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Speaker 1: Wait, is it Alcaaz or Alcarath.
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Speaker 2: Well, we say Alcoraz, but if you're a part of the BBC broadcast team, you think alka.
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Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm just going to stick with Alcoraz. Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show with me. John Hovedas keeps going on in a week that's seen title wins by Zverev, Fritz and Siontek to name a few. But all the focus now is on the North American hard court swing. Here's what's coming up New York Horizons. Who are the early contenders for US Open Glory.
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Speaker 4: I still believe she's got the weapons in the big game to be able to produce even another Grand Slam title.
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Speaker 3: Sasha's continued quest for an elusive major title.
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Speaker 1: Terrific for him to see him win a til me.
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Speaker 5: He's getting back to that form that has him as a contender.
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Speaker 1: And HUMAG champion.
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Speaker 3: Alexei Poprin on the secret to his success.
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Speaker 6: You know that copy belief that you can go out there and kind of beat them and not be flustered by the big occasion.
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Speaker 3: That's all ahead on the AO Show. From Hamburg to the Land of the Hot Dog. Here are the headlines Alexander Zverev and Arancha Rous secure title wins in the European Open. Alexei Poprain receives an early birthday present overcoming an emotional stan Vavrinka at Yumat Wile fellow Izzy alex Vukich falls just shy of a maiden ATP title against Taylor Fritz in Atlanta. Warsaw champ Igish Fiontek extends her time at world number one to seventy straight weeks, the third longest stint by a first timer. AO twenty twenty one finalist Jennifer Brady makes a winning return to tennis in Washington after more than seven hundred days on the sidelines, while Taylor Fritz and Francis Tiafo led a strong American field into the round of sixteen in the men's and Novak Djokovic scheduled to play singles and doubles at Cincinnati in his first outing since his Wimbledon loss to Carlos al KaAZ. Joining me on the roundtable today is the A team. It's Casey de Lacue back from a hiatus. Great to see you, case.
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Speaker 7: Great to see and happy to be back.
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Speaker 3: And Todd Woodbridge again joins me in studio, Todd so much so much better when you're in person here.
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Speaker 5: I know, it's good to see your for smiling face. John, you know, the youthfulness of the man that puts this all together for us.
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Speaker 3: It's great fun and plenty of tennis to get through, including some live stuff going on with tournaments in Washington with the men and women for the first time Lost car Boss as well in Austria for the men, and then Prague and a couple of others as we get really into the proper stuff the US hard court swing, but it's kind of weird because there's clay court tournaments and glass court tournaments.
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Speaker 1: It's still the crossover, isn't it.
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Speaker 5: And we were discussing that just a moment ago, you and I, and when I think for somebody that's more of a fast court player, you really try hard to get through the clay court season, do the best you can.
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Speaker 1: You get to the grass.
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Speaker 5: You put all the emphasis on that you need a break sometimes, and so I know when I was playing, this was the two or three week break which was just to try to refresh ahead of that US summer where you need to be fresh because as you get to the end of the season, Casey, there is this feeling of like I'm hanging in there mentally, I've been on the road, I'm getting tired. All of those things come into play, don't they.
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Speaker 4: Yeah, No, absolutely, And I always find, like you said, this period post wimwood and it's a bit of a period where the players perhaps that have lost early and wmwoed and decide to opt in and play. But then we obviously saw Schiontech playing in Warsaw. She picked up a tournament pretty soon after Wimwooden. But you're right, Todd, it's a really important time and for myself, I was the same as you. It's a real good time to just reset because it's such a hard slog being on the tour and this is a good time to just reset before the US swing. And then obviously there's still much more of the year to play out as well. So yeah, it's been interesting to see the last couple of tournaments that have been on the calendar and then also what's to come.
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Speaker 3: So results from last week the champions as you mentioned, Fiontech defeated Lara Siegemund in Warsaw and we'll speak more about Triontek later in the episode, over in Hamburg, it was Arancha Russ who won the women's title and alex Zeverev who won the men's. In Atlanta, Taylor Fritz, the top seed there, won his second hard court title of the year and his sixth for his career against Australia's alex Vukich, who continues to make strides Todd on the men's tour after a great grass court Sea.
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Speaker 5: Yeah, well, there's a lot to break down, there, isn't it. I think for Zverev, terrific for him to see him win a tournament. He's getting back to that form that has him as a contender at the back end of major's. I mean for him though, there's still a lot to be dealing with, as it seems, on court and off court, which can be a distraction, but he seems to be managing that well. But from an Aussie perspective, you little beauty, you a rip snorter. We're getting some results out of them, and Alexander Vukitch has come along reached a final in Atlanta off the back of other good results and his consistency is really making him a standout. From an Australian perspective this year, and you know, really really cool to see somebody who's not given up on becoming as good as he can be Casey, and I think that's a big thing for everybody to remember when you're out there.
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Speaker 4: It's always amazing when you see the players that have kind of slogged it out, whether that be a challenger.
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Speaker 7: Or future level and then just hung in there.
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Speaker 4: And we can see that he's now been rewarded for that persistence and that I guess patience and the discipline that we know that Vukitch can produce. So I think that's a really great result for him. I think it was always Taylor Fritz has been an interesting one too, hasn't he throughout the year in terms of his form coming in and out and at Grand Slam level. Perhaps not playing his best tennis at Grand Slam, but good to see him get the win in the final.
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Speaker 7: But super super happy for u Kisch.
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Speaker 5: Get you're right too for Taylor because he's been battling to find the confidence. Almost is his year, you could say, in adverted commas. But going into the US Opien he lost first round last year too. I think it was Brandon Holt wasn't it, And that was a shock result. Really he would have thought he was going to go well, So I think he'll be sort of starting to get that confidence meter going the right way. But talking about confidence meter, that we have to mention Alexi Poprin big win for him on clay, and you know, one of the things that I thought stood out for me with Alexi is that he's got such a big game. I don't think he's really learnt to be how to pull it together week in week out, yet so big surve, big fourhand and it's fascinating that the clay is the surface he's played very well on this year, good results in Rome, steady throughout and then a win. So what that says to me is that the clay court, he's still powerful enough to be damaging, but he gets a bit more time on the ball and particularly the movement at the back of the court. And that's really huge for him because I think I would have thought he's better on hard court, but this is actually showing him what game style he needs to play on all surfaces. And I think sometimes when we see him on a hard court, he's a little unsure and he tries to be too aggressive, his point structure, sometimes not in the right order, comes forward off the wrong ball, but the clays teaching him how to play better tennis, and so really well done to him for recognizing that actually going to that surface is making him a better player and he gets a tool win out of it to go with it.
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Speaker 7: Yeah, I couldn't agree more Todd.
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Speaker 4: And I think when you play on a clay court, and we've seen this with a few Australians particularly as well, that you get that little bit of extra time on the clay court, but when you have the power and the ability to hit through the court, you're rewarded on a clay court. And I think we all saw the tennis that Alexi can produce at the Ustralian Open, but your writes the consistency that he just has not been able to continue to hold throughout the year. So that win is massive for pop Print and I think particularly at the back end of the where we've seen him have some good results in probably the first six months of the year. But to be able to now continue to play some good tennis and hopefully we see him, you know, leverage the win that he's had to be able to keep thriving for the rest of the year because he does. He's got this amazing game. This serve that you know, he could hit all the spots. But I think when you get that feeling of winning a title in a really tough match. Obviously the Sammi was tough, I think that's just going to give him more and more confidence for the rest of the year.
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Speaker 6: Yeah.
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Speaker 5: Absolutely, because one of the things that when you've watched him plan I've caught a lot of matches in commentary, is that he is a thinker. You can tell that by the reactions that he gives you with his body language, and he needs to be positive. He needs to be outward looking at the other end of the court, and a lot of times when he isn't playing as well, you can see him very inward worrying about what's happening at his end, and no one plays as well that way. So this is giving him this freedom to actually look outwards and play freely.
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Speaker 3: Well, it's been exactly a month since the Wimbledon campaign for Alexi began and I caught up with him at the All England Club. So let's have a listen to that interview now and we'll come back and discuss his opponent from the UMAG final. What a wonderful facility this is. What does it mean to you to walk into the gates of the All England Club for the Championships of twenty three.
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Speaker 6: Yeah, definitely, it's it's a very very special feeling. I think Wimen is the most prestigiou tournament in tennis and to be able to compete here for fourth or fifth success successive time for me is a very big achievement and hopefully I can just put some results in and make it even a prouder moment.
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Speaker 3: You're a bloke who clearly feeds off crowd energy. We saw how dramatic that was for you in Melbourne earlier this year. What sort of reception do you expect from the English crowds here at the All England Club.
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Speaker 6: I know for a fact there won't be anywhere close to how it was in Australia. In Australia it was just you can't even imagine now that sort of reception and that sort of support from the home crowd. But you know, I'm hoping that I can put on a show even here for the English supporters and the English crowd and hopefully I can get at least twenty five percent of the support that I had in Australia, that would be That would be the ideal.
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Speaker 3: Well, I think we're in between the second and third Tests of the cricket when you play your first match, so there might be more Aussies than you think hopefully.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, that would be great.
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Speaker 6: I've actually been keeping up with the score, so Nausies are doing quite well, aren't they.
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Speaker 3: Yeah. Tell me about yourself as a sports fan. What sports do you like to follow.
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Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm a huge sports fan, so I follow football, soccer, yeah, basketball, NFL, a little bit of cricket now yeah, but it's mainly basketball football that are my favorite sports.
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Speaker 2: Which football leagues do you? The Premier League?
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Speaker 6: Premier League and your team Evertson supporter Tim Cahill was my favorite player and he used to play and then ever since then, I've been an Everton supporter.
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Speaker 2: Yeah.
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Speaker 6: He actually reached out to me a couple of years ago and it was like a dream come true that he actually reached out to me.
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Speaker 2: So, yeah, it was unbelievable.
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Speaker 3: Have you gone to visit evidence home base?
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Speaker 2: I have?
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Speaker 6: Yeah, Actually I managed to watch one game in twenty nineteen, actually just before preseason started during my holiday. We don't get much time to go around and watch football, especially in England, there's not much time to be there. So it was an unbelievable experience for me, even though we lost too nil to bottom of the league.
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Speaker 2: But yeah, it was great.
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Speaker 3: When you watch those team sports, I think you've just listed a series of three or four team sports. What can you draw from the athletes and apply to yourself as an individual athlete in tennis?
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Speaker 6: Oh, look, they I think team sports is tough to play.
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Speaker 2: You know, you don't only.
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Speaker 6: Let yourself down, but you let your whole team down if you do a mistake or something like that. And you know, it's just seeing the whole team kind of come together and support each other is something you can take away and kind of try and implement that and just try and support yourself you be your whole team kind of support and yeah, that's probably what I take out of it the most.
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Speaker 3: Well, it's not a team environment per se, but with eight or nine Aussie men in the drawer, you occupy about it's about percent of the men's draw So what's it like having so many Aussies especially in the top one hundred.
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Speaker 6: Yeah, it's great. I think for Australian tennis, it's unbelievable. And also to be able to go out and watch the boys play and compete and support them not just when they're playing, but also behind the scenes in the locker room during practice and stuff like that. It's unbelievable to have that kind of camaraderie. And yeah, it's just great to see that Australian tennis is doing so well and hopefully some of the Aussies or all the Aussies can go deep into this tournament and really show what it's Australian tennis is about.
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Speaker 3: Alex Vukch mentioned that he reckons anyone from about thirty in the world to two hundred and fifty could beat anyone else on the day. You sort of have that same mentality when you walk out onto the court.
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Speaker 6: Yeah, definitely. But I think I've shown it with my last few results. You know, I've been beat three top ten players this year. So for me, it's just a matter of keeping that consistency of that level. Like Alex said, I think not only is it the top thirty, I think even the top ten, anybody can beat it.
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Speaker 2: It's just it's it's a very mental game. Really.
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Speaker 6: Everybody's got the ability to hit shots and to hit really good shots, and to play big and have the game to be the top guys, but it's more just a mental kind of belief, that kind of cockiness, you know, that cocky belief that you can go out there and kind of beat them and not be flustered by the big occasion. And that comes with experience, I think.
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Speaker 3: So you're not like that naturally.
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Speaker 2: Is that quality?
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Speaker 3: No?
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Speaker 6: I never I always played up, ever since I was a junior, ever since I was a kid, I always played up. I always kind of rose to the occasion, and whenever I had to play down, that's where I struggled. So if you probably if I'd have to qualify, or if I'd have to go back and play futures or something like that, I'd probably really struggle to do. But just for me to play up, to play the better guys, the best guys in the world, where I can kind of like gauge where my level is at and try and bring it to them, is where I play my best tenners. And that's a positive and also a negative thing too, where you need to try and rise to the ocation no matter who you play, and that's something that I'm learning to do, and that's something.
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Speaker 2: That I feel like I've.
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Speaker 6: Done pretty well this year, and hopefully I can continue doing so and can continue learning.
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Speaker 3: Let's try and get that poppy chant going at the All England Club this year.
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Speaker 2: That would be good fun, wouldn't it.
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Speaker 3: That was awesome in Melvine.
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Speaker 2: Man, it was unbelievable.
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Speaker 6: It's something I'll probably remember for the rest of my life, not probably four hundred percent, will Yeah. I sometimes go back and watch the YouTube video of it. It's this unbelievable feeling and I still get goosebumps every time.
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Speaker 2: I see it.
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Speaker 3: Put it in your pump up reel for the pre Yeah.
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Speaker 2: Definitely that would be a That would be a great thing.
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Speaker 3: It was a special moment. Hopefully many more to come in your career. Thanks Alexi makes Mane Just Alexi Poprom there exactly thirty one days ago. Have known that a month later he'd be a title holder, his second ATP to fifty title against stan Vavrinka, who's, believe it or not, thirty eight years old and still competing at a pretty good level, but unable to come through big matches the way that we've seen him do early in his career, especially at the Grand Slam level.
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Speaker 5: Okay, so you're closer to thirty eight than me, so what do you think about his thirty eight?
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Speaker 1: How there he go?
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Speaker 7: He's still youthful, still.
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Speaker 4: Young, But yeah, look, I think when you're thirty eight and you've been on tour and you've been as successful as a stam Rowinker has for so many years, you really do cherish the moments when you're playing in front of big crowds. You cherish the times that you get to a final, you realize and appreciate how hard you've worked or how difficult it is to often find those moments. So I think we could see the emotion in stand knowing the fact that you know, he doesn't know how many more finals he plays, he doesn't know how many more tournaments, maybe how many more years or so he's really relishing him in every moment. We know he loves playing teen competition, how passionate he is about playing for Switzerland, And yeah, I think we could see that and in the emotion that was that he showed post final, I think.
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Speaker 5: You're right there, and another player that has done, that is Andy Murray. And Andy had a win in Washington just now against Brandon Nakashima, but in the last day or so he talked openly about sitting in at the Wimbledon final and watching our Koran's verse Djokovic and how much he learned out of those two, which is fascinating when you think how much he's already done, how much stands already done, but what they are still trying to find these little one percenters in their game to make it better. But fascinating to see Andy sort of hidden in the stands. Who knew her was that I was commentating next to Tim Henman, who those two were having a conversation on text while the match was going on, and I'm sure that Andy was just giving Tim all the things to say because Andy, Tim, you know, sometimes doesn't have those Kie may listen into our podcast now, but it just goes to show that and even like Serena was one of those in the women's game too, that just love to compete, They love to play, and I think that for any young player out there watching that this is so important to see that this is it's about winning, but it's a game that gives you so much and you never stop learning, and if you can add to your game at the end of your career, you can get this amazing longevity.
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Speaker 3: So Murray goes through in Washington to the round of sixteen. He'll likely play Taylor Fritz, who we mentioned before is in some really good form, Christopher Eubanks, who's another American who's just come from nowhere, and another mature age let's say, developer up against Jordan Thompson. And further down the list we see other big names in grigordomitrov Ugo, Umber Daniel Evans, and Francis Tiafo, who's the second seed in Washington. He takes on Jerry Shang in the next round. So a lot of Americans doing really well as we get within three weeks of the US Open starting, and this is where the players really start to fine tune their hard caught game ahead of Canadian Open, then into Cincinnati, and then into the US Open.
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Speaker 4: You're right, I think the US Swing is always an interesting one.
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Speaker 7: I know when I.
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Speaker 4: First hit the US kind of the first tournament, the conditions are tough, like Todd said, in terms of weather, but also the balls. The balls can be really Flighty, But I did hear that they're perhaps changing the balls during the US Open, so that will be an interesting one to watch out for. But I think conditions are you know, fast, then lively. They can you know, set you really up, set you up really good for the US Open swing if you can get some really good wins in the early rounds and particularly in Cincinnati and then leading into the US just on the depth there and the men's game, isn't it amazing to see how many US men they're you know, really quality players and such good depth on the on the American side for the men. And I mean we hear about Taylor Fritz and that lot, but you know the Lift, Francis TrFO and Ben Shelton and all these big name US players. It's going to be really interesting to see how they all kind of play come US Open time and what type of attention they all get.
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Speaker 5: You also got to throw you Banks in their Chrisume Banks, Yeah, who had this amazing run at Wimbledon. And what I find fascinating is that those two players for American tennis have been a real throwback to a change up of tactics and styles on the court. So both of them have this ability to take the rhythm away from you, especially U Banks with the way he plays. He's run at wimbled and was like players back thirty years ago that would come along, serve big, not make a lottery turns and all of a sudden, bingo, they make four in a row and you're under stress and maybe you're down a break. And so he, I think, is going to have an interesting summer to watch. But I also think Ben Shelton as well, who broke through it the Australian Open. Now can he continue that run on the hard courts where he's so used to playing. That college style of tennis has got him to this point in his career. So I think they're the two to watch on the men's field, not just because they're American, but I think overall, I think they may have a standout run this particular summer.
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Speaker 3: Well, let's cross over to look at the women's side of things now, and Eline's Fidelina continuing on her merry way. She's defeated the fifth seed Daria casset Kina to reach the quarter final. That'll be most likely against the top seed though Jess Pagoula, who Casey if I can remember just after the Australian Open you picked Pagoula as one of your breakthrough players of the year. I think she might have been the one you thought could win a Slam in twenty twenty three. So that'll be a real test for Fidelina against the top seed.
00:20:40
Speaker 4: Yeah, look, I think I mean we can all, I guess bow down to Spidelina in her comeback. I mean, it's pretty phenomenal to think she had a gave birth in October last year and look what she's been able to do is just extraordinary. But I believe there's nothing more. There's nothing more stronger, more determined than a you know, a mum that's trying to do a million other things and then hit the tennis court as well. I think it's been pretty extraordinary. But you know, Jess Pagoola, I think there's just been a few matches throughout the year that have probably not given me the sense that she's ready to win a Grand Slam. There's always just a few matches where she just doesn't throw in probably her best performances. But I still think over the hard court, I think hardcourt is Pagola's best surface. We know she likes the ball at hip hot, the courts will be fast, She'll be love playing in America, so that will be an.
00:21:30
Speaker 7: Interesting match up. But yeah, some big other names playing there this week as well.
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Speaker 3: One of those is Belinda Benchich Todd, whom I know you're a big Yeah.
00:21:39
Speaker 5: I'll keep waiting. It's a bit like Jess Pegoola. I really am a fan of the way she plays. But again, like Jess, there's this massive hurdle that she hasn't been able to get through at Grand Slam level, which I find so surprising. But you know, you just got to keep knocking on the door because when your moment comes, she has to have that belief. I mean, you can't win Olympics and things like that without doing that. Or and the way she's led her country to Billy Jing King Cup victory, because that's enormous pressure and stress. So she just hasn't quite worked out how to take that and put it into when she's playing as an individual. But I think, you know, when we look at the summer for the women, we've got Siontech, who doesn't like grass just yet goes away gets form again on clay to take another week or two off watch out.
00:22:32
Speaker 1: I mean she's she's obviously.
00:22:34
Speaker 5: The heavy heavy favorite of the US summer for me, and then the Wimbledon champion. I mean she's just having a bit of a rest. Is she going to be a force? That'll be interesting to say. Yeah, whether she has I don't know. Sometimes after big win like that, when you haven't done that before, it's not easy to bounce back with the focus and intensity needed, which we just saw Fiontech deliver again. So I think the women's summer we need to see some of the results over these next you know, a couple of big tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati to really get a feel of who the contenders are to Fiontech.
00:23:09
Speaker 3: Well, she's now into a third position for most weeks at world number one for a first timer. She's up to seventy weeks behind I believe Graf and Hingus. In case I know that you had Sabolenka, I think finishing the year at world number one, Todd did Pich fion Tech. It is quite close in the ranking points, and of course they both have a lot of points to defend in New York. But how do you see this one playing out as we go into the last four or five months of the year between Fiontech and Sabolenka.
00:23:37
Speaker 4: All right, well, yeah, I'm going to stick strong with my early prediction and stick Okay, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna waiver from it. I obviously are all credit to shion Tech. I think when she took that number one world ranking, you know, obviously Ash was retiring and she kind of took it over. But she has definitely solidified her position as the world number one, there is no doubt about that. But I think, you know, she's the defending New York US Open champion, so yes, a lot of points there. I just think Sabolenka's consistency has been pretty impressive still throughout the year. I still believe she's got the game. I still believe she's got the weapons and the big game to be able to produce even another Grand Slam title at the US Open. But like Todd said, we'll see what the form is like over the next couple of weeks for these type of players.
00:24:24
Speaker 7: But I'm going to stick with Sabolenka. And you know, it's close.
00:24:28
Speaker 4: The running for world number one is close, and a lot can change, So I'm not going to waiver from that just yet, but it'll.
00:24:34
Speaker 7: Be interesting to see how this US Open swing goes.
00:24:37
Speaker 5: No, I like you, it's close. I think it makes it, you know, exciting finish to the years close. And the men's side as well, which Novak didn't get the Grand Slam hipped at the post your preseason prediction, which it's still looking like an amazing year for him, doesn't it no points to defend for him? At the US Open, he didn't get to play, so he's only gaining and Carlos has to win to sustain. So I think there is a real race on that men's side that legitimately depending on what Novak chooses to do with his schedule, how much he chooses to play post the US Open. You know, that will be the big factor, I think, because he didn't play a lot at the end of last year. And we'll just wait and see.
00:25:24
Speaker 4: Do you think Novak is driven by world number one or do you think he is driven by records and Grand slams?
00:25:30
Speaker 7: Because I can't see how.
00:25:31
Speaker 4: He would potentially put his body on the line and that for the number one we're ranking, but he definitely will for Grand slams.
00:25:38
Speaker 5: Was that rhetorical question for me? Because I agree with how you put it. He's chasing slams. Yeah, number one isn't the thing that he's after. If that comes because he wins so many of them, by product, it's a bonus. I think it's all about management of the body, management of the schedule, so that the body in a place that he can turn up to each major and be able to play the two weeks at his absolute best, which is what we've seen him do so far this year. His ability to peek at those important moments is better than just about anybody that's ever played the game well.
00:26:16
Speaker 3: He withdrew from a tournament after Wimbledon, has had quite a good break now and is looking at Cincinnati where he's going to play singles and doubles. Would you believe Novak?
00:26:26
Speaker 1: No, we'll wait and seek. Yeah, maybe he'll play.
00:26:30
Speaker 5: He'll do what Yvonne Lndel used to do, and he'll play a doubles to get used to the surface on Monday as a little bit of a match or two without worrying about the result. That gave gives him a feel of what it's going to be like to get ready for the singles for the rest of the week.
00:26:46
Speaker 3: Yes, well, I feel sorry for his partner, Nikola Chatcic. Then it's just for a little warm up.
00:26:51
Speaker 5: Well, listen, Nick Nichola, we had a lot of photos taken of himself throughout those couple of days, and to hang with somebody like that and watch how the they actually go about their business, that's a priceless opportunity as well.
00:27:04
Speaker 3: At the time of recording, Lost Carbos Round of sixteen matches not quite underway. That'll happen into the Mexican evening that Alex Demenor still alive. There he'll take on Thiago Austin Tarante and the other big seeds Stefanos Sitsipas, Cameron Nori, Tommy Paul and born A Chorich still alive. Before we go, guys, it's time for the super tiebreak, where we bring to the table something that's caught our attention during the week or something a little bit different. So I might throw it over to you Casey first.
00:27:32
Speaker 4: Yeah, Lorc, I think we can't go past the fee for Women's World Cup and the Matilda's at the moment, I think for women's sport, it's been extraordinary having a young daughter myself and even you know, My ten year old son has just been so highly engaged in watching the Matildas and seeing what they're how they're going. And obviously that you know, lost to Nigeria was tough, but to see them bounce back and deal with pressure. They had Kathy f em In in there talking about it, and when you think about Ash and what she was able to produce at the Australian Open under immense pressure, it's kind of similar playing a World Cup on your home soil is something phenomenal. So I think just giving them Matilda to shout out. I've been fortunate enough to be doing some be Old Greatness ambassador stuff with FIFA and it's just been great to be involved and to see the event kind of come to fruition and see the Matildas get through the group stages and playing again on Monday night against Denmark.
00:28:28
Speaker 7: Here in Sydney.
00:28:29
Speaker 4: It's going to be a massive game and I just think for women's sport it's just been extraordinary. So yeah, just a shout out to Matilda's and let's hope they can keep going.
00:28:38
Speaker 5: I mean it's hard to surpass that, isn't it. What case, it's just brought to the table part. It's been a massive no, it's been a massive European summer of sport which is sort of just coming to an end, whether it be you love your tennis, your golf or your cricket.
00:28:54
Speaker 1: And I think we.
00:28:55
Speaker 5: Brought the ashes as well, albeit not the greatest runs, but we do have the urn, so let's.
00:29:03
Speaker 3: Hope anyway you can get it.
00:29:05
Speaker 5: Anyway you can get that earn is important and we've got it for another couple of years to the next series. So well done to the Dailian men's and women's cricket team too, who won their series over the summer in the UK.
00:29:17
Speaker 1: So gee, we're doing well in nassy sport.
00:29:19
Speaker 3: Mine is slightly peculiar and may get cut from this final edit. But I brought up the other day this scenario if you were thrown and maybe you can find a women's sport equivalent. If if I were to be thrown into an let's say an AFL match and play a whole match, say on the wing or in a relatively busy position of the ground, would I be able to get one disposal, one kick or one handball for the match without any training, without having met any of the players.
00:29:48
Speaker 1: Unlikely you reckon.
00:29:50
Speaker 3: Yeah, so I think I think likely that i'd be able to get one touch one.
00:29:54
Speaker 1: I think there'd be a couple of people that might crush you.
00:29:57
Speaker 3: Yeah, well that would happen too.
00:29:58
Speaker 4: But when you got it's like the same old questioning tennis, and everyone says to me, if I was trying to return a serve with no practice and that, could I return one of your serbs throughout a match? But again, it's pretty unlikely, isn't it todd if you've never picked up a tennis racket before.
00:30:15
Speaker 3: Like, no, no, it's not that they hadn't picked up the racket, but someone who's not a professional and doesn't train regularly.
00:30:20
Speaker 5: All right, here's a scenario that happened to me that I put to Payne Stewart US Open, PGA winner in golf.
00:30:29
Speaker 1: So pain's no longer with the start in a terrible accident.
00:30:32
Speaker 5: But I used to play him as in the you know, I was playing my best singles. I would give him for love, love forty and forty love in every game, okay, And he never won a set.
00:30:46
Speaker 3: From me, really how close to And he was a low.
00:30:49
Speaker 1: A grade player, high B.
00:30:51
Speaker 5: Grade player, so he could serve return, he could rally how many games?
00:30:57
Speaker 1: So he had to win a set.
00:30:58
Speaker 5: Yeah, so I can't remember wherever he got to seven five, But it was unbelievable training in everyone a set. So I had to get back to juice in every game three points cinerow. So it was unbelievable training for your concentration and discipline, and so I used to do that quite a bit with him, and he used to get so frustrated because he was a champion sportsman and he couldn't believe that he couldn't get a point to get to five lave or five two five one anyway.
00:31:27
Speaker 1: So basically that might be how good at footy you would be.
00:31:31
Speaker 3: He just needed to win one point of those four six times, yeah, in sequence to win a set. Yeah, I couldn't do it. Yeah, Okay, there you go.
00:31:39
Speaker 5: So after that crushing from that first hit that you were going to get as you're about to try to make the disposal, he done.
00:31:47
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:47
Speaker 3: I'd like to hear what our listeners think as well, and you can get in contact with the details at the end of the show. But it's time to wrap it up for this week. Plenty more tennis to look forward to, with the Canadian Open Montreal for the women and Toronto for them and we'll touch base again very soon. Casey Todd, great to see us.
00:32:03
Speaker 1: Thank you, take care everybody.
00:32:05
Speaker 3: That's all for this week's episode of The AO Show. Join us again next week for the latest tennis news, views and interviews. Happy birthday this week to Alexipoprin, Roger Federer, Felix Auger ALIASIM and Rod Laver, who turns eighty five on August nine. Happy birthday Rocket. If you'd like to get in touch, you can contact us via ozopen dot com, slash listen, or email the Aoshow at tennis dot com dot au. Also take this moment to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
00:32:34
Speaker 1: And if you like what
00:32:34
Speaker 3: You're hearing, please leave us a rating or a review so more fans can discover The AO Show
Speaker 1: Wait, is it Alcaaz or Alcarath.
00:00:03
Speaker 2: Well, we say Alcoraz, but if you're a part of the BBC broadcast team, you think alka.
00:00:10
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm just going to stick with Alcoraz. Hi everyone, and welcome to the AO Show with me. John Hovedas keeps going on in a week that's seen title wins by Zverev, Fritz and Siontek to name a few. But all the focus now is on the North American hard court swing. Here's what's coming up New York Horizons. Who are the early contenders for US Open Glory.
00:00:31
Speaker 4: I still believe she's got the weapons in the big game to be able to produce even another Grand Slam title.
00:00:37
Speaker 3: Sasha's continued quest for an elusive major title.
00:00:40
Speaker 1: Terrific for him to see him win a til me.
00:00:41
Speaker 5: He's getting back to that form that has him as a contender.
00:00:44
Speaker 1: And HUMAG champion.
00:00:45
Speaker 3: Alexei Poprin on the secret to his success.
00:00:48
Speaker 6: You know that copy belief that you can go out there and kind of beat them and not be flustered by the big occasion.
00:00:53
Speaker 3: That's all ahead on the AO Show. From Hamburg to the Land of the Hot Dog. Here are the headlines Alexander Zverev and Arancha Rous secure title wins in the European Open. Alexei Poprain receives an early birthday present overcoming an emotional stan Vavrinka at Yumat Wile fellow Izzy alex Vukich falls just shy of a maiden ATP title against Taylor Fritz in Atlanta. Warsaw champ Igish Fiontek extends her time at world number one to seventy straight weeks, the third longest stint by a first timer. AO twenty twenty one finalist Jennifer Brady makes a winning return to tennis in Washington after more than seven hundred days on the sidelines, while Taylor Fritz and Francis Tiafo led a strong American field into the round of sixteen in the men's and Novak Djokovic scheduled to play singles and doubles at Cincinnati in his first outing since his Wimbledon loss to Carlos al KaAZ. Joining me on the roundtable today is the A team. It's Casey de Lacue back from a hiatus. Great to see you, case.
00:01:59
Speaker 7: Great to see and happy to be back.
00:02:01
Speaker 3: And Todd Woodbridge again joins me in studio, Todd so much so much better when you're in person here.
00:02:06
Speaker 5: I know, it's good to see your for smiling face. John, you know, the youthfulness of the man that puts this all together for us.
00:02:13
Speaker 3: It's great fun and plenty of tennis to get through, including some live stuff going on with tournaments in Washington with the men and women for the first time Lost car Boss as well in Austria for the men, and then Prague and a couple of others as we get really into the proper stuff the US hard court swing, but it's kind of weird because there's clay court tournaments and glass court tournaments.
00:02:35
Speaker 1: It's still the crossover, isn't it.
00:02:37
Speaker 5: And we were discussing that just a moment ago, you and I, and when I think for somebody that's more of a fast court player, you really try hard to get through the clay court season, do the best you can.
00:02:49
Speaker 1: You get to the grass.
00:02:50
Speaker 5: You put all the emphasis on that you need a break sometimes, and so I know when I was playing, this was the two or three week break which was just to try to refresh ahead of that US summer where you need to be fresh because as you get to the end of the season, Casey, there is this feeling of like I'm hanging in there mentally, I've been on the road, I'm getting tired. All of those things come into play, don't they.
00:03:12
Speaker 4: Yeah, No, absolutely, And I always find, like you said, this period post wimwood and it's a bit of a period where the players perhaps that have lost early and wmwoed and decide to opt in and play. But then we obviously saw Schiontech playing in Warsaw. She picked up a tournament pretty soon after Wimwooden. But you're right, Todd, it's a really important time and for myself, I was the same as you. It's a real good time to just reset because it's such a hard slog being on the tour and this is a good time to just reset before the US swing. And then obviously there's still much more of the year to play out as well. So yeah, it's been interesting to see the last couple of tournaments that have been on the calendar and then also what's to come.
00:03:52
Speaker 3: So results from last week the champions as you mentioned, Fiontech defeated Lara Siegemund in Warsaw and we'll speak more about Triontek later in the episode, over in Hamburg, it was Arancha Russ who won the women's title and alex Zeverev who won the men's. In Atlanta, Taylor Fritz, the top seed there, won his second hard court title of the year and his sixth for his career against Australia's alex Vukich, who continues to make strides Todd on the men's tour after a great grass court Sea.
00:04:20
Speaker 5: Yeah, well, there's a lot to break down, there, isn't it. I think for Zverev, terrific for him to see him win a tournament. He's getting back to that form that has him as a contender at the back end of major's. I mean for him though, there's still a lot to be dealing with, as it seems, on court and off court, which can be a distraction, but he seems to be managing that well. But from an Aussie perspective, you little beauty, you a rip snorter. We're getting some results out of them, and Alexander Vukitch has come along reached a final in Atlanta off the back of other good results and his consistency is really making him a standout. From an Australian perspective this year, and you know, really really cool to see somebody who's not given up on becoming as good as he can be Casey, and I think that's a big thing for everybody to remember when you're out there.
00:05:10
Speaker 4: It's always amazing when you see the players that have kind of slogged it out, whether that be a challenger.
00:05:16
Speaker 7: Or future level and then just hung in there.
00:05:19
Speaker 4: And we can see that he's now been rewarded for that persistence and that I guess patience and the discipline that we know that Vukitch can produce. So I think that's a really great result for him. I think it was always Taylor Fritz has been an interesting one too, hasn't he throughout the year in terms of his form coming in and out and at Grand Slam level. Perhaps not playing his best tennis at Grand Slam, but good to see him get the win in the final.
00:05:42
Speaker 7: But super super happy for u Kisch.
00:05:46
Speaker 5: Get you're right too for Taylor because he's been battling to find the confidence. Almost is his year, you could say, in adverted commas. But going into the US Opien he lost first round last year too. I think it was Brandon Holt wasn't it, And that was a shock result. Really he would have thought he was going to go well, So I think he'll be sort of starting to get that confidence meter going the right way. But talking about confidence meter, that we have to mention Alexi Poprin big win for him on clay, and you know, one of the things that I thought stood out for me with Alexi is that he's got such a big game. I don't think he's really learnt to be how to pull it together week in week out, yet so big surve, big fourhand and it's fascinating that the clay is the surface he's played very well on this year, good results in Rome, steady throughout and then a win. So what that says to me is that the clay court, he's still powerful enough to be damaging, but he gets a bit more time on the ball and particularly the movement at the back of the court. And that's really huge for him because I think I would have thought he's better on hard court, but this is actually showing him what game style he needs to play on all surfaces. And I think sometimes when we see him on a hard court, he's a little unsure and he tries to be too aggressive, his point structure, sometimes not in the right order, comes forward off the wrong ball, but the clays teaching him how to play better tennis, and so really well done to him for recognizing that actually going to that surface is making him a better player and he gets a tool win out of it to go with it.
00:07:24
Speaker 7: Yeah, I couldn't agree more Todd.
00:07:25
Speaker 4: And I think when you play on a clay court, and we've seen this with a few Australians particularly as well, that you get that little bit of extra time on the clay court, but when you have the power and the ability to hit through the court, you're rewarded on a clay court. And I think we all saw the tennis that Alexi can produce at the Ustralian Open, but your writes the consistency that he just has not been able to continue to hold throughout the year. So that win is massive for pop Print and I think particularly at the back end of the where we've seen him have some good results in probably the first six months of the year. But to be able to now continue to play some good tennis and hopefully we see him, you know, leverage the win that he's had to be able to keep thriving for the rest of the year because he does. He's got this amazing game. This serve that you know, he could hit all the spots. But I think when you get that feeling of winning a title in a really tough match. Obviously the Sammi was tough, I think that's just going to give him more and more confidence for the rest of the year.
00:08:18
Speaker 6: Yeah.
00:08:18
Speaker 5: Absolutely, because one of the things that when you've watched him plan I've caught a lot of matches in commentary, is that he is a thinker. You can tell that by the reactions that he gives you with his body language, and he needs to be positive. He needs to be outward looking at the other end of the court, and a lot of times when he isn't playing as well, you can see him very inward worrying about what's happening at his end, and no one plays as well that way. So this is giving him this freedom to actually look outwards and play freely.
00:08:45
Speaker 3: Well, it's been exactly a month since the Wimbledon campaign for Alexi began and I caught up with him at the All England Club. So let's have a listen to that interview now and we'll come back and discuss his opponent from the UMAG final. What a wonderful facility this is. What does it mean to you to walk into the gates of the All England Club for the Championships of twenty three.
00:09:04
Speaker 6: Yeah, definitely, it's it's a very very special feeling. I think Wimen is the most prestigiou tournament in tennis and to be able to compete here for fourth or fifth success successive time for me is a very big achievement and hopefully I can just put some results in and make it even a prouder moment.
00:09:23
Speaker 3: You're a bloke who clearly feeds off crowd energy. We saw how dramatic that was for you in Melbourne earlier this year. What sort of reception do you expect from the English crowds here at the All England Club.
00:09:36
Speaker 6: I know for a fact there won't be anywhere close to how it was in Australia. In Australia it was just you can't even imagine now that sort of reception and that sort of support from the home crowd. But you know, I'm hoping that I can put on a show even here for the English supporters and the English crowd and hopefully I can get at least twenty five percent of the support that I had in Australia, that would be That would be the ideal.
00:10:02
Speaker 3: Well, I think we're in between the second and third Tests of the cricket when you play your first match, so there might be more Aussies than you think hopefully.
00:10:09
Speaker 2: Yeah, that would be great.
00:10:10
Speaker 6: I've actually been keeping up with the score, so Nausies are doing quite well, aren't they.
00:10:15
Speaker 3: Yeah. Tell me about yourself as a sports fan. What sports do you like to follow.
00:10:18
Speaker 6: Yeah, I'm a huge sports fan, so I follow football, soccer, yeah, basketball, NFL, a little bit of cricket now yeah, but it's mainly basketball football that are my favorite sports.
00:10:31
Speaker 2: Which football leagues do you? The Premier League?
00:10:33
Speaker 6: Premier League and your team Evertson supporter Tim Cahill was my favorite player and he used to play and then ever since then, I've been an Everton supporter.
00:10:43
Speaker 2: Yeah.
00:10:43
Speaker 6: He actually reached out to me a couple of years ago and it was like a dream come true that he actually reached out to me.
00:10:48
Speaker 2: So, yeah, it was unbelievable.
00:10:51
Speaker 3: Have you gone to visit evidence home base?
00:10:53
Speaker 2: I have?
00:10:53
Speaker 6: Yeah, Actually I managed to watch one game in twenty nineteen, actually just before preseason started during my holiday. We don't get much time to go around and watch football, especially in England, there's not much time to be there. So it was an unbelievable experience for me, even though we lost too nil to bottom of the league.
00:11:11
Speaker 2: But yeah, it was great.
00:11:13
Speaker 3: When you watch those team sports, I think you've just listed a series of three or four team sports. What can you draw from the athletes and apply to yourself as an individual athlete in tennis?
00:11:25
Speaker 6: Oh, look, they I think team sports is tough to play.
00:11:29
Speaker 2: You know, you don't only.
00:11:31
Speaker 6: Let yourself down, but you let your whole team down if you do a mistake or something like that. And you know, it's just seeing the whole team kind of come together and support each other is something you can take away and kind of try and implement that and just try and support yourself you be your whole team kind of support and yeah, that's probably what I take out of it the most.
00:11:53
Speaker 3: Well, it's not a team environment per se, but with eight or nine Aussie men in the drawer, you occupy about it's about percent of the men's draw So what's it like having so many Aussies especially in the top one hundred.
00:12:04
Speaker 6: Yeah, it's great. I think for Australian tennis, it's unbelievable. And also to be able to go out and watch the boys play and compete and support them not just when they're playing, but also behind the scenes in the locker room during practice and stuff like that. It's unbelievable to have that kind of camaraderie. And yeah, it's just great to see that Australian tennis is doing so well and hopefully some of the Aussies or all the Aussies can go deep into this tournament and really show what it's Australian tennis is about.
00:12:34
Speaker 3: Alex Vukch mentioned that he reckons anyone from about thirty in the world to two hundred and fifty could beat anyone else on the day. You sort of have that same mentality when you walk out onto the court.
00:12:45
Speaker 6: Yeah, definitely. But I think I've shown it with my last few results. You know, I've been beat three top ten players this year. So for me, it's just a matter of keeping that consistency of that level. Like Alex said, I think not only is it the top thirty, I think even the top ten, anybody can beat it.
00:13:06
Speaker 2: It's just it's it's a very mental game. Really.
00:13:10
Speaker 6: Everybody's got the ability to hit shots and to hit really good shots, and to play big and have the game to be the top guys, but it's more just a mental kind of belief, that kind of cockiness, you know, that cocky belief that you can go out there and kind of beat them and not be flustered by the big occasion. And that comes with experience, I think.
00:13:33
Speaker 3: So you're not like that naturally.
00:13:35
Speaker 2: Is that quality?
00:13:36
Speaker 3: No?
00:13:36
Speaker 6: I never I always played up, ever since I was a junior, ever since I was a kid, I always played up. I always kind of rose to the occasion, and whenever I had to play down, that's where I struggled. So if you probably if I'd have to qualify, or if I'd have to go back and play futures or something like that, I'd probably really struggle to do. But just for me to play up, to play the better guys, the best guys in the world, where I can kind of like gauge where my level is at and try and bring it to them, is where I play my best tenners. And that's a positive and also a negative thing too, where you need to try and rise to the ocation no matter who you play, and that's something that I'm learning to do, and that's something.
00:14:17
Speaker 2: That I feel like I've.
00:14:19
Speaker 6: Done pretty well this year, and hopefully I can continue doing so and can continue learning.
00:14:26
Speaker 3: Let's try and get that poppy chant going at the All England Club this year.
00:14:29
Speaker 2: That would be good fun, wouldn't it.
00:14:30
Speaker 3: That was awesome in Melvine.
00:14:31
Speaker 2: Man, it was unbelievable.
00:14:33
Speaker 6: It's something I'll probably remember for the rest of my life, not probably four hundred percent, will Yeah. I sometimes go back and watch the YouTube video of it. It's this unbelievable feeling and I still get goosebumps every time.
00:14:44
Speaker 2: I see it.
00:14:45
Speaker 3: Put it in your pump up reel for the pre Yeah.
00:14:47
Speaker 2: Definitely that would be a That would be a great thing.
00:14:49
Speaker 3: It was a special moment. Hopefully many more to come in your career. Thanks Alexi makes Mane Just Alexi Poprom there exactly thirty one days ago. Have known that a month later he'd be a title holder, his second ATP to fifty title against stan Vavrinka, who's, believe it or not, thirty eight years old and still competing at a pretty good level, but unable to come through big matches the way that we've seen him do early in his career, especially at the Grand Slam level.
00:15:16
Speaker 5: Okay, so you're closer to thirty eight than me, so what do you think about his thirty eight?
00:15:21
Speaker 1: How there he go?
00:15:22
Speaker 7: He's still youthful, still.
00:15:24
Speaker 4: Young, But yeah, look, I think when you're thirty eight and you've been on tour and you've been as successful as a stam Rowinker has for so many years, you really do cherish the moments when you're playing in front of big crowds. You cherish the times that you get to a final, you realize and appreciate how hard you've worked or how difficult it is to often find those moments. So I think we could see the emotion in stand knowing the fact that you know, he doesn't know how many more finals he plays, he doesn't know how many more tournaments, maybe how many more years or so he's really relishing him in every moment. We know he loves playing teen competition, how passionate he is about playing for Switzerland, And yeah, I think we could see that and in the emotion that was that he showed post final, I think.
00:16:08
Speaker 5: You're right there, and another player that has done, that is Andy Murray. And Andy had a win in Washington just now against Brandon Nakashima, but in the last day or so he talked openly about sitting in at the Wimbledon final and watching our Koran's verse Djokovic and how much he learned out of those two, which is fascinating when you think how much he's already done, how much stands already done, but what they are still trying to find these little one percenters in their game to make it better. But fascinating to see Andy sort of hidden in the stands. Who knew her was that I was commentating next to Tim Henman, who those two were having a conversation on text while the match was going on, and I'm sure that Andy was just giving Tim all the things to say because Andy, Tim, you know, sometimes doesn't have those Kie may listen into our podcast now, but it just goes to show that and even like Serena was one of those in the women's game too, that just love to compete, They love to play, and I think that for any young player out there watching that this is so important to see that this is it's about winning, but it's a game that gives you so much and you never stop learning, and if you can add to your game at the end of your career, you can get this amazing longevity.
00:17:28
Speaker 3: So Murray goes through in Washington to the round of sixteen. He'll likely play Taylor Fritz, who we mentioned before is in some really good form, Christopher Eubanks, who's another American who's just come from nowhere, and another mature age let's say, developer up against Jordan Thompson. And further down the list we see other big names in grigordomitrov Ugo, Umber Daniel Evans, and Francis Tiafo, who's the second seed in Washington. He takes on Jerry Shang in the next round. So a lot of Americans doing really well as we get within three weeks of the US Open starting, and this is where the players really start to fine tune their hard caught game ahead of Canadian Open, then into Cincinnati, and then into the US Open.
00:18:11
Speaker 4: You're right, I think the US Swing is always an interesting one.
00:18:15
Speaker 7: I know when I.
00:18:16
Speaker 4: First hit the US kind of the first tournament, the conditions are tough, like Todd said, in terms of weather, but also the balls. The balls can be really Flighty, But I did hear that they're perhaps changing the balls during the US Open, so that will be an interesting one to watch out for. But I think conditions are you know, fast, then lively. They can you know, set you really up, set you up really good for the US Open swing if you can get some really good wins in the early rounds and particularly in Cincinnati and then leading into the US just on the depth there and the men's game, isn't it amazing to see how many US men they're you know, really quality players and such good depth on the on the American side for the men. And I mean we hear about Taylor Fritz and that lot, but you know the Lift, Francis TrFO and Ben Shelton and all these big name US players. It's going to be really interesting to see how they all kind of play come US Open time and what type of attention they all get.
00:19:11
Speaker 5: You also got to throw you Banks in their Chrisume Banks, Yeah, who had this amazing run at Wimbledon. And what I find fascinating is that those two players for American tennis have been a real throwback to a change up of tactics and styles on the court. So both of them have this ability to take the rhythm away from you, especially U Banks with the way he plays. He's run at wimbled and was like players back thirty years ago that would come along, serve big, not make a lottery turns and all of a sudden, bingo, they make four in a row and you're under stress and maybe you're down a break. And so he, I think, is going to have an interesting summer to watch. But I also think Ben Shelton as well, who broke through it the Australian Open. Now can he continue that run on the hard courts where he's so used to playing. That college style of tennis has got him to this point in his career. So I think they're the two to watch on the men's field, not just because they're American, but I think overall, I think they may have a standout run this particular summer.
00:20:11
Speaker 3: Well, let's cross over to look at the women's side of things now, and Eline's Fidelina continuing on her merry way. She's defeated the fifth seed Daria casset Kina to reach the quarter final. That'll be most likely against the top seed though Jess Pagoula, who Casey if I can remember just after the Australian Open you picked Pagoula as one of your breakthrough players of the year. I think she might have been the one you thought could win a Slam in twenty twenty three. So that'll be a real test for Fidelina against the top seed.
00:20:40
Speaker 4: Yeah, look, I think I mean we can all, I guess bow down to Spidelina in her comeback. I mean, it's pretty phenomenal to think she had a gave birth in October last year and look what she's been able to do is just extraordinary. But I believe there's nothing more. There's nothing more stronger, more determined than a you know, a mum that's trying to do a million other things and then hit the tennis court as well. I think it's been pretty extraordinary. But you know, Jess Pagoola, I think there's just been a few matches throughout the year that have probably not given me the sense that she's ready to win a Grand Slam. There's always just a few matches where she just doesn't throw in probably her best performances. But I still think over the hard court, I think hardcourt is Pagola's best surface. We know she likes the ball at hip hot, the courts will be fast, She'll be love playing in America, so that will be an.
00:21:30
Speaker 7: Interesting match up. But yeah, some big other names playing there this week as well.
00:21:36
Speaker 3: One of those is Belinda Benchich Todd, whom I know you're a big Yeah.
00:21:39
Speaker 5: I'll keep waiting. It's a bit like Jess Pegoola. I really am a fan of the way she plays. But again, like Jess, there's this massive hurdle that she hasn't been able to get through at Grand Slam level, which I find so surprising. But you know, you just got to keep knocking on the door because when your moment comes, she has to have that belief. I mean, you can't win Olympics and things like that without doing that. Or and the way she's led her country to Billy Jing King Cup victory, because that's enormous pressure and stress. So she just hasn't quite worked out how to take that and put it into when she's playing as an individual. But I think, you know, when we look at the summer for the women, we've got Siontech, who doesn't like grass just yet goes away gets form again on clay to take another week or two off watch out.
00:22:32
Speaker 1: I mean she's she's obviously.
00:22:34
Speaker 5: The heavy heavy favorite of the US summer for me, and then the Wimbledon champion. I mean she's just having a bit of a rest. Is she going to be a force? That'll be interesting to say. Yeah, whether she has I don't know. Sometimes after big win like that, when you haven't done that before, it's not easy to bounce back with the focus and intensity needed, which we just saw Fiontech deliver again. So I think the women's summer we need to see some of the results over these next you know, a couple of big tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati to really get a feel of who the contenders are to Fiontech.
00:23:09
Speaker 3: Well, she's now into a third position for most weeks at world number one for a first timer. She's up to seventy weeks behind I believe Graf and Hingus. In case I know that you had Sabolenka, I think finishing the year at world number one, Todd did Pich fion Tech. It is quite close in the ranking points, and of course they both have a lot of points to defend in New York. But how do you see this one playing out as we go into the last four or five months of the year between Fiontech and Sabolenka.
00:23:37
Speaker 4: All right, well, yeah, I'm going to stick strong with my early prediction and stick Okay, I'm not gonna I'm not gonna waiver from it. I obviously are all credit to shion Tech. I think when she took that number one world ranking, you know, obviously Ash was retiring and she kind of took it over. But she has definitely solidified her position as the world number one, there is no doubt about that. But I think, you know, she's the defending New York US Open champion, so yes, a lot of points there. I just think Sabolenka's consistency has been pretty impressive still throughout the year. I still believe she's got the game. I still believe she's got the weapons and the big game to be able to produce even another Grand Slam title at the US Open. But like Todd said, we'll see what the form is like over the next couple of weeks for these type of players.
00:24:24
Speaker 7: But I'm going to stick with Sabolenka. And you know, it's close.
00:24:28
Speaker 4: The running for world number one is close, and a lot can change, So I'm not going to waiver from that just yet, but it'll.
00:24:34
Speaker 7: Be interesting to see how this US Open swing goes.
00:24:37
Speaker 5: No, I like you, it's close. I think it makes it, you know, exciting finish to the years close. And the men's side as well, which Novak didn't get the Grand Slam hipped at the post your preseason prediction, which it's still looking like an amazing year for him, doesn't it no points to defend for him? At the US Open, he didn't get to play, so he's only gaining and Carlos has to win to sustain. So I think there is a real race on that men's side that legitimately depending on what Novak chooses to do with his schedule, how much he chooses to play post the US Open. You know, that will be the big factor, I think, because he didn't play a lot at the end of last year. And we'll just wait and see.
00:25:24
Speaker 4: Do you think Novak is driven by world number one or do you think he is driven by records and Grand slams?
00:25:30
Speaker 7: Because I can't see how.
00:25:31
Speaker 4: He would potentially put his body on the line and that for the number one we're ranking, but he definitely will for Grand slams.
00:25:38
Speaker 5: Was that rhetorical question for me? Because I agree with how you put it. He's chasing slams. Yeah, number one isn't the thing that he's after. If that comes because he wins so many of them, by product, it's a bonus. I think it's all about management of the body, management of the schedule, so that the body in a place that he can turn up to each major and be able to play the two weeks at his absolute best, which is what we've seen him do so far this year. His ability to peek at those important moments is better than just about anybody that's ever played the game well.
00:26:16
Speaker 3: He withdrew from a tournament after Wimbledon, has had quite a good break now and is looking at Cincinnati where he's going to play singles and doubles. Would you believe Novak?
00:26:26
Speaker 1: No, we'll wait and seek. Yeah, maybe he'll play.
00:26:30
Speaker 5: He'll do what Yvonne Lndel used to do, and he'll play a doubles to get used to the surface on Monday as a little bit of a match or two without worrying about the result. That gave gives him a feel of what it's going to be like to get ready for the singles for the rest of the week.
00:26:46
Speaker 3: Yes, well, I feel sorry for his partner, Nikola Chatcic. Then it's just for a little warm up.
00:26:51
Speaker 5: Well, listen, Nick Nichola, we had a lot of photos taken of himself throughout those couple of days, and to hang with somebody like that and watch how the they actually go about their business, that's a priceless opportunity as well.
00:27:04
Speaker 3: At the time of recording, Lost Carbos Round of sixteen matches not quite underway. That'll happen into the Mexican evening that Alex Demenor still alive. There he'll take on Thiago Austin Tarante and the other big seeds Stefanos Sitsipas, Cameron Nori, Tommy Paul and born A Chorich still alive. Before we go, guys, it's time for the super tiebreak, where we bring to the table something that's caught our attention during the week or something a little bit different. So I might throw it over to you Casey first.
00:27:32
Speaker 4: Yeah, Lorc, I think we can't go past the fee for Women's World Cup and the Matilda's at the moment, I think for women's sport, it's been extraordinary having a young daughter myself and even you know, My ten year old son has just been so highly engaged in watching the Matildas and seeing what they're how they're going. And obviously that you know, lost to Nigeria was tough, but to see them bounce back and deal with pressure. They had Kathy f em In in there talking about it, and when you think about Ash and what she was able to produce at the Australian Open under immense pressure, it's kind of similar playing a World Cup on your home soil is something phenomenal. So I think just giving them Matilda to shout out. I've been fortunate enough to be doing some be Old Greatness ambassador stuff with FIFA and it's just been great to be involved and to see the event kind of come to fruition and see the Matildas get through the group stages and playing again on Monday night against Denmark.
00:28:28
Speaker 7: Here in Sydney.
00:28:29
Speaker 4: It's going to be a massive game and I just think for women's sport it's just been extraordinary. So yeah, just a shout out to Matilda's and let's hope they can keep going.
00:28:38
Speaker 5: I mean it's hard to surpass that, isn't it. What case, it's just brought to the table part. It's been a massive no, it's been a massive European summer of sport which is sort of just coming to an end, whether it be you love your tennis, your golf or your cricket.
00:28:54
Speaker 1: And I think we.
00:28:55
Speaker 5: Brought the ashes as well, albeit not the greatest runs, but we do have the urn, so let's.
00:29:03
Speaker 3: Hope anyway you can get it.
00:29:05
Speaker 5: Anyway you can get that earn is important and we've got it for another couple of years to the next series. So well done to the Dailian men's and women's cricket team too, who won their series over the summer in the UK.
00:29:17
Speaker 1: So gee, we're doing well in nassy sport.
00:29:19
Speaker 3: Mine is slightly peculiar and may get cut from this final edit. But I brought up the other day this scenario if you were thrown and maybe you can find a women's sport equivalent. If if I were to be thrown into an let's say an AFL match and play a whole match, say on the wing or in a relatively busy position of the ground, would I be able to get one disposal, one kick or one handball for the match without any training, without having met any of the players.
00:29:48
Speaker 1: Unlikely you reckon.
00:29:50
Speaker 3: Yeah, so I think I think likely that i'd be able to get one touch one.
00:29:54
Speaker 1: I think there'd be a couple of people that might crush you.
00:29:57
Speaker 3: Yeah, well that would happen too.
00:29:58
Speaker 4: But when you got it's like the same old questioning tennis, and everyone says to me, if I was trying to return a serve with no practice and that, could I return one of your serbs throughout a match? But again, it's pretty unlikely, isn't it todd if you've never picked up a tennis racket before.
00:30:15
Speaker 3: Like, no, no, it's not that they hadn't picked up the racket, but someone who's not a professional and doesn't train regularly.
00:30:20
Speaker 5: All right, here's a scenario that happened to me that I put to Payne Stewart US Open, PGA winner in golf.
00:30:29
Speaker 1: So pain's no longer with the start in a terrible accident.
00:30:32
Speaker 5: But I used to play him as in the you know, I was playing my best singles. I would give him for love, love forty and forty love in every game, okay, And he never won a set.
00:30:46
Speaker 3: From me, really how close to And he was a low.
00:30:49
Speaker 1: A grade player, high B.
00:30:51
Speaker 5: Grade player, so he could serve return, he could rally how many games?
00:30:57
Speaker 1: So he had to win a set.
00:30:58
Speaker 5: Yeah, so I can't remember wherever he got to seven five, But it was unbelievable training in everyone a set. So I had to get back to juice in every game three points cinerow. So it was unbelievable training for your concentration and discipline, and so I used to do that quite a bit with him, and he used to get so frustrated because he was a champion sportsman and he couldn't believe that he couldn't get a point to get to five lave or five two five one anyway.
00:31:27
Speaker 1: So basically that might be how good at footy you would be.
00:31:31
Speaker 3: He just needed to win one point of those four six times, yeah, in sequence to win a set. Yeah, I couldn't do it. Yeah, Okay, there you go.
00:31:39
Speaker 5: So after that crushing from that first hit that you were going to get as you're about to try to make the disposal, he done.
00:31:47
Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah.
00:31:47
Speaker 3: I'd like to hear what our listeners think as well, and you can get in contact with the details at the end of the show. But it's time to wrap it up for this week. Plenty more tennis to look forward to, with the Canadian Open Montreal for the women and Toronto for them and we'll touch base again very soon. Casey Todd, great to see us.
00:32:03
Speaker 1: Thank you, take care everybody.
00:32:05
Speaker 3: That's all for this week's episode of The AO Show. Join us again next week for the latest tennis news, views and interviews. Happy birthday this week to Alexipoprin, Roger Federer, Felix Auger ALIASIM and Rod Laver, who turns eighty five on August nine. Happy birthday Rocket. If you'd like to get in touch, you can contact us via ozopen dot com, slash listen, or email the Aoshow at tennis dot com dot au. Also take this moment to subscribe so you never miss an episode.
00:32:34
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00:32:34
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