Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast The Sit-Down
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome to the new home of The Sit-Down | 26 Dec 2024 | 00:01:06 | |
The Sit-Down is your vantage point to the world of tennis, the latest podcast from AO Originals. Each week, you’ll hear a candid conversation with a notable tennis identity, delving into their achievements, challenges, and career-defining moments. From Grand Slam champions to coaches and tennis insiders, we go beyond forehands and backhands to learn more about some of the sport’s most interesting people. Whether you're a tennis nerd, a passionate fan, or you’re just discovering the sport, The Sit-Down has something for everyone. Listen to Season 1 episodes via The Tennis. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Martina Hingis | 29 Dec 2024 | 00:33:05 | |
In just a matter of days, Martina Hingis will celebrate the 30th anniversary of her Australian Open debut, where in 1995 she played her first Grand Slam tournament and won her first match at just 14 years of age. Two years later, she won the title, the first of three in a row and an incredible six consecutive AO finals. She loved the conditions so much she installed several Rebound Ace courts at her home and training bases, and fondly recalls her memories of her time and milestones in Melbourne. She set several records with her performances, some of which are being recalled now thanks to the achievements of the current generation. Hingis, still an avid follower of tennis, is well aware of this and loves watching many of today's stars — continuing a relationship with a sport which has shaped her life and brought immense joy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Pat Rafter | 06 Jan 2025 | 00:20:53 | |
Pat Rafter is one of Australia’s most beloved athletes; the 2002 Australian of the Year who scaled the highest heights in tennis. The former world No.1 and two-time US Open champion sits down with Matt to reflect on his storied career, which also featured two Wimbledon finals, semifinals at all four majors, two ATP Masters titles, and many other notable milestones. Since retiring in 2001, Rafter still follows the game but has since explored the world beyond tennis. He lives on a farm in rural New South Wales, which he revegetated to improve the habitat for koalas. He is involved with the Byron Bay fashion label Rallee, vintage-inspired athleisurewear for racket-sport players. And he's an ambassador for Padel, one of tennis's complementary disciplines, which we watched him play before recording this interview. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Victoria Azarenka | 12 Jan 2025 | 00:14:46 | |
Few players have as impressive an Australian Open CV as Victoria Azarenka, who joins Viv and Matt ahead her AO 2025 campaign. The 35-year-old first competed at Melbourne Park as a junior 20 years ago when she won the 2005 girls' singles title. And she joined rarified air by winning the women's singles title at the same tournament she'd conquered as a junior, triumphing in 2012 — her first Grand Slam singles title, which catapulted her to world No.1. She defended her title in 2013 and remained the last woman to go back-to-back at the AO until countrywoman Aryna Sabalenka emulated her feat in 2024. Now a mother to eight-year-old Leo, Azarenka is candid and reflective at this stage of her career, and even more motivated to leave the sport in a better place than she found it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Tony Godsick | 27 Jan 2025 | 00:31:19 | |
From his humble beginnings as a college-level intern, Tony Godsick has forged an unparalleled career as an agent to the stars, representing the likes of Monica Seles, Roger Federer, Coco Gauff and Ben Shelton. Now president and CEO of TEAM8, Godsick sits down with Viv and Matt during AO 2025 to give a rare inside view of his work with some of the world’s most iconic athletes. He shares the origin story of the Laver Cup, and its significance in honouring the sport’s history and illuminating its future. Godsick also provides some sage career and life advice, a mastermind of the business of tennis. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Corey Gauff | 20 Jan 2025 | 00:25:07 | |
Viv and Matt are joined by Corey Gauff, father of world No.3 Coco, who's through to the quarterfinals of Australian Open 2025. But you won’t see Corey in Gauff's courtside entourage; in 2023 he decided it was more helpful to watch her matches unfold in a room off court – one of many insights gleaned in a fascinating interview with a man who has an incredible perspective on raising and guiding a child phenom who burst to superstardom as a teenager. Corey Gauff, a former collegiate footballer, saw an athletic career for his daughter, but also recognised the importance of education, life balance, and, most of all, having fun on the tennis court. He recounts Coco's tennis journey, and his role within it, in this candid conversation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Diana Shnaider | 03 Feb 2025 | 00:16:43 | |
Diana Shnaider is making major moves, rising from outside the top 100 at the start of the 2024 season to a career-high world No.12 by the end of the year. The 20-year-old recently sat down with Viv and Matt at AO 2025 to discuss her growing list of milestones, including multiple titles in singles and doubles, plus an Olympic silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games. Shnaider also discusses her special friendship with fellow phenom—and doubles partner—Mirra Andreeva, her famous bandana, the importance of balance, and why she isn't fussed by the weight of expectation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Thomas Drouet | 10 Feb 2025 | 00:30:06 | |
Wang Qiang’s defeat of Serena Williams in 2020 was one of the great Australian Open upsets. Her coach at the time was Thomas Drouet who, from his home in Monaco, joins Matt to relive his protégé’s epic triumph. Wang is one of many high-profile players Drouet has coached; he helped guide Marion Bartoli to the Wimbledon title in 2013, and has worked with AO finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and doubles world No.1 Timea Babos. Having also served as Rafael Nadal’s hitting partner during his Monte Carlo Masters campaigns, Drouet has translated his tennis expertise into ‘The Cards Challenge’, an interactive card game helping players at all levels develop and hone their games. Read more about Drouet's recollections of Wang's win over Williams. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Magnus Norman | 17 Feb 2025 | 00:32:53 | |
Former world No.2 Magnus Norman has gained recognition as a sought-after coach since his retirement from playing in 2003. During AO 2025, Norman took Viv and Matt back to the beginning of his tennis journey, where he began developing his game during the Swedish tennis boom of the 1980s and drew inspiration from countryman Stefan Edberg. Initially a serve-volleyer, Norman evolved into a world-class baseliner and peaked during a stunning 2000 season, reaching the Australian Open semifinals and Roland Garros final, and coming within one victory of the world No.1 ranking. After experiencing the 'normal' life of office work in the early days of his retirement, the lure of tennis proved strong. He went on to coach Robin Soderling and Stan Wawrinka, helping guide the latter to three Grand Slam titles in a remarkable partnership spanning more than a decade. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Kim Birrell | 24 Feb 2025 | 00:17:14 | |
After the most inspired period of her career so far, Kim Birrell has climbed to a career-high world No.75 ranking and is Australia’s new women’s No.1. The Queenslander sat down with producer Victoria Rudnikov to discuss her recent milestones, including a quarterfinal appearance at the Brisbane International, qualifying for the AO 2025 women’s singles draw and a runner-up finish in an all-Australian mixed doubles final at her home Grand Slam. Birrell also looks ahead to the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup qualifier tie in Brisbane, where she will represent her nation in a home tie for the first time. Following a career that was earlier interrupted by serious injury, Birrell brings hard-gained perspective and a firm appreciation for some inspirational figures – including fellow Australians Sam Stosur and Nicole Pratt – who have helped that rise. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Ivan Ljubicic | 03 Mar 2025 | 00:29:21 | |
Former world No.3 Ivan Ljubicic sits down with Viv Christie to reflect on a career that delivered highs such as winning the Davis Cup title for Croatia in 2005, a semifinal run at Roland Garros in 2006, qualifying for the ATP Finals in both those years, and the Indian Wells Masters title in 2010. His achievements went beyond the tennis court; Ljubicic was also elected to the ATP Player Council and forged strong relationships with his peers, serving him well as he moved into coaching and player management. He coached Milos Raonic and Roger Federer, guiding the latter to three Grand Slam singles titles and learning some valuable lessons from the Swiss legend along the way. Ljubicic, who was born in Bosnia & Herzegovina before relocating to Italy amid the Yugoslav War, recalls in vivid detail a sometimes-challenging yet ultimately fulfilling career that continues in the sport to this day. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Sven Groeneveld | 09 Mar 2025 | 00:24:59 | |
After his playing career, Sven Groeneveld answered an ad in a tennis magazine that saw him head to Japan and take the first steps in what has become a legendary coaching career. The Dutchman has worked with an incredible roster of Grand Slam champions, including Monica Seles, Mary Pierce, Michael Stich, Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova and Bianca Andreescu. He has also led the Swiss Tennis Federation, overseeing the coaches who developed a young Roger Federer. Groeneveld sits down with Viv and Matt at the Australian Open, which he's attended since 1992, and which has left him with many unforgettable memories, including Pierce's breakthrough 1995 title. A passionate student of the game, Groeneveld dives into his coaching philosophy, how he navigates players' needs on the road, and his current roles coaching Sorana Cirstea and Taro Daniel. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Kim Clijsters | 17 Mar 2025 | 00:31:35 | |
This week we're joined by former world No.1 Kim Clijsters, who spoke to Matt from Indian Wells -—a tournament where she is a two-time champion. Clijsters was in the Californian desert in her role as honorary president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, where she met with some of this year's inductees as well as connecting with local student athletes as part of the ITHOF's Be Legendary program. Clijsters' current role is one of many she continues to hold within the sport; she has also coached, owns an academy, appeared in legends events and has done media work. She's a lifelong fan of the sport and it shines through in this interview, during which she reflects on her glittering career, her incredible comeback as a mother, the last of four Grand Slam titles she won at AO 2011 and the top players she loves watching today. iHeart Host handle: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Chanda Rubin | 31 Mar 2025 | 00:29:03 | |
We caught up with former top 10 star Chanda Rubin when she was in Melbourne as part of the AO commentary team, returning to a tournament site where she reached the 1996 semifinals -- her best Grand Slam result. That year Rubin beat Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in a record-breaking quarterfinal before teaming with the Spaniard to win the women's doubles title. Yet while that, plus her peak world No.6 ranking, both occurred in 1996, Rubin believes she was at her best in 2002 and 2003, when she competed in one of the strongest periods in women's tennis and even scored a win over world No.1 Serena Williams in the midst of the 'Serena Slam' era. These highs capped a successful comeback from double knee surgery, but injuries returned in 2004 and ultimately cut short her career. Following her final match in 2006, Rubin completed a university degree and has emerged as a popular voice in the tennis media, making it especially fascinating to get her views on her career, her rivals, and the sport today. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Tomas Berdych | 24 Mar 2025 | 00:25:33 | |
Former world No.4 Tomas Berdych joined Viv and Matt in the Pod Laver Arena studio during Australian Open 2025, an event where Czechs Jiri Lehecka, Tomas Berdych and Jakub Mensik all reached at least the third round. This was especially pleasing to Berdych, who in September took on the role as Czech Davis Cup captain after earlier working as Lehecka's coach. This evolution in his tennis journey followed a playing career which ended in 2019 and delivered highs such as 13 ATP titles, the 2010 Wimbledon final -- where he beat Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic along the way -- and back-to-back Davis Cup titles for his country in 2012 and 2013. Berdych enjoyed the chance to reflect on this and other highlights (like AO semifinals in 2014 and 2015) as well as giving his thoughts on the current era of emerging stars in this engaging interview. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Ellen Perez | 07 Apr 2025 | 00:30:17 | |
Ahead of this week's upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier in Brisbane, we sat down with Team Australia's Ellen Perez. A member of the Australian team who reached the 2022 Finals, Perez is now one of the nation’s most experienced players. The hard-hitting baseliner recently held a top 10 doubles ranking, has won two ITF singles titles and has reached 10 Grand Slam quarterfinals across the doubles and mixed doubles events. As a member of the WTA Players' Council, Perez is passionate about representing her peers. She tells Viv and Matt why she loves this off-court commitment and the reason Australia is well placed leading into this year's Billie Jean King Cup event. Book your ticket to the Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier here. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Sandra Zaniewska | 28 Apr 2025 | 00:29:25 | |
This week Viv and Matt bring you their chat with Sandra Zaniewska, notable for being one of the few women coaching at the elite level on the professional tour. Zaniewska, a former pro player from Poland, transitioned into coaching when she began an informal partnership with friend and fellow pro Petra Martic. The 33-year-old has gone on to coach multiple WTA players and now works with Marta Kostyuk, the rising Ukrainian star who under Zaniewska's guidance has risen as high as world No.16 and this week will feature in the fourth round of the Madrid Open. In this reflective interview Zaniewska discusses her career path, her coaching philosophy, who helped her get to this point, her nomadic existence and how she sees the game today. Listen to the Sit-Down with Marta Kostyuk here. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Destanee Aiava | 12 May 2025 | 00:30:57 | |
Australian star Destanee Aiava is this week's guest on The Sit-Down, just days before she flies to Europe ahead of her main-draw debut at Roland Garros, where she has been awarded a wildcard. Aiava, 25, has enjoyed a brilliant nine-month span, starting when she qualified at the US Open last August. She replicated that feat at Australian Open 2025, an unforgettable run where her match-point-saving exploits, iconic outfits and ultimate loss to Danielle Collins created global headlines. Her results have helped her return to the brink of the world's top 150 and just a few spots shy of her career-high ranking of world No.147 -- a mark she set eight years ago as a 17-year-old phenom. A lot has changed in the years since for the Melburnian, who takes Viv and Matt through her tennis journey, her deep appreciation for the sport, and what she's targeting beyond 2025. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Maya Joint | 05 May 2025 | 00:27:47 | |
Australian rising star Maya Joint is this week's guest on The Sit-Down, speaking to Matt in Brisbane in what was her very first podcast interview. Joint was in the Queensland capital as part of Australia's Billie Jean King Cup team and was selected thanks to impressive form; in 2025 she has cracked the top 100 and at one point was the world's second-highest ranked teenager. The 19-year-old grew up and developed her game in the US city of Detroit but now represents Australia, where her father -- a pro squash player -- was born. We hear Maya's perspective on her stunning rankings rise, her experience of doing more media, how she approaches facing top players and adjusts to life at bigger tournaments and on larger show courts, and what she's targeting next, all while continuing her studies. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Patrick McEnroe (Part 1) | 19 May 2025 | 00:30:53 | |
This week's guest is Patrick McEnroe, who joined Viv and Matt in the studio during AO 2025 for a wide-ranging chat about his unique tennis career. The Australian Open is his favourite event, the tournament where he broke through for his first Slam singles semifinal in 1991 and also reached that year's doubles final. He also upset Boris Becker en route to the fourth round in 1995, making Melbourne Park the happiest of hunting grounds. Since his playing days McEnroe became the longest-serving US Davis Cup captain, remains a veteran tennis broadcaster and is now president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, giving him an incredible perspective on the sport. McEnroe also describes his experience of coming up behind older brother John, a legend of the sport with whom Patrick combined to win his first ATP doubles final, and also encountered across the net in his first singles final. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Thanasi Kokkinakis | 26 May 2025 | 00:28:54 | |
Thanasi Kokkinakis joins Viv and Matt in Pod Laver Arena as he continues his rehab from pectoral attachment surgery. It’s the perfect time to talk to the Australian star coinciding with the start of Roland Garros — the site of his best Grand Slam results and a thrilling succession of five-set epics in 2024. This time around, he's making his commentary debut, joining Nine’s Wide World of Sports team to cover the Roland Garros action from Australia. Kokkinakis also opens up about his enduring Australian Open memories, connections with fellow Aussies on tour, and the lessons he's learned throughout a see-sawing career. He also takes an entertaining trip down memory lane thanks to some exclusive archive footage from his junior career. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Garbine Muguruza | 02 Jun 2025 | 00:37:26 | |
The timing couldn't be better to feature Garbine Muguruza, who sat down with Viv and Matt before she was due to fly to Paris for the closing stages of Roland Garros -- a tournament she won in 2016 to cement her status as a tennis superstar. Not long after that is Wimbledon, where the Spaniard also won in 2017 to hoist her second major singles trophy. Muguruza reflected on those peaks, as well as how it felt to reach world No.1, something she achieved a month after her Wimbledon victory. After some challenging years on tour Muguruza rebounded to reach the Australian Open 2020 final, where she suffered what she described as the most painful defeat of her career. Another high point came in 2021 when she triumphed at the WTA Finals -- the elite eight-player event where she became tournament director after retiring from the sport last year. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Nicola Pietrangeli | 08 Jun 2025 | 00:18:49 | |
Italian great Nicola Pietrangeli always thrived during the claycourt season. He is a two-time Roland Garros champion from his four finals appearances, and a two-time Italian Open champion, winning his 1961 final against Aussie legend Rod Laver. In fact, his name is forever associated with the Rome Masters given one of the show courts there is named in his honour. Frequently lauded as the world's most beautiful tennis court thanks to its sunken position, marble terraces and surrounding statues, it was where producer Ursin Caderas caught up with Pietrangeli during the prestigious tournament. One of the game’s great players and personalities, Pietrangeli touches on his start in pro tennis as a linesman, the contrast between generations, this golden era of Italian tennis and why champions are born and not built. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Jonas Bjorkman | 16 Jun 2025 | 00:23:02 | |
Todd Woodbridge jumps into the hosting chair to chat to doubles-rival-turned-partner — and long-time friend — Jonas Bjorkman. The Swede was a star in both singles and doubles, rising as high as No.4 in singles shortly after reaching the 1997 US Open semifinals, and peaking at No.1 in the tandem game, winning a total of nine Grand Slam doubles titles. Five of those came with Woodbridge in a fruitful period from 2001-2004, during which the pair claimed three consecutive Wimbledon trophies as well as the Australian Open 2001 crown in just their second tournament together. Bjorkman has since transitioned to a successful post-tennis career, something Woodbridge revealed has inspired and shaped his own journey after retiring from playing. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Storm Hunter | 23 Jun 2025 | 00:33:04 | |
Almost exactly a year ago, Storm Hunter appeared as a guest on The Sit-Down in the midst of rehabbing a ruptured Achilles. While the tennis tours were in the throes of the grasscourt season, Hunter was watching from afar, in the middle of Melbourne's winter. After nine months out of the game the Aussie star is back on tour, and within a short period has boosted her doubles ranking back inside the world's top 100 after falling as low as No.1482 in March. Viv and Matt wanted to check back in with her, and Hunter joined the podcast during her week in Berlin as The Sit-Down's first returning guest. During the chat she shares the highs and lows of her comeback so far, including how she's navigated the psychological aspects of returning to elite-level competition plus her experience of the WTA's historic return to the Queen's Club tournament after more than 50 years. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Tim Henman | 30 Jun 2025 | 00:34:18 | |
On the eve of Wimbledon, Tim Henman sits down with AusOpen.com's Jackson Mansell to discuss his memories of his most storied Grand Slam. From watching his idol, Bjorn Borg, on Centre Court as a six-year-old to reaching the semifinals on four occasions, the All England Club has become a second home for the former world No.4. Years after Henman carried the hopes of a nation at his home Grand Slam, new British No.1 Jack Draper leads a strong British contingent. Henman speaks about Draper’s chances at Wimbledon 2025, his memories of playing in Australia and his upcoming involvement with the Laver Cup. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Craig Tyzzer | 07 Jul 2025 | 00:35:07 | |
Australian coach Craig Tyzzer sat down with Viv and Matt in the days ahead of Wimbledon, a tournament where he helped guide Ash Barty to the 2021 title. The victory, which saw Barty achieve a life-long dream, came amid a challenging season with COVID-19 protocols and quarantine requirements forcing Tyzzer, Barty and their team to remain on the road for nine straight months. He reflects on that experience and how his career focus shifted when Barty retired in March 2022, just six weeks after her iconic Australian Open singles triumph. Tyzzer, who has coached at the elite level since the 1990s, is now working with the next generation of young Aussie female players in the development pathway while keenly following the action on the WTA Tour, where Barty once ruled for more than 100 weeks at world No.1. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Brad Stine: the coach behind Tommy Paul and American greats | 28 Jul 2025 | 00:39:40 | |
In a coaching career spanning several decades, Brad Stine has guided Jim Courier to multiple Grand Slam titles and the world No.1 ranking, while also enjoying fruitful partnerships with the likes of Mardy Fish, Sebastian Grosjean and Kevin Anderson. Now, during a vibrant era for American tennis, Stine is the long-time coach of Tommy Paul, who has reached multiple career milestones under his mentorship. In this edition of The Sit-Down, the highly respected coach reflects on his beginnings in the sport, his award-winning career, and shares some core principles of his highly successful coaching philosophy. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Greg Crump | 21 Jul 2025 | 00:34:06 | |
In a coaching career spanning four decades, Greg Crump has guided a trio of Australians to the world No.1 wheelchair tennis ranking and provided a multitude of players to a life-changing start in the sport. With an enduring passion for creating opportunities through wheelchair tennis, Crump is now guiding a new generation of competitive players and was recently named ITF Wheelchair Tennis Coach of the Year. Crump caught up with Viv and Matt to discuss his long career in wheelchair tennis, and some bold ideas for its future growth. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| The Sit-Down with Ken Rosewall and Mal Anderson | 14 Jul 2025 | 00:26:42 | |
Australian legends Ken Rosewall and Mal Anderson are two players whose tennis careers overlapped in both the amateur and professional eras, and who continue to remain connected today. Rosewall, then 37, beat 36-year-old Anderson to win the ‘golden oldies’ final at Australian Open 1972, and 53 years later he remains the oldest Grand Slam singles champion in the Open era. Rosewall’s longevity has been revisited given the achievements of Novak Djokovic, who last week became the oldest Wimbledon men’s semifinalist behind Rosewall in the Open era and who has received multiple Australian Open trophies from Rosewall at Rod Laver Arena. Matt sat down with both Rosewall and Anderson in Brisbane during an Australian Billie Jean King Cup tie, after Rosewall had presented Anderson with his recently-recovered International Tennis Hall of Fame ring – 25 years after his induction ceremony in Newport. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Popyrin’s Canadian breakthrough, one year on | 04 Aug 2025 | 00:16:52 | |
In an episode originally published in 2024, Alexei Popyrin was riding a sweet wave after his ATP Masters 1000 triumph in Montreal, a result meaning he entered the US Open with a career-high ranking and seeded at a major for the first time. The rising Australian star sat down with Viv Christie and Jon Hoevenaars to talk milestone breakthroughs, Aussie inspiration, and the sacrifices that helped to turn his long-held tennis dreams into reality. Originally published on 26/08/2024 iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| From underdog to icon: Jelena Dokic in a WTA golden era | 07 Aug 2025 | 00:25:05 | |
When Jelena Dokic stunned Martina Hingis in the first round of Wimbledon 1999, the Australian qualifier became a global superstar, ultimately peaking at world No.4 in one of the strongest eras of women’s tennis. Dokic has since gone on to become a highly-respected broadcaster and this week won a Logie -- an Australian television award -- for her documenary Unbreakable. Dokic sat down with Matt and Viv to relive her careers highs, recounting her upset of Swiss superstar Hingis in vivid detail, her experience of competing against so many WTA icons, and how her run to the medal rounds of the Sydney 2000 Olympics remains one of her proudest achievements. Originally published on 24/06/2024 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Casper & Christian Ruud: setting and stretching the bar | 11 Aug 2025 | 00:36:41 | |
Christian and Casper Ruud are among the most successful father-son duos in professional tennis history. Christian put Norwegian tennis on the map in the 1990s, becoming the first player from his country to crack the top 40 and reach the second week of a Grand Slam in the Open era. These were milestones Casper matched in the early 2020s, then surpassed by appearing in three Grand Slam finals and peaking at world No.2. Christian and Casper joined Viv and Matt on this week's episode to discuss their respective journeys, and how the lessons Christian learned during his time on tour, and in the commentary booth, helped shape Casper's path to the top -- with Christian guiding as coach. They were speaking from Cincinnati as Casper builds up to the US Open, where three years ago he came within one match win of the No.1 ranking. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Patrick McEnroe (Part 2): hooking into history | 18 Aug 2025 | 00:17:24 | |
Ahead of this week’s International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction — where Maria Sharapova and the Bryan brothers join the sport’s elite — president Patrick McEnroe joined The Sit-Down to discuss the power of tennis history. A former Australian Open semifinalist, Roland Garros doubles champion and record-breaking Davis Cup captain, McEnroe is passionate about the game’s rich past and reminding fans that greatness isn’t measured by Grand Slams alone. He shares his vision for the Hall of Fame, reflects on his role in the creation of the Laver Cup, explains why players feel “inspired” by it, and why fulfilling one particular dream remains his “proudest moment”. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Rennae Stubbs: tennis parenting and the path to greatness | 01 Sep 2025 | 00:34:23 | |
Rennae Stubbs is an icon of tennis, both in Australia and the US. Now a commentator for ESPN, Stubbs earned her credentials through a No.1 doubles ranking, Olympic representation in four consecutive Games and six Grand Slam titles in the early 2000s. The last major final of her distinguished career was a loss to Venus and Serena Williams - the latter of whom she went on to coach. Stubbs has also worked with Karolina Pliskova, Sam Stosur and Eugenie Bouchard, consistently delivering ranking rises if not major titles. In this conversation during the 2025 American swing, the Sydney-born champion reflects on her friendship with Steffi Graf, the Australian "enclave" that bred a generation of stars and the range of parenting styles she's encountered through her eventful tennis life. AusOpen.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Michael Chang: earning his stripes in a nation of stars | 25 Aug 2025 | 00:28:10 | |
Michael Chang stepped into the ATP Tour in 1988 - an era in which US tennis wasn't short of headliner prospects. By 1989 though, at 17 years old, he'd roared past the likes of Jim Courier, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras to become the first American of his generation to claim a Grand Slam title. The Roland Garros champion remains the youngest man to win any major but, as he reveals in this Sit-Down, the Californian performed best on the North American hard courts. Chang won two and reached four consecutive finals in Cincinnati, as well as lifting trophies in Toronto, Indian Wells and Miami, among other American tournaments. Following his playing career, the former world No.2 guided Kei Nishikori to the 2014 US Open Final and, since Wimbledon 2025, has worked with teenage sensation Learner Tien. Originally published on 19/08/2024 and 07/10/2024 AusOpen.com Host handles: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| David Hall: recollections of an Australian wheelchair tennis legend | 08 Sep 2025 | 00:37:56 | |
David Hall's wheelchair tennis CV makes for heady reading, and at the US Open he sat down with Matt to reflect on a career delivering him Paralympic singles gold, nine AO and eight US titles, six year-end No.1 finishes and induction into multiple Halls of Fame. He was in New York for the 20th anniversary of the US Open wheelchair tournament's inaugural edition at Flushing Meadows, the first time he'd returned to the city since that 2005 US Open – his last Slam campaign in a professional career spanning more than 15 years. Although he initially struggled in the early stages of retirement, Hall eventually made his way back into the sport as a coach, consultant, advisor, ambassador, and instructor, and continues to profoundly impact the sport that brought him incredible joy. All this, plus many more fascinating stories throughout his journey, are detailed in his recently-released autobiography, Superbeast, which is available to purchase via Amazon. iHeart Host handles: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Rinky Hijikata: doubles superstar targeting solo success | 29 Sep 2025 | 00:17:45 | |
In his burgeoning pro career, Rinky Hijikata has shone on the doubles court. At just 21 years of age, he combined with fellow Aussie Jason Kubler to win Australian Open 2023, and in 2025 reached the Wimbledon men’s doubles alongside Dutchman David Pel. Those results have given Hijikata invaluable exposure to the pressure of huge moments on the game’s biggest stages; experience he hopes to translate to his singles game. As he discusses with Jackson Mansell on this week’s episode, the Sydneysider – who’d made a rare return to his hometown for Australia’s Davis Cup tie against Belgium — was keen to put physical niggles behind him in a bid to improve on his career-high singles ranking of world No.62. Inspired by Australian legend Lleyton Hewitt and Japanese icon Kei Nishikori, Hijikata discusses his journey — which went through the US college system — to arrive at this point. iHeart @jackson_mansell
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| Judy Murray: what it takes to raise two Grand Slam champions | 22 Sep 2025 | 00:36:39 | |
Judy Murray says it’s ‘incredible’ when she reflects on the fact her sons, Andy and Jamie Murray, emerged from Scotland to become world No.1s and Grand Slam champions in singles and doubles, respectively. Judy began playing the game in Scotland as a child back when the country had barely any tennis infrastructure or elite pathway to follow – and it was one she helped create and grow, at a grassroots level, when she introduced her sons to the game. Murray sits down with Matt on this week’s episode – the first of a two-part chat – to discuss her journey in the game, her sons’ progression to the top of the sport, her stint as the British Fed Cup captain, and the growth of the women’s game, where she now works, for the WTA, as a community ambassador. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Yannick Noah: peaks, pressures and life lessons of an iconic career | 15 Sep 2025 | 00:40:17 | |
Yannick Noah, inspired by Arthur Ashe who recognised his talent and nurtured his potential, went on to craft an inspirational career of his own. In 1983, the 23-year-old became the first Frenchman in 37 years to lift the Roland Garros men’s trophy. He became world No.1 in doubles, an Australian Open semifinalist, and peaking at world No.5 in singles, became the highest ranked Frenchman in history. Yet it was team tennis that he cherished most: as Davis Cup captain, he guided France to three titles. Now preparing for the next chapter in his iconic tennis story – leading Team Europe as captain at Laver Cup San Francisco – Noah joined The Sit-Down to reflect on the highs and lows of his own career and the many life lessons it has provided. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Priscilla Hon: "unlocking" her brain to become a top-100 player | 06 Oct 2025 | 00:21:09 | |
Having competed on tour for the better part of a decade, 27-year-old Priscilla Hon is enjoying her best season to date. The Queenslander this week made her top-100 debut, reward for a purple patch of form during which she has flourished on the biggest stages. After qualifying for Wimbledon, Hon did the same at the US Open, going on to reach the third of the main draw in a career-best Slam performance. She then headed to the China Open and powered into the third round, her best WTA 1000 result. Hon joined Viv and Matt on screen from Beijing — where she also reached the doubles semifinals alongside Karolina Muchova — and talked candidly about what's been clicking in 2025 as well as her "up-and-down" journey to this point. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Zizou Bergs: "happy but not satisfied" in breakout season | 13 Oct 2025 | 00:21:44 | |
Since making his ATP-level debut on home soil in Antwerp, Belgian Zizou Bergs has made methodical progress in his career. From his position outside the top 500 then, to cracking the top 50 this year, Bergs has emerged as a compelling player on court with a well-rounded attitude to life off it. In this week’s episode, we share Jackson Mansell’s interview with Bergs in Sydney at last month’s Davis Cup tie, when Bergs helped Belgium to a 3-2 win over Australia at Ken Rosewall Arena. In a wide-ranging chat we learn of the origin of his name, his dedication to improvement and extracting the very best from himself, his breakout run at Roland Garros in 2024, and how he emphasises reading, learning and overall self-improvement in his time away from the court. iHeart See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Daria & Luke Saville: Aussie tennis’ favourite couple in first podcast interview together | 20 Oct 2025 | 00:30:51 | |
Viv and Matt are joined by not one, but two guests: Daria and Luke Saville. During a rare week at home in Melbourne together in 2024, the Savilles left dog Tofu with Dasha's mum and sat down for their first proper interview together. In a wide-ranging chat, they recall how they met as juniors, Daria's relocation to Australia, and how their professional tennis careers have unfolded in tandem: hitting together, offering each other advice, and learning from one another, shining a light on their various strengths as players, and their respective coaching ambitions. Also, Viv refreshes Luke's memory with his original letter to Australian Tennis Magazine 20 years ago! AusOpen.com Host handles: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Mark Philippoussis: falling in love with tennis "all over again" | 27 Oct 2025 | 00:31:24 | |
Mark Philippoussis joins Viv Christie in Pod Laver Arena to reflect on a career that saw him crack the top 10, reach two Grand Slam finals and star in two triumphant Australian Davis Cup teams. The Melburnian's star soared when he stunned world No.1 Pete Sampras as a teenager, in his home city, at Australian Open 1996, and two years later appeared in his first major final at the 1998 US Open. Philippoussis admits his second major final defeat, to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2003, was more painful to process. Yet just a few months later he ended that year on a high, playing through a torn pectoral muscle to clinch the winning rubber over Spain at Rod Laver Arena, which saw Australia crowned 2003 Davis Cup champions. Since retiring, Philippoussis has pursued an interest in fashion yet has remained connected to the sport through legends events and coaching, revealing how much he enjoys watching the current generation of men's and women's stars. AusOpen.com Host handles: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Judy Murray (Part 2): building a women's tennis workforce | 02 Nov 2025 | 00:29:05 | |
In the second part of Matt's chat with Judy Murray, the Scottish matriarch talks about her passion for the investment in and visibility of women's sports. Inspired by the Billie Jean King quote, "if you don't use your voice, nobody will hear you," Murray discusses her work in the women and girls space, including with the WTA to foster more tennis opportunities at a grassroots level in Saudi Arabia — current home of the WTA Finals — and in her previous role as British Fed Cup captain, where she brought more women into high-performance roles. Be sure to check out Part 1 of The Sit-Down with Judy Murray, in which she discusses raising her Grand Slam champion sons Andy and Jamie. AusOpen.com Host handles: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Maya Joint: the ongoing rise of Australia's new No.1 woman | 10 Nov 2025 | 00:22:45 | |
The last time Maya Joint sat down with us, in April, she was the world No.78 preparing to make her Billie Jean King Cup debut for Australia. Seven months on, she's a two-time WTA title winner, ranked 32nd and was the first player selected to lead the Culture Amp Australian Billie Jean King Cup team into action for this week's Play-offs in Hobart. Joint's return to The Sit-Down gave us a chance to chat to the teenager about just how far she's come, and the fact she's put herself in contention for a Grand Slam seeding in 2026. Now living in Melbourne, Joint joined Jackson Mansell in Pod Laver Arena to discuss her most recent career highlights, how she's adjusting to the brighter glare of the spotlight, her thoughts on representing Australia, plus what she's doing off court to celebrate her successes and maintain work-life balance. AusOpen.com Host handles: @jackson_mansell See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Casey Dellacqua: the spark that lit a golden run | 17 Nov 2025 | 00:34:58 | |
A revered name in modern Australian tennis, Casey Dellacqua is universally admired for her on-court achievements, commentary insights and humility through success. The West Australian-turned-Sydneysider played eight Grand Slam finals through her peak, claiming the French Open mixed doubles title in 2011. A famous partnership with Ash Barty delivered finals at all four Slams, but her name first went up in lights after a defeat of Amelie Mauresmo and a fourth-round run at AO 2008. Her singles career is oft underappreciated; Dellacqua progressed to at least the third round at every major. The former world No.26 stepped into Pod Laver Arena to tell Matt and Viv about the moment that flipped her career "on its head", victories she claimed through periods of physical and emotional turmoil and her current life with the "best job in the world". AusOpen.com Host handles:@Viv_Christie See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Heath Davidson: candid, resilient, and more motivated that ever | 01 Dec 2025 | 00:38:37 | |
Wheelchair tennis star Heath Davidson, whose profile exploded after he and partner Dylan Alcott claimed quad doubles gold for Australia at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, joins Viv and Matt this week in Pod Laver Arena. Davidson’s prominence in the sport, and wheelchair tennis advocacy, have helped shape the upcoming summer of tennis; January will see wheelchair events integrated into the United Cup and the Brisbane and Adelaide Internationals leading into Australian Open 2026. More motivated than ever to compete during the new-look summer, Davidson remains a fixture in the top 10 at age 38, all the more inspiring given the hurdles he was forced to overcome – including addiction, homelessness and “falling into the wrong crowd” – during his teens and 20s, a time he recounts in candid detail during this wide-ranging interview. AusOpen.com Host handles: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||
| Patrick Kypson: the American with a golden ticket to AO 2026 | 24 Nov 2025 | 00:29:32 | |
American Patrick Kypson joined The Sit-Down this week in a great place in his career. The 26-year-old sits at a peak ranking of No.117, thanks to results on the Challenger circuit which also helped him secure a main-draw wildcard at Australian Open 2026. After missing three months of 2025 due to a foot stress fracture and dropping outside the world’s top 450, Kypson soared when he returned, winning four ATP Challenger titles and benefitting from a commitment to more aggression and a better transition game to compliment the counterpunching instincts he honed from childhood on the green clay courts of North Carolina. During this interview Viv and Matt also learned about Kypson’s connection with leading Americans on the ATP Tour, his journey through the US college system, and what he’s targeting when his 2026 season begins Down Under. AusOpen.com Host handles:
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| Alex de Minaur: “I would love nothing more than a deep AO run” | 08 Dec 2025 | 00:27:46 | |
After a brief off-season, 2026 preparations are already underway for Alex de Minaur, who joined Viv and Matt on this week’s episode from his base in Monte Carlo. The Aussie No.1 enjoyed the chance to reflect on his 2025 season, during which he reached his first AO quarterfinal and won his 10th career ATP title in Washington DC – while also overcoming burnout and shifting perspective – to achieve his highest year-end ranking. Those performances saw him nominated once again for the prestigious Newcombe Medal, awarded to Australia’s most outstanding player and ambassador for the sport. ‘Demon’, as he is affectionately known, also dived into his passion for collecting vintage cars, his wedding plans, how he switches between English and Spanish, plans for his foundation, and how he’d love nothing more than a deep run at Australian Open 2026. AusOpen.com Host handles: See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | |||