Hey guys, it's Jake here from the High Performance Podcast. We're currently sponsored by Salesforce. Running a business means there's always more work than time or people to do it. But what if your workforce had no limits? That's where Salesforce's AI solution, AgentForce, comes in. AgentForce combines human intelligence and AI-powered agents to handle tasks.
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Three, slow it down. Two. Unlike your new fitness regime, Moneypenny does all the heavy lifting for you. We're experts in looking after calls, chats and more for businesses just like yours. Right, same time tomorrow. Yeah. Keep your business fighting fit with happier customers and more time to focus on growth. Go on, we'll spot you. Visit moneypenny.co.uk today. Bye.
Hi, this is Billie Jean King. This is Marion Bartotti. This is Bianca Andreescu. I'm Mats Villander. This is Mary Carrillo. This is Pam Schreiber. This is Yannick Noah, and you're listening to The Tennis Podcast. Well, hello and welcome to the tennis podcast on day eight of the Australian Open here in Melbourne, where it has been an absolute...
Gorcha today we come to you in part one five minutes before 7pm so the night session shortly to get underway we are in the lobby of the media centre with glorious air conditioning and we'll be covering the night session and all of the men's matches in parts two and three. We're able to cover the women's matches in part one today because the schedule has put all of the women's matches on first, followed by all of the men's matches.
across the three main show courts. And I referenced that yesterday in part three when we were looking ahead to today's schedule. We've had Pam Shriver. tweet about it she tweeted yesterday when the schedule came out what's going on with the AO scheduling is it a race to get women's matches out of the way as early as possible on all courts and as a result of Pam Shriver tweeting that the
The issue, the situation was put to a number of the players today after their matches. I saw Paola Badosa being asked about it. I saw Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova being asked about it. And honestly, the responses that I've seen have been... incredibly demoralizing. These women are institutionalized, quite frankly. Women can be misogynist too. It's a situation of such deeply entrenched... patriarchy that it really doesn't surprise me that that that
The victims of it don't really realise that they are victims of it. If you ask these players, do you think women should be getting equal prize money as men on the tour, they'd say, yeah, women should probably be getting more prize money. You know, not necessarily seeing the link between this kind of scheduling and women not being valued financially in the same way as men within the sport.
I try not to get too angry about it, David, but it's been a bit of a struggle today, quite honestly. Their response seems to always be couched in terms of their personal preference to play. at a certain time of the day because that aids their recovery or the rhythm of their own day, which I understand, but I really do wonder whether they consider at all, whether they think at all about...
what the schedule is saying to the world. And it's very clearly saying to the world, let's get the women out of the way and get on with the men. And I just feel as though...
I hope somebody's saying that to them. And if they disagree with it, OK. But I really hope somebody's saying it to them. It's such an education process. So as I say, it's such deep unconscious bias that, you know, that can take... quite a long time to figure out and I try and you know I try and be patient and graceful with that because you know I cast my mind back to to younger me that didn't have experience of the world and i probably wouldn't have got it either um it's it's yeah
Living life has been an eye-open experience, I guess, and tennis is a very sheltered world, but it has been a demoralising feature of today, which, let's get this, let's get... out in front of this, it's been a bit of a demoralising day, hasn't it? Yeah, it can only get better from here. And I mean, listen, that's... That's not the fault of really any of these players. I think it is circumstantial. We've had one very good set.
And I think that's it, quite honestly. Everybody else has either been physically compromised or... It's just ended up being one-sided and not very exciting. But, you know, it goes like that sometimes. Matt, you got to watch that one very good set. It was the first set of Coco Gauff defeating Belinda Bencic, coming back 5-7.
6-2, 6-1. Tell us about it because I missed it. It was a really good set. Both players playing... very very well and I think you know in Belinda Benchik's case there is still this fascination that she's playing so well so soon after coming back and You know, her level in that first set today, particularly the end of it, where she just kept applying pressure to the Coco Goff serve and the Coco Goff game and ended up taking it.
was so high. And I think what was particularly interesting was that she was winning the long rallies. You know, 10 of 14 rallies lasting over nine shots in that first set went Belinda Bencic's way. tells you how sort of stable she was with her ground strokes and yeah like she was absolutely brilliant in that in that first set and So much so that I really did think for a little moment there that the upset watch was on, you know, like, because Ben Shix was playing so well.
striking the ball on return, changing the direction with both of her ground strokes, steady but assertive, just really, really good. I started thinking about the best players on the WTA Tour. who have never won a major. You know, it was that good, that level of tennis from Ben Chicks. I was having those sorts of thoughts. Not necessarily that she's going to win this major, but I just started thinking, well, this tennis is...
He's going toe-to-toe with Coco Goff, who I thought was playing pretty well herself in that first set, and it was coming out on top. There was then the next two sets, which weren't as compelling. For a couple of reasons, I think Coco Goff got way more aggressive and just cut out those long rallies that she was losing and shortened the points and upped her first serve speed and just generally took control of the match. I think part of that was to do with the heat, really. She said...
just now in her press conference to me, Coco Goff, that she actually felt like the heat was helping Bencic in the first set because it was making the court faster and therefore she was able to take Goff's time away. But I think as the match went on...
the heat started to become a factor in terms of how the players were feeling physically. And, I mean, Coco Gauff makes you... feel like it hasn't been a hot day you know I was I was I was sitting on the Rod Laver arena sweating in the shade it was definitely a hot day and yet
She said today was a blessing with the weather because she is used to training in Florida. And she says, you know, when she trains in Florida, she sometimes can't hit four hands cross court for more than five minutes. It is that hot and that... gruelling and she'll sometimes do track sessions in that heat
And she's just so ready and prepared for conditions like this. And she didn't fade at all in this match. In fact, she arguably got stronger as it went on. And Benchik had moments. She had moments of that first set level. the rest of the match but couldn't quite sustain it and and goff
Personally, I think this was Goff's best performance of the tournament so far, even though she actually lost the set. I thought her level towards the end, she was crunching returns, she was hitting with conviction, moving well. I thought this was a really, really good Coco Goff performance. the best this tournament, even though she lost the set, and probably the closest it's been to the brilliant form at the United Cup. So a really, really positive day for Coco Goff, I think.
Without having seen much of this match, just looking at that scoreline, it strikes me that that scoreline, or a version of that scoreline, is the definitive Coco Goff scoreline. Lose a tight set. and then come back and win fairly comfortably in the end because she knows if she can make it close in the first set.
She's going to get better as the match goes on, especially if the conditions are remotely physically gruelling and her opponent is likely to get worse or at least be unable to sustain the first set. the first set level. You think about that match she played against Mirandreva at the French Open a couple of years ago. I felt like that was the match we really learned that about her, David. Yeah, not only learned it by watching it, but learned it by listening to her.
The way she spoke about it in the Encores interview, she just let us in. That I lost the set, but it won me the match, that set. And actually... An extension of that, I think what's happened to her and Irina Sabalenka in the previous round is they've played themselves into form. I think...
First couple of rounds for both players, I was thinking, crikey, this isn't what I was expecting. I thought they were just going to race away to their semi-final meeting without any fuss whatsoever. No loss sets, no concerns. And that wasn't the case. But the moment that Irina Sabalenka beat Clara Towson in a very close, hard-hitting, clean-hitting match, she was a different player.
We'll come on to how she got on today. This was Coco Goff's turn, I think, as Matt was saying. And actually, if you think back to yesterday, to Taylor Fritz, who had barely lost games on the way to his match with Gal Monfils. Maybe that was a problem. Maybe if he'd have had a bit more time on the court and a bit more of those edgy moments that he experienced yesterday, maybe he might have come out on top in a couple of them. It's not always like that, but I think...
I think a lot of the time top players want to feel their senses heightened in the heat of competition and battle. And they need to get through it, obviously. And I dare say if Fritz had won yesterday, he might have been more dangerous than if he'd have won straightforwardly in the next round. But yeah, I think Sabalenka and Goff are right where they need to be now. We've had some interesting things written by winning players on camera.
lenses today. Coco Gough wrote RIP TikTok USA Blimey She's really into TikTok isn't she? She uses that a lot I mean she's 21 So, like, of course. Yeah, she said she thought she'd be able to at least use it here in Australia, but she went on it after the match, and maybe something to do with her phone number being a US number, she couldn't get on it. She said, it's going to force me to read more books.
Make me a more productive human. But I hope it comes back, she said. Yeah, I suspect Savalenka will be asked about the TikTok ban. Yeah, she's been asked in a couple of her press conferences about it. by it. Yeah. Yeah. In the quarterfinals, Coco Goff will face Paola Bedossa. She beat Olga Danilovic 6-1, 7-6. David, you watched much of this match. Tell us about it. Well, I think Barossa was impressive.
First set, she just sort of jumped on Danilovic, who played nothing like she played in the previous round, where she was so good against Jessica Bagula. But she found her form in the second set. And when she starts... middle in the ball I mean she can
kind of hurt anybody in the world she was knocking lumps out of Barossa from the back of the court for a three game stretch and it looked like she was going to level this match she was five two ahead and then suddenly you could see her tighten and I think maybe maybe the margins of
her game are such that you you can't really keep that up against the very top players unless you're just having a worldy of a day um and she gradually got reeled in it went to a tie break and but also just totally dominated the tie break and this is the first time that Bados has got to the stage of the Australian Open and I think she feels it's long overdue because these conditions, this court really suits her game in her view and finally she's figured out how to
compete at her best at it I mean she did say I was really nervous before the match and I asked her well how does that manifest itself and and and when did it go away and she said well it's it's always during the warm-up you know you've you've got the sense that she feels pretty wobbly during the warm-up and she says it never really goes away but i'm honest about it
it and I tell my team it helps me by talking to them and saying that I'm really nervous and then I've just got to move my feet it's all about movement for her to get over that and I was very impressed and her record Catherine against Coco Goff is
is a really interesting one. I mean, she's had wins. Yeah, three and three in the head-to-head. Goff won their most recent meeting, but it was close. You know, Bedossa played her really tough that day. 6-2 in the third it was to Coco Goff, and Bedossa referenced. that much today in her press conference. Coco Goff got the time before that on clay in Rome, but Bedos has beaten her.
on hard courts before, fairly handily on hard courts before. So there's enough there in the head-to-head and their recent... for Bedossa to get her teeth into in terms of confidence and I think coming up with a game plan for that match. She was asked by... Charlie Eccleshire of The Athletic in her press conference that you were in, David Bedos' press conference, about the match that she played against Emma Navarro, the quarterfinal of the US Open last year.
asked very delicately by Charlie whether there would be any scar tissue from that match and the manner in which she lost it, which was... A bit of a collapse, really. And she said definitively no. She said, that won't be on my mind. And I've no doubt it won't be on her mind. You know, she'll be working very hard for that not to be on her mind. But I just... It'll be on my mind. It'll be on my mind and I think it'll be in her bones. That's how scar tissue works.
And just because it won't necessarily be present in her consciousness doesn't mean it's not in her subconscious. And I really do worry about the scar tissue with that. defeat if she is able to get into some sort of winning situation or make this make this close I suppose it
probably plays in her favour that this feels like less of an opportunity than playing Emma Navarro in the quarterfinals. You know, Coco Goff will be the heavy favourite, but yeah, it'll certainly be on... be on my mind and you know what i think it's impossible for her to escape it if she gets into a winning position i don't think she can expect not to feel nervous i think the important thing is she's aware of it
And she's just got to go through it. I mean, there is no shortcut. And if she gets through a situation like that, maybe that will help for the future. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So golf against Bedosa in the second quarter. In the top quarter, it's going to be Irina Sabalenka against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. We'll talk about...
Pavlyuchenkova and her match with Donna Vekic shortly I kind of want to put that off for as long as possible quite frankly but I I kind of also want to put off talking about Sabalenka's defeat of Andreeva, 6-1, 6-1, for other reasons, because while both players were physically fit here, it was awful. Matt, this was a bad tennis match. Yeah, nothing else to say. Let's move on. No, I mean, it really was. I think I really feel for Mira Andreva here because...
She's having to do a really tough thing, which is constantly playing the best player in the world. when going through a developmental phase of her career. You know, and... It's a match which I think generally is going to present match-up problems for her. But when you've got them at kind of... opposite ends of their career right now Sabalenka at her absolute peak and Andreeva obviously a very good player but developing and trying to improve
It just creates a real, real mismatch. Obviously, the only time Andreeva did manage to beat Sabalenka was at the French Open last year when Sabalenka was very clearly ill in that match. And even then, it wasn't... It wasn't that one-sided in Andreeva's favour. Sabalenka still had chances to win that. So this one... I think Andreva's confidence in this match-up is so low that she needs a reward in it extremely early in the match to actually get into it.
She didn't get it. Sabalenka races out into a lead. And from there, honestly, Andreeva's... Body language wasn't good. She was missing balls that she should make. And it was just a very, very one-sided match in Sabalenka's favour. Andreeva did have a break point.
back in that second set to try and get it back on terms but missed the forehand down the line and yeah she's just in this slight in-between zone in her game right now trying to get more aggressive and develop a bit more power which will help her I'm sure but sort of fundamentally is a great baseliner still and a great counter puncture and an intelligent player but she's trying to mix these things in and she just...
Gets a bit exposed, I think, when she comes up against a player as complete and as confident as Sabalenka right now. Yeah, so honestly, it was very one-sided, very vibeless on the Rod Laver arena, first up. with nothing for anyone to really get their teeth into in this match. And that said, I do think, as David pointed out, San Blanco came out playing well from the start here, which she hadn't always done in her matches. I do think getting over the line in that.
tough one against Towson has definitely helped play her into a bit more form. So yeah, like... that's the last I will ever speak of this match. Just a final line on it, Mira Andreva came out to play a doubles match with Diana Schneider very shortly afterwards, and I was...
I was worried, quite frankly. And they won it. And they beat Irani and Paolini over on the John Kane Arena. And that's just really cool, isn't it? She gets to end today with a positive winning... feeling definitely and I've heard I've heard other players say that doubles can work well in that sense in terms of helping you move on from singles losses
And it's big for Andreva and Schneider. That is Olympic gold medal match revenge. They lost that one and now they've managed to flip the score. Yeah, tough 24 hours for Paolini. But Schneider and Andreva, as I said earlier in the week, committed to playing together this year. And I think that's going to be really good for them. I reckon Paolini has dealt with...
Two losses in 24 hours better than 17-year-old Mira Androva might just at the moment. I think Conchita Martinez might have had a tough evening if Androva had lost both. Probably going to have quite a challenging evening. even so. So Sabalenka, the top seed, through to the quarterfinals where she will face Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, the oldest woman left in the draw. That was the case before the match today. It's still the case after the match today.
She's not that old. She's only 32, but there's a lot of talk about how old she is, including from Pavlyuchenkova herself, which we'll come on to. In terms of the match, I commentated on this match. It had everything. in the first set. It was such a high level first set and I was almost a bit surprised by that because matches between two players of this kind can be quite ugly. They were both teeing off right from the word go and they were both hit.
it so sweetly it was lovely tennis David and just intense right from the word go yeah that was my sense I felt Ever since watching Pavlichenkova a couple of days ago, her game is just beautifully calibrated at the moment. Everything's coming out of the sweet spot.
But Donovekic has been improving round upon round, and we know what a sledgehammer forehand she's got. We know what a fighter she is. I mean, those were horrible conditions out there. I always felt that whoever wins the first set wins the match. Because it was such a physical contest. It was over an hour long. It was a really close set back and forth. Both players having chances and hanging on until it went to the tie break. And then...
Something happened physically to Donna Vekic. I think there might have been something a little bit earlier in the set with the knee. Yeah, look, not something I picked up on at the time, obviously. So we go into this first set tiebreak, six games all. It had felt like the set was heading for a tiebreak the whole time. It felt like it was building and building and building and there was going to be an eruption. in the tie break I was so pumped and then first point of the tie break
Donovekic pulls up very dramatically and is gesturing towards her right knee and it instantly becomes clear. This was a reverse one-point slam situation. This went from 100 to 0. It really did. All the air got sucked out of the John Kane arena. It was instantly clear that the match was very likely over.
quite frankly um it went from on a knife edge to foregone conclusion like that so at that point the the director and and the gallery team start going through footage from kind of the preceding few games to try and see any hint of her gesturing towards the knee and there was just something in the 4-3 game where she kind of looked down and tapped the knee but
as I say, wasn't something we picked up on at the time and her movement remained okay up until the tie break when she pulled up incredibly dramatically, played on, lost that tie break to love, got treatment at the end of the set. probably should have retired. I hope she hasn't done herself any more lasting damage by not retiring. I know it's just not in her DNA to do that. She will not lie down.
And on one hand, I respect that. On another hand, I worry about celebrating that kind of thing. It's okay. It's okay to stop if you're injured. It was tough. It was tough watching her struggle through that just so she could have a handshake. And all credit to Pavlyuchenkova. Having commentated on a match yesterday where somebody absolutely lost their mind in the face of an injured opponent. She played a smart match and it was ruthless at times. She took some pace off the serve to hit.
really angled wide serves on the juice court because Donovekic could not stretch out on the forehand wing. It was clever from Pavlyuchenkova. She is, you know, she's now in the category of widely experienced. opponent isn't she and uh she wrote on the camera after her match uh too old but keeping going she's 32
But she's been around a long time, hasn't she? She has. She was a teen phenom. Prodigious teenager. She won all the... I remember her winning this junior title and she was just, you know... Mopping them up, really. I think she won three Junior Slams in one year, in one season. And...
Look, I haven't really thought a lot about her in recent years. She reached that French Open final and lost to Barbara Krachikovic. But in recent times, she hasn't been a factor. But she's playing the sword of tennis. that might match up quite well with Sabalenka. What I mean by that is pace doesn't worry her in itself because she's such a sweet ball striker. So...
If she can keep that up, we've seen a couple of examples of that over this fortnight. If somebody's just in form and he's seeing the ball big... It doesn't matter how hard it comes at you. You can maybe do something with it. You can maybe even turn it back on the opponents. Towson did a bit of that with Sabalenka. So I wouldn't...
Call that a foregone conclusion. She's got a 2-1 head-to-head against Irina Sabalenka, just Pavlyuchenkova. She didn't know about that and she doesn't care. Is my takeaway from her post-match. press conference um but that's kind of in keeping with her approach to the sport now like she's she's
kind of taking the foot off the pedal a bit. She basically said, I hate pre-season. I decided this time around to not put everything into... pre-season and try a more relaxed approach to preparing for the year and more relaxed mind mindset and just kind of be a bit more see what happens about it and that well if she's fit enough
as a result of that, then her game is not the kind that needs a million reps. It's just there. I think that's very true. It's her ninth Grand Slam quarterfinal and her fourth here. We associate her with that. run to the French Open final, which is obviously amazing in 2021. But this has been her most successful slam by far, taking that out of the equation.
I think she'll be up for it. It was interesting, her team, who were sat on the court, both teams are on the court today, they stood up and demonstratively cheered her on, arms in the air, after every single point.
From the first point of this match, they must be exhausted. They're basically doing squats for an hour and a half. Isn't it interesting the different approaches of support teams and actually what a player needs? Some people really... need somebody calm on the sidelines just that that they can get their own kind of heart rate down a bit others need that
almost kind of somebody on their case constant reminder you've got to keep going this is the way and and maybe she's such a relaxed character maybe she needs that sort of person that's that's there geeing her up all the time
Yeah, I'd be surprised, famous last words here, but I'd be surprised if Sabalenka Pavlyuchenkova was a washout. Yeah, me too. I think she can make that, at the very least, competitive. And in terms of Donna Vekic, I... I desperately hope that she is okay and that's not done any lasting damage because, yeah, she, for a set, she continued to be one of the best shows in tennis today. Oof, I was excited, excited, excited.
It was a shame to see the match end that way. OK, that's it for the women's matches. We'll talk about the men's in part two. We're off to watch Novak Djokovic. Look at him go. He's a quality striker. No, not him. The electrician fixing those lights. Wow. Is he? Yes, he uses QuickBooks to prepare for self-assessment. This is truly game-changing.
Use QuickBooks year round to ensure your income tax return is shock free. That's how you business differently. Intuit QuickBooks. Hey guys, it's Jake here from the High Performance Podcast. We're currently sponsored by Salesforce. Running a business means there's always more work than time or people to do it. But what if your workforce had no limits? That's where Salesforce's AI solution, AgentForce, comes in. AgentForce combines human intelligence and AI-powered agents to handle tasks.
support your team and deliver exceptional customer service 24-7. It's like having an extra set of hands, helping businesses expand their workforce and focus on what really matters. Search Salesforce Agent Force to learn more. Agent Force. What AI was meant to be. Come on now, John. Let's really feel the burn on this one. Give me five more. Okay, four. Three. Slow it down. Two.
Unlike your new fitness regime, Moneypenny does all the heavy lifting for you. We're experts in looking after calls, chats and more for businesses just like yours. Right, same time tomorrow. Yeah. Keep your business fighting fit with happier customers and more time to focus on growth. Go on, we'll spot you. Visit moneypenny.co.uk today.
Welcome back to part two of the tennis podcast where it is now 20 past 11 in the evening and you find myself, Matt and David exactly where you found us a couple of nights ago which is outside just outside the media centre. in the foothills of the Rod Laver Arena and a few metres away from the Channel 9 Wide World of Sports studio, which...
It is a coincidence, but it's also a pretty appropriate place for us to be recording this segment of the show, because after a pretty routine 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory over Yuri Lahechka tonight on the race... Rod Laver Arena for Novak Djokovic, something very much not routine happened. Jim Currier, who we're thrilled to see, has now made it to the Australian Open after staying home.
in LA last week because of everything that was going on with the wildfire devastation there last week. He's in Australia. He's been doing post-match interviews as we've... come to expect and enjoy at this tournament over the years. He's there waiting to do the post-match interview with Novak Djokovic and instead what happens is Djokovic takes the microphone, thanks the fans for coming and walks off court.
which is very much not routine, and everybody is left feeling slightly bemused and befuddled. We then... anxiously await a press time so we can try and find out from Novak Djokovic what might be going on and shortly after that in fact Novak Djokovic it is announced is making his way to the press conference room and once he gets there he makes a statement. He says,
I'd like to clarify the reason why the interview is not conducted on the court. He says a couple of days ago, the famous sports journalist who works for the official broadcaster Channel 9 here in Australia made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive...
of comments towards me and since then he chose not to issue any public apology. Neither did Channel 9 so since they're the official broadcasters I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9. I have nothing against Jim Currier. and neither the Australian public. It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today. It's unfortunate I chose to say something to the crowd, but obviously it wasn't the time and the space or situation for me to explain what I was doing.
I'll leave it to Channel 9 to handle this the way they see fit. And that's all. And he was asked whether this would be an ongoing stance with Channel 9 and on-call interviews. And he said, yes, it would be.
Now many of you will... have seen the the clip that he's referring to which has uh gone viral in the last couple of days for those that haven't i'll do my best to describe it um tony jones tj uh who hosts the morning and early afternoon coverage of the tennis on channel nine um he is hosting a piece
with some Serbian fans in the background, I think building up to a Novak Djokovic match, giving it some hype. The Serbian fans were invited to gather and chant in the background and then Toby Jones turns around and... It kind of gives it back to them in a rather silly way. way he he says welcome back to Melbourne Park where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans in full voice the chants are quite extraordinary and then he kind of goes in like a school ground way he says Novak's overrated
Novak's a has-been, Novak, kick him out. And then he adds, I'm glad they can't hear me. So that is what Novak Djokovic was referring to.
is the reason he has taken his stance. Just one thing to add before I go to David and Matt to try and react to this, a story that we weren't exactly expecting to be covering on an otherwise... pretty forgettable day at Melbourne Park which is that David waited after the press conference to speak to the Serbian journalist Sasha Osmo for any background that he had on the story and he
has informed us that, in fact, Tony Jones has issued somewhat of an apology for what happened on air. He said to Sasha Osmo, and this is reported on his website, sports club he said unfortunately my humour in inverted commas the other night was misinterpreted as an attack on Novak that was certainly not the case I've been joking with Serbian fans throughout the tournament and this is at least I thought so a continuation
of that if you watch our morning show you'll get an idea of how we work at no point did i mean to show any disrespect to novak and i apologize there was certainly no intention to offend him now Those quotes have been out there today, so before... What unfolded tonight unfolded on the Radlaver Arena in the press conference room. What we haven't been able to establish is whether Novak Djokovic was aware of that apology from...
Tony Jones and if he wasn't aware whether reading those quotes changes anything in his stance maybe maybe there'll be developments um on that front over over the next few hours but we are where we are David! How would you summarise where we are? Well, I mean, it was the most boring match I've seen in a long time. It was so uneventful, Novak Djokovic beating Yuri Lehechka in straight sets. In fact, the whole day has been largely forgettable.
And I would have to say it is quite Novak Djokovician to end up having...
a talking point that we're leading the coverage with, which has absolutely nothing to do with the match. I mean, this is not something that is that unusual. The actual... type of controversy that has been generated here really is out of the blue and does seem... surprising to me initially you know i i read these quotes earlier on in the day i saw that he'd apologize i i kind of thought nothing of it really i thought yeah okay i mean i think maybe i
It's easy to underestimate just how fragile the peace is, if you like, between Novak Djokovic and the Australian Open in Australia, given he was deported from this country, what was it, two or three years ago. He has always said, I've moved on. I'm not bothered by that anymore. But I suspect that it didn't take much for those memories to come back and for him to feel disrespected. And he's listened.
or seen or read about this clip and has taken the view that he is being disrespected and the fans that were there were being mocked. It probably wasn't the greatest idea from TJ in the context of that relationship that I've just described from the past three years. I can understand why it might kick off.
But, I mean, it feels a bit of a storm in a teacup to me. So I think what we will probably find out is that TJ is saying a version of what he's just... what you've just read out there on tomorrow morning's coverage and it may well be that Djokovic's view is, yes, OK, he might have said that in a statement in response to Sports Club. I want to hear that on Channel 9's coverage. That might be what he's after.
But he was really fuming. I mean, you know, you might be listening to it as podcasters and thinking, really, what is the fuss? It's just a bit of fun. Why can't you take a joke? Honestly, I don't think... Serbian tennis fans and Novak Djokovic fans, when it comes to Novak Djokovic, can really take a joke. If they regard it in any way as disrespecting him. But I think from Djokovic's mindset, he was really pissed off tonight.
I've been coming here for 22 years. I've never seen a single player turn down an on-court interview. request from Jim Currier of all people you know because Currier is somebody Djokovic deeply respects everybody does everybody knows he's the best at that particular job and Currier was not aware that that was coming at all he confirmed that on Eurosport tonight
So he just handed the mic over. But I think that that tells you just how annoyed Djokovic is. He did say, look, to Charlie Eccleshire, The Athletic, he says, look, it doesn't make me more determined to win this title when he was asked. But I tell you, that might be the conscious Novak Djokovic. I think the subconscious of him is he's found something else to get his senses heightened. And he will be coming out to show people.
And is it possible his subconscious was looking for something to get his senses heightened? The way he's played the last couple of rounds, I mean, I don't think he was looking for this, but he's found things wherever he's turned. Wherever he's turned, he's been pissed off by somebody. He's been wound up by everybody bigging up Thomas Mahatch. He's gone and destroyed him. I mean, look what he did to Alcraz at the Olympics. And now he's facing Alcraz again. I mean...
I don't believe he has orchestrated this at all. It's happened, but it's got him to a place that probably makes him more dangerous. Yeah, it has been interesting to observe Djokovic on court. the last two matches and what have been as you said very very straightforward straight sets wins and yet to observe him and his body language in those matches you've seen a guy picking out people in the crowd, being very, very demonstrative.
talking a lot you know being a little bit sort of theatrical and performative through both matches even though they were pretty straightforward and these are things we're used to seeing Novak Djokovic doing but he doesn't tend to do it in really comfortable straight sets wins like that so it's been it's just been interesting to observe him from that perspective you know that kind of almost
almost inventing adversity and using it as some kind of motivation and fuel. And look, I do think going into a match with Carlos Alcaraz... Last year, the Wimbledon final was just a tennis match, right? And Carlos Alcaraz absolutely outplayed him. The Olympics final... felt like something bigger than just a tennis match there was there was something else motivating Novak Djokovic there something he hadn't ever done in his career and it's almost like
Well, now, going into a match with Carlos Alcarez, he kind of needs that extra element. Because if it just comes down to the tennis... I think these days, Carlos Alcarez has got more in the tank. He's, you know, no matter if he's aware of how dangerous Carlos Alcarez is, he's almost got to make it about something bigger than that. And again, I'm...
Like you, David, I'm not saying that he's planned any of this, but it's almost like he's used it to try and add an extra bit of motivation and fuel and fire. yeah like it's pretty crazy what's what's just happened just um just on a procedural note those interviews aren't channel nine interviews they are world feed
interviews provided to every broadcaster around the world. Tennis Australia runs the world feed and that is part of Tennis Australia's offering and the majority of interviews in the schedule I'm working for. doing the odd match of commentary for Tennis Australia here, so I get the daily...
Commentary, match, schedule, you know, I get the assignments. And most of the on-court interviews are conducted by people working for Tennis Australia, commentators, broadcasters here for Tennis Australia. There's the odd one that Channel 9 will pick out.
to have one of their talent on. So Jelena Dokic is working for Channel 9 rather than Tennis Australia. That interview is still a world feed interview that goes around the world. It is just conducted by someone that works for Channel 9. And given that...
Djokovic's beef isn't specifically with Jim Currier. You know, Jim Currier was there doing the interview for the World Feed in that instance. Now, you know, obviously Djokovic... wants to make a big stand and make a big statement and the nuance of all those mechanics don't necessarily work for making that statement but I do think that's kind of important to note if this feud were to continue there's
There's a world in which they say, we still want Djokovic to be doing interviews after his matches. He might lose to Carlos Alcaraz and this isn't a problem, but they could send Colin Fleming out to do the interview. He did the interview with Carlos Alcaraz. It doesn't have to be someone from Channel 9. talent if you like no the way he's ended up putting himself in this position because nobody does understand those mechanics I reckon he will just
blanket ban until he hears that apology in the way he wants to hear it. And I really do think we're going to end up hearing it tomorrow morning. Are you sure that an apology will be enough? That he's not... sort of calling for TJ to be taken off air? I don't think he is, personally. I don't think so. I think he just wants...
I mean, look, the irony is that I think we've heard the apology. It's just that it has been quite isolated in its distribution. And I think he wants that loud. I don't think he wants that released in a statement to one publication in Serbia. He wants that. where it went out initially, i.e. on Channel 9. And now that, of course, Novak's made it a way beyond Channel 9 story, this is a global story he's made it into. He wants that apology to go global. Yeah, because he said the word.
public apology didn't he in his sort of comment at the start of the press conference which is a tough scene for the sports club but fair play to them for getting quotes yeah absolutely and look I think we should probably say that like we watch that Channel 9 coverage every morning and it is you know what Tony Jones did there is in keeping with
their coverage. And yet we do also sometimes watch that coverage and think maybe they should be a little bit more serious there. And I think what's happened is that... They think it's a joke. And we watching that can probably understand it is a joke. But I think he took it a bit too far, personally. I think the kick him out line was where it... Right.
where it sort of officially crossed the line. Yeah, and I don't necessarily think that it's a proportionate response from Novak Djokovic to do what he's done here, but I... I think I can understand why he would want an apology from it, I suppose. My only concern here, and maybe this is deeping it,
too much. By the time you're listening to this, maybe Channel 9 open their coverage tomorrow. Tony Jones says exactly what he said in that statement to Sasha Osmo. Djokovic accepts it and the whole thing is totally forgotten.
tea cup it feels like it probably should be but my only concern is the sort of precedent that it's it potentially sets for athletes with an awful lot of power and status, being able to pull their weight when they don't like what a broadcaster says about them or how they're covered, to demand that somebody be sacked or an apology be made or to...
just the mere threat of that being enough to prevent broadcasters from criticising where necessary or even being balanced in their coverage. I do just worry. about that as a precedent? Yeah, well, I certainly think broadcasters need to be able to stand their ground as companies and stand behind their presenters and their pundits.
if they think, strongly think, that what has been said is justifiable and is fair criticism. Absolutely. And, you know, I've seen... broadcasting companies do that in the past in the face of of alex ferguson for instance the the football manager who used to want to ban the bbc and and etc and and various others and and they will say okay we'll ban us but We were just doing a straight reporting job. In this instance, I mean, he's already acknowledged that in his view...
well, he says it's been misinterpreted and he didn't intend to offend anybody. I suspect that Channel 9 will probably think as well, you know, he went a bit far there and actually maybe... they can understand why Djokovic and the Serbian fans are upset and that they should walk it back.
But it is an absolutely valid point. Would I, just to kind of round this off before we talk about some tennis, would I also don't quite have a... handle on you know none of us are Australians and please Australian listeners let us know on the barge on Instagram however you want to get in touch I don't know how Tony Jones is viewed in this
country like whether this taking him on and taking channel nine on is something that will get get the backs up of the australian public it's a good point or whether whether people be like oh it's about time somebody you know not to
Tony down a peg or two. I have no idea whether he's a national treasure or a national joke. It's also... Or somewhere in between. It's interesting in... context of the fact that Novak Djokovic is about to play Carlos Alcaraz and he will have, I mean Djokovic had an enormous amount of flag-waving fans chanting his name in that stadium tonight I mean it really was a pretty pro
know that crowd and i dare say you'll probably have a lot of them in there as well and a heck of a lot of them probably in gardener square outside watching on the big screen but the you would imagine the lion's share of people are going to be locals who may be a bit more neutral than that. And is this going to make them think, oh, come on, Carlos, you know, he's...
He can't take a joke. Let's cheer for Carlos. I think that it could have repercussions for the night itself. I did not expect TJ to be such a big feature of our lives for the past 36 hours. It's different, isn't it? He gave us a shout-out on air yesterday morning. Forgot your names. Yeah. He wasn't the only one to forget our names. Everybody forgot my name.
OK, well, in case you hadn't picked up from all of that, Djokovic against Alcaraz is on. Alcaraz having beaten Jack Draper via... via retirement earlier on in the day 7561 the point at which Jack Draper retired I mean he just he had nothing to give in this match no no specific injury just he was he was a ghost out there and it was only a very loose period from Carlos Alcaraz at the end of that first set
prior to which he'd been absolutely cruising. It was only that loose period that let Jack Draper in the door at all to make that set competitive. But yeah, not really a tennis match that... that we can derive much analysis from. There's some lovely words from Alcaraz about Draper at the end. I think there's genuine warmth and affection and friendship there, and he really wishes the best for him. In fact, he wishes, he says, you will be where you deserve.
Reserved. Wrote that on the camera. And then again on social media. He's very kind, Alcaraz. John told us that. We know that about Alcaraz. He's really kind. He's really kind. This is little John. John Jones. The coin tosser from a couple of days ago everybody loves. I think you mean the star of the 2025 Australian Open, David. Matt and I saw him in the flesh today.
Oh, yes. In fact, I felt his presence before I saw him. I heard his voice and my head whipped around. And I was genuinely a bit starstruck. But it's not really appropriate to ask for a selfie with a seven-year-old. So I just sort of loitered awkwardly and bounced up and down a little bit like John himself would. Maybe John's rubbing off on me. I hope so. Anyway.
Alcaraz. And just very specifically on his relationship with Draper, Draper was invited to train with Alcaraz in the off-season but couldn't go because he's got this... this hip problem that uh you know limited his his off season i think he's still taking quite a lot of pain medication for even now jack draper um so yeah there's definitely um
There's definitely a sort of relationship there between them. But, look, Alcaraz got distracted in this match. He got a time warning from the umpire, which is something that he's increasingly... annoyed and vocal about on those big courts. He doesn't think that the clock is being started in the right time when he also wants to go and check his towel and there's a lot of space to get there. He thinks the time between serves is occupied.
pied with toweling and it is and it is one of those things which is different on the big chords because, you know, they are further away. It's get the tiny violins out, isn't it? I'm always playing on Rod Laver Arena so it takes a really long time for me to get to the towel. But it threw him off his game, like genuinely did. He lost his serve and then he had to, I think he was love 30 down on serve and had to serve himself out of a hole, like, you know.
It was a moment of distraction, but he was never going to lose this tennis match. He just had way more in the tank than Jack Draper did. And yeah, like crazy that Djokovic Alcarez...
It's happening in the quarterfinals. I know that we knew that that was possible the moment the draw came out, but it does put a slightly different spin, I think, on their recent matches, which have had... titles on the line there's been a huge sense of occasion about them and there will be again but it is going to be
not about lifting the trophy that's not going to be in their minds at all it's just going to be about the match and Alco has kind of talked that down in press as a factor but it was something that I was thinking about I can't wait. I cannot wait for it. Me neither. Excited, excited, excited, happy, happy. Excited, excited, excited. Look, I am too. It feels like we've been building up to this since the draw came out and I don't want to do too much preview now because we'll certainly do some more.
tomorrow on the eve of the match, but as excited as everybody is about it, I can't find anybody that thinks Djokovic is going to win, which usually matches that you're... Everybody's anticipating. It's kind of like a, not necessarily a 50-50, but the eventual outcome, it feels less. I don't know. It's not... I can certainly see a scenario where Djokovic wins, but I don't think there's... I have yet to speak to anybody that feels that's the most likely scenario.
Yeah, I mean, Alcaraz has never beaten him on a hard court. And Novak Djokovic is a ten-time champion here. And yet, my gut is telling me that the... probably the most likely outcome is that Alcaraz wins in three or four sets. Like, I could see a similar thing happening to maybe the Cinematch here last year, where, you know...
Sinner flew out the blocks and Djokovic pinched that third set but then didn't have enough to get over the line. That would be my gut in what's maybe most likely. But then the other part of my brain is like, you can't... You can't ever really predict Novak Djokovic to get blown out like that.
Or predict Alcaraz not to have a loose period in a match that potentially costs him a set. And I don't know, I feel like maybe tonight would have shifted people's opinions a little bit in terms of how they see that match because of this... this sort of extra element to Djokovic here. I'll re-poll tomorrow. It definitely gives me pause for thought. I'm not trying just to be a contrarian here. But I mean...
I remember feeling like this at the Olympics, and then Djokovic produced that performance, that even though Alcross played well, Djokovic still won. I know it's best of three. That is a big factor here. He's not injured like he was at Wimbledon. I think he's playing bloody well. Do you? Yeah, I do. I think he's tightened it up the last two matches when he really wanted to beat Mahatch.
And he did. He came out and he played well. And we haven't even talked about Andy Murray. He's staying well out of the TJ situation. He is. But do you know what? When was Andy Murray at his most dangerous? When he found something to rail against. He will totally understand this mentality of Djokovic's right now. And I just think tactically Murray will be...
He's in it for this match. That's why he's here. His job starts now, doesn't it? Yeah, he wants to find out if there's a way he can provide a tweak. that will make the difference against his favourite player. He tells us that Carlos Alcaraz is his favourite player to watch, and he goes out of his way to see him. He's played him himself. He's in awe of...
what he can do physically, and now he gets a chance to plot against him with the greatest player of all time. I mean, and who's 38, or nearly. It's just so... So tantalising. And I just, I feel like I did it ahead of the Wimbledon final and the Olympic final in that Djokovic has the ability to get Al Kraus off balance. And if Al Kraus is not absolutely bang on it... I think it could go the other way. I think he could find himself behind like he did against Verev and mount in a comeback.
OK, we'll save some preview material for tomorrow, folks, as I'm sure I'm sure this will come up again. We have to talk probably briefly now about Tommy Paul. He has set up a quarterfinal with Alexander Zverev. Tommy Paul. dispatched a very injured Alejandro Davidovich Vakina 1-1-1 he definitely should have retired Davidovich Vakina the bloke
The bloke could barely walk off court for a bathroom break after the second set, let alone compete upon return from the bathroom break. Like, why he didn't just retire is kind of... mysterious to me, other than... Alejandro Davidovich Fikina doesn't always seem to make sensible decisions on tennis courts. Yeah, going into every Grand Slam day, I get the notes app up on my phone and I write little headers of the matches.
and stuff we're going to talk about and I've written down Tommy Paul and it's just blank underneath. I just have nothing to say about this match. Like, it was over... Almost as soon as it started. Because Davidovich Vakina was clearly compromised. He had treatment on his hip, groin area. Couldn't move. And Tommy Paul is playing well and just... just beat what was left of Davidovic Fikina in front of him and that was it there's very little
I think, no analysis you can actually do on the actual match. Do you know, the only thought that has occurred to me, and I think it's a stat for the future to research, is I think we've found what the five set in a row limit is. Now, I think... There's enough data there. Think of Manorino last year. Three in a row and then just... I mean, I know he was playing Djokovic, but he couldn't even play, really.
Draper, three in a row, retires in the third set. Davidovic-Vikina, three in a row, loses 6-1, 6-1, 6-1. You've found others, haven't you, where people have won three in a row in five sets. fascinated to know what they did in their fourth match. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that no one has won a Grand Slam title with four five-set matches. I think Goran... might have won four or five set matches in a tournament, but not ended up winning it.
but like there definitely is a Barcelona I have a feeling at the Olympics certainly Ed Berg won three in a row and then won a four set final at the US Open that was in 1990 He beat Krycek, Lendl and then Chang all in five sets and then won the title against Sampras in four. Matt's got nothing to say about the match but it's okay because David can fill the time talking about the 90s.
Excellent. Far better than talking about Tommy Paul against Alejandro Davidovich Vekina. Have we anything to say about Zverev beating Ugo Mbair 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2? Or the match, the quarterfinal now... set up between Zarev and Tommy Paul. Well, yeah, I mean, I would... The main thing I would say is that I think the first two sets of that match were some of the highest quality tennis I've seen all fortnight, but one at a time. Zverev was extraordinary in the first set.
85% first serves in. He hit three times as many winners as unforced errors. He could do no wrong, 1-9 in 6-1. And then, as he said himself afterwards... Umber returned in a way that nobody else on the tour can return against him. He said Umber was standing inside the baseline for his first serves and half-volleying them back faster than he was hitting the serves. And he just can't believe how good he was returning.
and he reckons he would have beaten anybody in the world in that second set and that really I think does sum it up and then Humber couldn't sustain that and that's really what the match was The head-to-head with Tommy Paul is fascinating because it is 2-0 in favour of Paul. There's a good line right at the end of the Tommy Paul press conference where he's asked, we didn't know who he was playing yet, and he's asked an either-or on Hugo Embert and Alexander Zverev, and he says, he goes, oh...
Hugo Ember is super tricky to play. He's a left-hander. He hits the ball incredibly hard, takes it early. He's a real challenge to play. And then he said, Alexander Zverev, you get a chance in the rallies against him. He was kind of bigging up Umber more than he was Verev. I think he likes the match-up with Verev. Fascinating. OK. And good news for Tommy Paul in the match-up with Verev is that he's not left-handed.
The very first one, 28 matches in a row now against left-handers. It's that backhand, isn't it? Like, it just... It just... it's a pattern of play that he loves obviously Misha Zverev his brother is a left-hander he played against a left-hander when he was growing up yeah I mean I
I do think Zverev's the favourite against Paul, even with that head-to-head. I think, yes, there's obviously something in the match-up that Paul likes, but I think Zverev, that first set level that he played today, if he's got that in him... I think that's a worry for Tommy Paul. Okay, that's it for part two. Join us for a look ahead to tomorrow's play in part three.
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Search Salesforce AgentForce to learn more. AgentForce, what AI was meant to be. Welcome back to part three of the tennis podcast, where just before we look ahead to tomorrow's order of play, a word from our sponsors. We're brought to you throughout the Australian Open by Steve Fogel's International Tennis Tours, who are, of course, your gateway to premium.
tennis events worldwide Steve Fogles they are the experts in luxury tennis travel they organise the tennis holiday of your dreams truly a once in a lifetime bucket list experience waiting for you courtesy of Steve Fergels and that includes going to the Lever Cup which this year is being held in San Francisco which really is an awesome city and look we don't know what the teams are going to be but we do know Pat Rafter is going to be
to be there that was the big announcement today vice captain of team world yes quite a good signing isn't it for them I think so, yeah. I mean, it would be enough to get my mum there. She's probably browsing packages as we speak. As a fan experience, the Labour Cup, it's a dream. It really is. We were talking about that on last night's show and Steve Fergels can lay on hotel accommodation.
with breakfast every morning awesome tickets to watch the tennis the option to add on some sexy hospitality sticking to that turn of phrase transfers to and from the venue and seats to the gala dinner we also have a special code available for pod listeners the code is unrivaled unrivaled and that gives you 5% off Labour Cup 2025 official travel packages and
And as a bonus, that code will also work on the exclusive Yosemite National Park four-night pre-Leva Cup add-on experience. And it was a while ago now. It was during a childhood holiday to California, but I've been to you. Yosemite National Park and it is it's excellent there are trees there as tall as you David it's home of General Sherman tallest tree in the world
Well, that was certainly true in 1997. I'll fact check that for tomorrow. So if that sounds appealing, head to tours4tennis.com forward slash podcast, tours4tennis.com forward slash podcast. podcast. Tomorrow's order of play, Rod Laver Arena starts at 11.30. Women in the first slot, of course. Veronica Kudomitova against Alina Svitolina first up. Then it's Yannick Sinner against...
Holger Runa. That's a not before 2pm the night session. Thankfully the women's match is first in the night session which is good to see. Eva Lees. Eva Lees? Eva Lees. Saw an interview with her today and she's cool. We like over-lease. She's great. She's great, but she is taking on Eagish Films. She's trying to become the first lucky loser ever, men's or women's, to reach the quarterfinal of a slam.
Wow. Unfortunately, she is playing Igor's Fionté. Unfortunately for her. Fun story, though. Great story. David Goffin, the French Open, that's the one I always think of. Fourth round, though. Fourth round, lost to Federer. Yeah. That was unfortunate for him. Thank you. So at least you want to take his first in the night session. And last up, it is Alex Mickelson against the last sensation standing. And he's not even really a sensation, but he's all we've got. Alex Domino.
Second court starts with women's doubles tomorrow. Hidajemar and Siegmund against Dabrowski and Routliff. Second up is not before 2pm and that's Elena Rabakina against Madison Keyes. Not hearing great things about Rabakina's health and physical health. Just hope that's competitive, but difficult to have too high expectations. Then it is Guillermo Fis against Ben Shelton. And over on the John Kane Arena tomorrow is where you find Sonego against Ben. What jumps out? I think Sina Runa.
We were reminded today of Holgeruner's tweet after they met last year, where he was very annoyed that the ATP tweeted, May the force be with you, Yannick, because he felt like the whole thing... was was biased against him he said not that you gave me the best conditions in the first place having to play two matches the day before ending late leaving almost no recovery time chair umpire making crucial mistakes and giving wrong warning that
disturb the game may the force be with you eye roll Jesus Christ So if we can bring that energy to the match, then I would really appreciate it. So good. So good. If he could also bring the tennis that he played against Mimir Ketsmanovic last night, that match was awesome. The level of that match was absolutely awesome. Yeah, it was. There were just winners everywhere. I mean, it was down, wasn't it, Runa, and struggling physically, and he seemed to just go into a mode of...
taking over with his ground strokes. I'm not sure he'll get... the ball that he wants against Yannick Sinner in the way that he did against Ketsmanovic in those moments. I think he can hurt him. He has caused him problems in the past but Sinner is just...
better than he used to be, quite frankly, and relentless. Not post-puke sinner. He hasn't caused him problems. He's just relentless sinner, in a way that Ketsmanovic isn't. I've realised it doesn't take much for me to get hyped about Holgeruner. You've only just realised that. It's fair. I just think... The technique is so good. The ball strike is so good. If only he had someone else's brain.
Everything would be great if it does not exist. OK, who's our mascot for today, Matt? Today's mascot is Luna. Oh, hello, Luna. Luna is a four-time returning tennis podcast mascot owned by Richard. And she still loves a walk with Richard while he listens to the pod, even though she's 13 years old now, it's Luna. She's looking good for it, I have to say. One of my favourite things about us now having daily...
during the Grand Slams is that every day, at some point in the afternoon, I just received an unsolicited photo from Matt of an animal, which is the day's mascot. So at 9.09... p.m i received a photo of luna with no comment uh and i thought oh what a lovely dog great um she yeah she's absolutely gorgeous she looks like a black lab to me
I think you're right. Yeah, it's all coming back to me now. Do we know anything else about Luna? New for 2025? Well, Richard says that in human years, Luna is now 91. which is the same age as Richard's mother, who first introduced him to tennis and took him to Wimbledon. Oh. So that's rather lovely. That's absolutely lovely. Thank you, Richard. We love a...
We love a returning mascot. I think that's our second four-time returning mascot. We've got some three-peaters as well, haven't we? You love to see it. So thank you, Richard, and thank you, Luna, and hello to your mum. Richard as well, who you didn't mention was a tennis podcast listener, but... But do pass it along. Hello, of course, to our mascots, Phoebe. Hello, Phoebe. David says hello to Maisie.
Matt awaits news of who he's going to be saying hello to for the next year. I await Bernadoodle puppy photos. Cannot wait for that. I think it's coming soon, you know. It better be. Hello to our top folks and executive producers, Greg, Chris and Jeff. You're excellent. We salute you. And Matt, we have some shout-outs. And we start with Hélène Hérault in Poitiers.
Those are the most French words anyone's ever said. Hi, Ellen. The female Hugo and Bear. And Ellen says that her first live tennis memories go back to the 90s. Excellent. And she went to the French Open with her tennis club and had the time of her life watching Thomas Enkvist courtside. Well...
I can understand why you'd be excited by that. Someone's had the time of their life watching Thomas Enquist. Well, I remember in the early 90s, Thomas Enquist playing against Andre Agassi at the US Open and knocking him out. And I was very excited by that. I remember when Thomas Enkos joined the Champions Tour and was just far too young for it and just beat everybody. Still looks too young for it. And sort of showed them up. Poitiers is home to the Futuroscope theme park.
which I definitely went to on a childhood holiday. And Ellen like Ellen Perez? I think Ellen... Oh. It was a nice try. And actually, Catherine, you've done that thing of... mentioning the thing that you mentioned last time. Which you always leave space for me to do, don't you? Absolute stitch up. Because Hélène says, after the Futura Scott story, I've come up with another one, which was her Thomas Enquist story. She's also...
completed what she's coining the tennis podcast career slam and that she's listened to every episode. Wow. Impressive. I'm not sure I've listened to every episode. Oh, charming. Get on with it then. Another podcast that I listen to, they have something called a Wanner, which is somebody that listened live from day one, episode one, and they have a retro Wanner.
which is somebody that came to the podcast late but has gone back and listened to the full back catalogue. Now, I know we have quite a few retro one-ers because we occasionally get told. In fact, I think the other day we got told here at Melbourne Park by somebody... stopped us but um if there are any true warners out there other than my mum let us know but hélène thank you next we've got michael simlinger
Hello, Michael. Hi, Michael. Michael is from Austria. Oh. And he says, last year my parents gifted me... birthday tickets for the Vienna Open final. It was the first and until now only time I watched a professional tennis match live. Wow. And enjoyed watching post-Puke Sinner winning nearly three-hour classic against Medvedev. What a treat. Imagine that being your induction into live tennis.
Wow, it's not always that good, Michael, as evidenced by today at the Australian Open. And Michael like Michael Moe, who beat Alexander Zverev here about three years ago. He did. He did. Michael Moe. Michael, thank you. And finally, we've got Peach. Hello, Peach. Hi, Peach. Whose real name is Pamela. Hi, Pamela. And Peach lives in County Durham. but was born in Solihull. Yay! Awesome. I miss it. Some of it. What do we know about Peach?
Started listening to the pod in 2020. And this is a shout-out birthday treat for their 40th. Well, that's just lovely. And Piege's real name is Pamela and would like to give a shout out to Pamela Howard-Schriver, who, Piege says, is one of my favourite guests on the podcast. Ours too, Piege. Lovely stuff. Hello, Paige.
Hello, Pamela Howard-Shriver. Yes. Thank you to all of our friends of the Tennis Podcast for supporting us in being out here in Australia, having our evening torpedoed by Novak Djokovic and his latest drive. You told me. We love it. There's nowhere we'd rather be. A reminder that if you'd like to make your pet a mascot of the show, then entries for that are open just for a little less than two weeks more. Entries are closing at the end of this month.
So if you want to keep Matt's stream of pet photos to me coming, please do so. Folks, it's been an interesting day. Let's do it all again tomorrow. Thanks for listening. We'll speak to you then. Look at him go. He's a quality striker. No, not him. The electrician fixing those lights. Wow. Is he? Yes, he uses QuickBooks to prepare for self-assessment. This is truly game-changing.
Use QuickBooks year-round to ensure your income tax return is shock-free. That's how you business differently. Intuit QuickBooks. Let's stop there. Being a soldier. It's exciting. You already know that. What you want to know is, what's in it for me? I wanted to learn leadership skills from the experts. I wanted to get paid to earn qualifications. I wanted more confidence. And now, look, I'm on the radio.
That's what was in it for me. Get skills, get qualified, get confident. Army. Recruiting now. Search Army jobs.