:02:55,240 --> 00:02:58,440 Speaker 3: more time Austraia and Open. I have so many memories 60 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,919 Speaker 3: from here, from Melbourne, from Australia in general that it's 61 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 3: for sure going to be difficult to live the sports 62 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:08,320 Speaker 3: that I love. I'm passionate about it, but in the 63 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 3: same time, I'm happy with my decision. I'm still playing well. 64 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 3: I'm happy where I am right now and I want 65 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 3: to enjoy that and hopefully win some matches. 66 00:03:17,480 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 2: Let's take you back to the Australian Open that was 67 00:03:20,520 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: such a big part of your career Io twenty fourteen. 68 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 2: You won your first Grand Slam title twelve years ago. 69 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 2: How much did that tournament victory change your career and 70 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 2: change your life? 71 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 3: Yeah, when a Grandsam is always going to be super special, 72 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:37,640 Speaker 3: so of course it's my life. Didn't change too much 73 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 3: because I wasn't young. I was twenty nine years old, 74 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 3: so I was already on the tour more than ten years. 75 00:03:42,800 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 3: So I was already top ten in the bas or 76 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,560 Speaker 3: top fifteen for many years. So I wasn't young, So 77 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 3: it didn't change my life and the way it's in 78 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:52,640 Speaker 3: my life. But as a tennis player, it changed the 79 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 3: way fancy you, the way people see you, and the 80 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 3: way your approach. Also also tournament so it was amazing 81 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 3: step for me to be able to achieve that here 82 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:03,760 Speaker 3: in Australia. 83 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 2: Speaking of that, you were twenty eight when you won 84 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 2: and broak through for that, which is maybe not as usual. 85 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 2: What was it the click for you at that point 86 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 2: in your career after so many years on two already. 87 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 3: Well as a tennis player. There's a lot of pieces 88 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 3: that you need to put together. You need to put 89 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 3: the puzzle together, and we all have different timing. We 90 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 3: all need more time or less time to put them together. 91 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 3: It took me, It took me a long time to 92 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 3: find a way how to be tennis wise at my 93 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 3: top physically also but also montally and putting that together 94 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 3: in one tournament was when it happened here. But actually 95 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 3: one match that really helped me to make that step 96 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 3: was the year before, in twenty thirteen against Novak Djokovic 97 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 3: that I lost twelve ten in the fifth set. It 98 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 3: was really tough loss, but that was the first time 99 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 3: that something clicking me montally, that I start to believe 100 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 3: that I was going to be able to beat them 101 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 3: and that I was going to be able to do 102 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 3: it again and again. And that's what happened the next year. 103 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 2: Yes, And it was also that great US Open semi 104 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 2: final I think you had against him. And so after 105 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: you won the IO in twenty fourteen, you went on 106 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 2: to win French Open the next year, US Open after that, 107 00:05:18,200 --> 00:05:20,160 Speaker 2: and so many highlights in your career. You also want 108 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:23,080 Speaker 2: Olympic gold in Beijing with Roger. You want Davis Cup, 109 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: you got to number three in the world. You carry 110 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 2: the flag for Switzerland at the Olympics. Yes, so there 111 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 2: are a lot of highlights in an incredible career. What's 112 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: your favorite memory. 113 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 3: It's always complicated to choose one favorite memory. I think 114 00:05:37,600 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 3: for me is the journey. I'm super lucky that I 115 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 3: achieved way more that than I could dream of when 116 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 3: I was playing. When I started playing tennis, my dream 117 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:49,840 Speaker 3: was to be a professional tennis player, so to be 118 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 3: top en drot in the world, to be able to 119 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 3: travel the world, to play those Grand Slams. So I 120 00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 3: achieved way more than I could dream So I'm super 121 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 3: lucky with that. But for me, what I take the 122 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,680 Speaker 3: most is that's doing the more than twenty years, I 123 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 3: really enjoyed the journey, Like every year, it doesn't matter 124 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 3: even though or even the difficult moment, even when things 125 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 3: don't click, when you don't get the results. I always 126 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 3: appreciate to be a tennis player because this life is 127 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:18,039 Speaker 3: so special. It's something I dream off when I was young, 128 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:21,760 Speaker 3: and I really I'm really passionate about the sport and 129 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:26,320 Speaker 3: about this life, and I think it's something incredible as 130 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 3: a human to be able to play here in Gwan Slam, 131 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 3: to be on the biggest score, to see all the 132 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,760 Speaker 3: people coming to watch you. This is the emersion that 133 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:35,799 Speaker 3: I will miss the most. 134 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: You were, in many ways the ultimate big match player. 135 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:44,000 Speaker 1: You went on to win Roland Garros in twenty fifteen 136 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 1: in the US Open in twenty sixteen. You had an 137 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 1: amazing record in Grand Slam finals. I think you won 138 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 1: three of the four that you can tested. What made 139 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: you such a what made you so mentally strong in 140 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: those big moments? 141 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:04,000 Speaker 3: I think it's it's the fact that I wasn't so 142 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 3: strong montally the ten years before that was what missing 143 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,000 Speaker 3: for my career to be better, to be better than 144 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 3: ten or to be better than fifteen year world that montally, 145 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:18,200 Speaker 3: I didn't believe I could be the top player. So 146 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 3: I was a good player, really good player to be there, 147 00:07:21,560 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 3: but I was always missing something. And when I start 148 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,800 Speaker 3: to feel this confident in my game and the belief 149 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 3: that I was strong enough physically, tennis wise and montally 150 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 3: to be them, then I really enjoyed it. And as 151 00:07:35,840 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: I said, I was twenty eight, twenty nine and thirty 152 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,000 Speaker 3: two win those times. So I was mature enough to 153 00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 3: really feel like, Okay, now it's my time to be 154 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 3: the best version of myself. 155 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: And fans loved you for all of you for many reasons, 156 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: but especially your one handed backhand. I have to ask 157 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,720 Speaker 1: about that. Where did you learn it was a natural 158 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:00,080 Speaker 1: strike for you? 159 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:00,240 Speaker 2: Now? 160 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 3: I start with two hands back and when I was 161 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:04,679 Speaker 3: I started and it's at eight years old with two hands, 162 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:08,480 Speaker 3: and and my my first coach who helped me from 163 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 3: young and until twenty five, like when I was eleven, 164 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 3: he realized that my back end was not really natural, 165 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 3: so he asked me to change it to one hand 166 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 3: back and then when you're young to change from two 167 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 3: hand to one and it's difficult because you don't have 168 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 3: the same power, you don't have the same you're not 169 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 3: going to win as much young because you change back, 170 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,120 Speaker 3: but it looks way more natural for him. I was 171 00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 3: happy to change it, and that's how it starts. 172 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,559 Speaker 1: What ich were you when you change them? 173 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 3: Eleven? Wow? 174 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: And who who do you think will carry on that 175 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,360 Speaker 1: legacy or will it carry on the one hand. 176 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 3: I think they're always going to be top players with 177 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 3: one end back and for me is one of my 178 00:08:49,120 --> 00:08:52,200 Speaker 3: favorite short to watch like we can see now. One 179 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 3: I really love is Zetti back and his beautiful game 180 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,440 Speaker 3: and it's back and is unbelible so nice to watch. 181 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 2: Well, I which was it if you switched at eleven? 182 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 2: At what age? Was it when you were really comfortable 183 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 2: with hitting it? When you it became like the right 184 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 2: decision to change? Did it take a while? 185 00:09:09,920 --> 00:09:13,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, of course, because again at at that age is 186 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 3: not as powerful, it is difficult so to put the 187 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 3: ball back, but probably around fifteen. 188 00:09:18,920 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 2: Sixteen, Well, it's very good persistence. Then we also wanted 189 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 2: to talk about Swiss tennis. You've just been representing Switzerland 190 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:28,280 Speaker 2: at the United Cup. But for a small country, there 191 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 2: are so many icons that have come from there. So 192 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 2: you've won multiple slams, Hingus Federer, rosse and Benchic both 193 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,960 Speaker 2: one gold medals. Patti Shnedo was top ten. What is 194 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 2: the secret behind Swiss tennis players and the system there 195 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 2: because it produces such incredible players. 196 00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 3: I think there's no secret if it would be so easy, 197 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 3: but yeah, we've been so lucky in Switzerland to have 198 00:09:52,040 --> 00:09:55,839 Speaker 3: so many great champions from the past and every generation 199 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 3: with a champion from women's EIDE or men's side. That 200 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 3: probably help the young generation to want to be part 201 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:07,760 Speaker 3: of this junior of these sports. And it was if 202 00:10:07,800 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 3: you look a bit, it was always individual athletes with 203 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:17,040 Speaker 3: their own private coach and their own private teams that 204 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:21,600 Speaker 3: achieved things. And and I don't know what else to say. 205 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:24,000 Speaker 3: If there was a secret, I will keep it from 206 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:26,680 Speaker 3: is there is no secret. 207 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:32,560 Speaker 1: Your coaching partnership with Magnus Norman, who has also been 208 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 1: a guest on the sit down, it's one of the 209 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:39,120 Speaker 1: most enduring relationships in tennis. What is the secret of 210 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:40,440 Speaker 1: that success? 211 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 3: The mentality? I think we both know that everything comes 212 00:10:45,240 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 3: from from the practice, from the hard work, from from 213 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:53,200 Speaker 3: the dedication, from the long term, long term vision. When 214 00:10:53,240 --> 00:10:57,240 Speaker 3: you arrive on with me was in twenty thirteen, and yeah, 215 00:10:57,280 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 3: we click directly with the mortality. We we know what 216 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 3: we want, we know how to try to achieve it. 217 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:08,960 Speaker 3: We always the goal is always to push ourselves the 218 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,679 Speaker 3: maximum and to try to be the first version of 219 00:11:11,720 --> 00:11:15,000 Speaker 3: a tennis player I can be. And that goes from practice, code, 220 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 3: from everything. And we are close right now since since 221 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 3: many years, and I'm super happy and grateful that he's 222 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:23,720 Speaker 3: still doing this year with me. 223 00:11:24,960 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: Would you consider a coaching career yourself or do you 224 00:11:28,440 --> 00:11:30,439 Speaker 1: have other post tennis plans. 225 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 3: In a short term, I don't think I will be coaching, 226 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 3: But in long term we never know. You know, tennis 227 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:41,200 Speaker 3: will always be my life. It's always something that I 228 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 3: will be passionate about it. And then I love so 229 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 3: much this worle of tennis that for sure I will 230 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 3: be away involved a little bit in tennis. 231 00:11:51,240 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: If you were to consider a coaching career, is there 232 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: anyone on to and now that you would love to coach? 233 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,920 Speaker 3: There's probably many, But I think the good thing to 234 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 3: be still a tennis player is that had the chance 235 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,640 Speaker 3: to face different generations. And that's what I love is 236 00:12:08,679 --> 00:12:11,080 Speaker 3: to see the young one coming, they already at the top, 237 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,240 Speaker 3: and some even younger coming and trying to practice with them. 238 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 3: For me, it's so interesting and it's it's amazing as 239 00:12:16,960 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 3: a tennis player to be able to do that. 240 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,199 Speaker 1: Speaking of young players, is there anyone now that reminds 241 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: you of yourself? 242 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,599 Speaker 3: Not really, not that I can think of, because I 243 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 3: don't look player thinking that's whey. Like I said, I'm 244 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 3: still playing, so I look player to try to learn 245 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,480 Speaker 3: from them, to try to see to try to enjoy 246 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:42,960 Speaker 3: also as a fan. I love to watch tennis in general, 247 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:47,320 Speaker 3: so even when I'm not playing or watching those big tournaments. 248 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 2: Part of your journey has been the fact that you've 249 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:52,319 Speaker 2: had to overcome a lot of surgeries and kind of 250 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:55,160 Speaker 2: physical issues, and in recent years has been knee and fought. 251 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,760 Speaker 2: How's it been to kind of bounce back from that 252 00:12:57,800 --> 00:12:59,720 Speaker 2: aage time and how proud of yourself are you that 253 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,719 Speaker 2: decide you have navigated that and you're playing really good 254 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,720 Speaker 2: tennis at the moment You've started the season with wins 255 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:05,679 Speaker 2: at a really good level. 256 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:06,760 Speaker 1: Yeah. 257 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 3: I think there's two ways of seeing it. One way 258 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 3: is always I always planned the long term, and when 259 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 3: I was younger, like when I arrived on two, I 260 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 3: wasn't playing too much, too many tournaments to make sure, 261 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:24,040 Speaker 3: like I can save my body. I got unlucky because 262 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 3: my first big surgery in the knee was in twenty seventeen, 263 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 3: when I was at my best ranking I was to do 264 00:13:30,280 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 3: in the world, just I was playing my best tennies, 265 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,120 Speaker 3: but I had to this surgery. But the lucky thing 266 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 3: is I was already forty four years old, so I 267 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 3: already had a long care So then you just try 268 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:49,560 Speaker 3: to survive those big surgery, and I'm always someone who 269 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:55,240 Speaker 3: always going to try to come back because my dream 270 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 3: is to not finish on the injury and to finish 271 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 3: it the way I feel like and still be competitive. 272 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 3: So of course, was some really really tough year with 273 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:05,920 Speaker 3: the knee, was the food and all, and was some 274 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 3: tough moment, especially the food. Took me one year to 275 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 3: come back. But I love the sports. I love I 276 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 3: love the process, and I love I love playing tennis. 277 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:19,720 Speaker 3: I enjoyed the emotion I get, I love I love practicing. 278 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 3: So for me last few years, playing some big tournament 279 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:26,320 Speaker 3: but also some lower level tournament challenge is not the problem. 280 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 3: It's the same, like the passion is still there. So 281 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 3: that's that's why I'm still trying to compete. 282 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:36,680 Speaker 1: That actually brings us well to my next question, which 283 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,320 Speaker 1: is about your tattoo. It must be one of the 284 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:43,760 Speaker 1: best known tattoos in tennis. The famous Samuel Beckett quote 285 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: which has ever tried, ever failed, No matter, try again, 286 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: file again, file the file better. Does that kind of 287 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: sum up your career in some ways, given all the 288 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:53,720 Speaker 1: challenges you've overcome. 289 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, of course that's for me. That's that's more just tennis. 290 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:04,160 Speaker 3: That's life in gener like you always have to get back, 291 00:15:04,200 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 3: and in ten especially like even when you're at the 292 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,480 Speaker 3: top of the game, you don't win every tournament. You 293 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 3: always end up losing somehow a match, a tournament, so 294 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,720 Speaker 3: you always need to find positive in the lost. And 295 00:15:17,360 --> 00:15:20,480 Speaker 3: I feel also like when we are young, we don't 296 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 3: teach the young generation enough that losing is not negative. 297 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:28,360 Speaker 3: It's not always bad. It's not you lose, you bad. No, No, 298 00:15:28,400 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 3: you need to learn from it because if you're going 299 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 3: to play tennis, you're going to end up losing a lot, 300 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,240 Speaker 3: a lot of funds, a lot of match, a lot 301 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 3: of tournaments, So you need to find a way out 302 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 3: to stay positive with it. 303 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 2: Speaking of that, how are you feeling about your game 304 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:44,160 Speaker 2: going into the io always starts on Sunday. You're a 305 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 2: wild card into the mind draw. You played you not 306 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: a cup in the lead up? Yeah, what are your goals? 307 00:15:50,000 --> 00:15:51,440 Speaker 2: How are you feeling about where you are with your 308 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 2: game right now? About party? 309 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:56,440 Speaker 3: I yeah, I'm super happy with where i am physically 310 00:15:56,440 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 3: tennis wise, I'm playing well. I'm super happy with the 311 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 3: United car By play five match against top players I 312 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 3: want one lost four in three sets, but the level 313 00:16:05,960 --> 00:16:10,160 Speaker 3: is there, and you know, I'm always been honest with myself. 314 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:12,120 Speaker 3: I'm forty years old, so of course I'm never going 315 00:16:12,200 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 3: to be as good as I was ten years ago, 316 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 3: but I'm trying to push that limit. I'm trying to 317 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 3: push myself to be the best version I can beat today. 318 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 3: And today I feel like when I enter the couurte, 319 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:27,760 Speaker 3: I'm competitive. I feel like I can beat some players. 320 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 3: Probably not all, but I can beat some players. I 321 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 3: entered the court feeling, yes, I can do good things. 322 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 3: So hopefully, like I said, hopefully I can win some 323 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 3: matches here. 324 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,960 Speaker 2: And how was the recovery? As you alluded to, all 325 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:42,720 Speaker 2: of those matches were three sets, five matches in like 326 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 2: a big week to open the season. Had did the 327 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 2: body bounce back? 328 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, the first two to two matches, Well, we're not 329 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 3: easy to treors plus back to backs, so it was 330 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 3: quite tough. But in the same time, for me to 331 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:57,800 Speaker 3: play so so much time on court, to play so 332 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 3: much time at that level, helped me a lot. Of course, 333 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 3: I needed a few days to recover, but it's something 334 00:17:03,400 --> 00:17:06,760 Speaker 3: that my body needed to feel like even better now 335 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:09,960 Speaker 3: because I feel like it's you can practice as much 336 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 3: as you want nothing. Beat the competition, the stress you're 337 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 3: going to have, the body doesn't react the same. So 338 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 3: it was for me an amazing start. And the fans 339 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:20,520 Speaker 3: were were great. We played in Prose, we played in Sydney. 340 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 3: For me, it was such an amazing event. 341 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,119 Speaker 2: And you said, obviously the main priority at IO for 342 00:17:26,240 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 2: you is how you go in your progress. But as 343 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 2: a tennis fan, who else are you looking forward to 344 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 2: watching at the IO? And whom at the fans, who 345 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 2: should they keet the ir for if not you. 346 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 3: I'm a big fan of alcohol, so I love to 347 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:41,440 Speaker 3: watch him. I think what he's doing on the court, 348 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 3: he can do everything. There is always something different coming 349 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 3: from his racket. And yeah, he is a amazing athlete 350 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 3: and amazing tennis player. 351 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 2: Have you hit with him much or practice? 352 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:53,000 Speaker 1: Yeah? 353 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:55,400 Speaker 3: I did last few years we did practice quite a lot. Yeah, 354 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 3: I do enjoy cool Stan. 355 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,840 Speaker 1: When you think of your career in sort of the 356 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,080 Speaker 1: big big picture, what do you think your legacy will be. 357 00:18:06,800 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 2: That you have to tell me what would you like 358 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 2: it to be? 359 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 3: That's I don't know. Someone who never give up, someone 360 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 3: who showed the passion of the sports, someone who showed 361 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 3: the the that dream can be achieved, doesn't matter. That's 362 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 3: a good thing in tennis. There is only there is 363 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:30,119 Speaker 3: not only one way to get winning slams or to 364 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 3: get that you own to the most important thing is 365 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 3: that you enjoy what you're doing. You stay passionate, don't 366 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:38,440 Speaker 3: forget that tennis is a game. Play the game. Enjoy 367 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 3: this this, this, this life because if you want to 368 00:18:41,600 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 3: be a professional tennis player, it's an amazing life to 369 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,000 Speaker 3: be able to come here in Australia to play tennis. 370 00:18:47,040 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 3: So yeah, there's there's it's more into that direction. 371 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:53,560 Speaker 1: And when you sort of look back at twenty year 372 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: old stand making his main row debut here, what advice 373 00:18:56,480 --> 00:18:58,320 Speaker 1: would you give him? 374 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 3: Keep pushing yourself, keep dreaming, keep enjoying that you don't 375 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:08,840 Speaker 3: put any limit, but don't expect too much because that's 376 00:19:08,960 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 3: the way you can do step by step you. 377 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,640 Speaker 2: Entr Is that how you're approaching your final season on tour? 378 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 2: Because yes, every tournament beyond the Io that you go 379 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:19,960 Speaker 2: to will be a farewell in a way, you're saying 380 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:21,679 Speaker 2: goodbye to those tournaments for the last time, so they 381 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,200 Speaker 2: might be emotion but also you do still have ten 382 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 2: or eleven months of the season left. To play, so 383 00:19:26,200 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 2: kind of how are you approaching it? 384 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 3: Yeah, A year is long, so there's a lot of 385 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 3: tennis to play, hopefully, and like I said, I'm not 386 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,439 Speaker 3: coming to my last year just to say goodbye and 387 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 3: to play this tournament. I'm coming here as I'm a competitor. 388 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 3: I want to win as much as possible. I would 389 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 3: love to finish my care in the top unders in 390 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,200 Speaker 3: the world at the end of the season, so that's 391 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,639 Speaker 3: mean I need to win matches. I also want going 392 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 3: to play some challenges or some different kind of level 393 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 3: of tournament because at the end, I want to do 394 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 3: a full year and the best possible I can at 395 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 3: my age where I am right now. So that's my mindset. 396 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 3: I know that's when I'm going to lose here. It's 397 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 3: going to be difficult and I'm going to be sad 398 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,680 Speaker 3: because I will realize it was my last time here 399 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:12,840 Speaker 3: in Australia. But I enjoyed it so much the past 400 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 3: twenty years that I'm super grateful to still be here. 401 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 2: Doubles or mixed doubles. If you want to keep playing here, 402 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 2: could you do that too? No? No, I think before 403 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 2: we wrap up, we've got a little presentation for you. 404 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:32,560 Speaker 1: Yes, so, Stan, when you won the Astrain Open in 405 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen, this is the magazine that we produced at 406 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: the time, so I guess, so, yeah, what's it like 407 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: when you sort of look back on that. 408 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:45,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was amazing night, amazing memories of course, like 409 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:51,840 Speaker 3: winning a slams it's so special. It's ultimate goal you 410 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:55,080 Speaker 3: can have in tennis. That's the biggest tournament you want 411 00:20:55,119 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 3: to win and you can win. And I feel like, 412 00:20:58,000 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 3: like I said, I was twenty eight at that time, 413 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 3: so I wasn't young on the tour. So the emotion 414 00:21:03,160 --> 00:21:05,760 Speaker 3: I got when I won the Slam, it's all the 415 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:11,480 Speaker 3: memories was from the past twenty years, the practice, the sacrifice, 416 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 3: the discipline and everything you went through to write and 417 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 3: to achieve that. 418 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: Well, you've brought us so many wonderful memories here in 419 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: Melbourne and all around the world, and yeah, including today. 420 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 1: So thank you for joining us so much on the 421 00:21:25,119 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: sit down. 422 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,280 Speaker 3: Thank you very much, Thanks An, thank you, thank you 423 00:21:28,359 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 3: very much. 424 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 1: Well, Vif. 425 00:21:33,640 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 2: That was awesome to be joined by Stan in a 426 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,200 Speaker 2: slightly different setting for us. We're looking forward to seeing 427 00:21:38,280 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 2: him play against Laslo Jerre in the first round and 428 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 2: it's exactly twenty years on from when he played his 429 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:44,000 Speaker 2: first day O Mangel. 430 00:21:44,160 --> 00:21:46,000 Speaker 1: Yeah. We wish him all the best in what will 431 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: be a very special appearance for him, and we'll be 432 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:51,440 Speaker 1: back soon with another episode of the sit Down and 433 00:21:51,520 --> 00:21:53,920 Speaker 1: we have been very busy and already have some very 434 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 1: exciting guests ahead. 435 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,200 Speaker 2: While we're not on the air, you can also tune 436 00:21:57,200 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 2: into our new podcast pod labor Arena, which is on 437 00:21:59,800 --> 00:22:02,400 Speaker 2: every day during the Australian Open and hosted by Mike 438 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 2: and Lizzie. You can find that wherever you get your podcasts, 439 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 2: as you can for the sit Down and we look 440 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 2: forward to seeing you again soon. 441 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: See y soon, ma'am.