- il y a 4 mois
Rod Laver joined Team Europe and Team World at the Golden Gate Bridge for the event's annual iconic photo.
TEAM WORLD
Taylor Fritz
Alex de Minaur
Pat Rafter
Alex Michelsen
Francisco Cerundolo
João Fonseca
Video : @LaverCup
« Le tennis, partout & toujours ici », sur
https://www.tennisactu.net / Tennis Actu
TEAM WORLD
Taylor Fritz
Alex de Minaur
Pat Rafter
Alex Michelsen
Francisco Cerundolo
João Fonseca
Video : @LaverCup
« Le tennis, partout & toujours ici », sur
https://www.tennisactu.net / Tennis Actu
Catégorie
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SportTranscription
00:00Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30You could tell that it meant a great deal to every sort of component of it, right?
00:35You could see the players care about what they were doing.
00:38I mean, what they brought to the table was the best of themselves.
00:42And, you know, the coaches have always talked about, talking to John and Bjorn in the past,
00:46about how exciting it is from their perspective.
00:48And I kind of called a little Yahtzee on that.
00:50I'm going, you're just saying that, right?
00:52And then I go there and I see how into it they are.
00:53And then the hospitality side of stuff, the sponsors.
00:55I mean, for the fans, I mean, from every talking to them, they'd rather spend the weekend at this event in some cases
01:02than maybe even if they were lucky enough to go to a Grand Slam, you know, semis and finals.
01:07So, because you never know what you're going to see, but you know what you're going to get, you know,
01:11in the sense that all these players are great and you might get the most interesting matchup that you never would have expected.
01:16So I was really impressed.
01:18And, yeah, but the best part of it for me is being around these guys.
01:21I mean, I've got to be honest, not this right here, you know.
01:25I mean that respectfully, though.
01:28I'll move over to Pat then very quickly.
01:30Thank you.
01:31Pat, it's quite interesting, the captain, vice-captain, it's the baseline returner and the serve volley chip charger of a yesteryear.
01:39How's it been for you being in this team environment?
01:42Because as Aussies, it's an environment that we've always enjoyed.
01:45Yeah, well, we've obviously got a big taste for it through the Davis Cup and yourself and I, Todd.
01:51And then having a bit of involvement with Davis Cup later on, thinking coming into the Labor Cup could be quite similar.
01:58But it's actually not in many ways.
02:01We've got guys from all around the world playing.
02:03And what's probably struck me the most is the buy-in from the players.
02:08And this just all of a sudden elevated myself with this whole event as well with Andre.
02:14I'm just so engaged now.
02:16And everyone's pumped up to win it.
02:18And, you know, I guess I had a preconceived idea of how the event would be run, how it would be played.
02:24But it's very different being here and on the ground.
02:27And I'm just so happy to be amongst all these guys, getting to know them and watch them play tomorrow.
02:33It's going to be on for young and old.
02:35I can't wait.
02:37Well, talk about being on tomorrow.
02:38Riley, great to have you back.
02:41I mean, there was a period where you were in the team and then obviously some injuries and things have kept you out of the game.
02:46How good is it to be back in and amongst these type of guys contending?
02:51And then also talk about your first matchup tomorrow, if you could.
02:53Yeah, really nice to be back.
02:55You know, when I played my first Lever Cup in Boston, it was one of the best experiences I've had.
03:00And playing for a legend like Mack was cool.
03:02And getting to play for another legend like Andre is even more special.
03:05It's, you know, we really value getting the time in with Andre and Pat.
03:10It's really incredible.
03:11He's got a really unique mind.
03:14And just taking it all in and getting all the pointers we can.
03:18Obviously, I have a tough matchup with Casper.
03:19And I've had some good practice in.
03:21I feel really good.
03:22My game feels like it's in a good spot.
03:24Andre has been really, really special and preaching clarity and conviction.
03:30And, yeah, it's really motivated me to play some good tennis.
03:34Jal, youngest ever to play in the Lever Cup.
03:39Being in this environment, just explain what the week's been like so far for you
03:44and what your expectations are as we move through the weekend.
03:48I mean, it's a pleasure.
03:50I mean, being with those guys, I'm saying that I'm not only listening.
03:55I'm not talking.
03:55I'm just only listening, having some experience for those guys and learning a lot.
04:00So, yeah, enjoying a lot this week.
04:05Yeah, taking everything I can as an opportunity to learn.
04:08And hopefully, we can get in the W for the team world, for sure.
04:13And, Alex, there's a few rookies this weekend in both teams.
04:16You're one of them.
04:17And getting to play in your home state, you're like the local.
04:21How has it been for you?
04:23Are you enjoying it?
04:25Yeah, I mean, I'm enjoying it a lot.
04:27You know, playing in home state is always special.
04:29There's not a ton of tournaments.
04:31We only really have Indian Wells.
04:32That's about it.
04:33So, getting to spend an extra week in the home state is always nice.
04:36And, yeah, it's going to be a battle tomorrow with Mr. Mensik.
04:39We played a bunch in juniors.
04:40So, it'll be our first time playing on the pro stage.
04:43So, I'm looking forward to it.
04:44I want to also ask you in particular about the opportunity to maybe pick the brain
04:49of somebody like Andre.
04:50What has that experience been like?
04:53Yeah, I mean, it's been incredible.
04:54Like Riley said, I mean, he's got a very unique mind.
04:56And, you know, he's helped me a lot with my return this weekend.
04:59Average return, I guess.
05:00I mean, he's all right.
05:01No, but he's helped me a ton.
05:04And, you know, clarity, conviction, lots of wisdom.
05:08And, you know, super pumped to get fired up for him tomorrow.
05:11And, Francisco, back again.
05:14You've had good success, 2-0 in the tournament.
05:16And you've played that role generally of playing early in the first day.
05:21It's a very different Labour Cup for you this time.
05:24You're going to be in and out on various occasions.
05:27How is the experience going to help you with all of that?
05:30Yeah, well, first time playing on Saturday for me, as you said.
05:32But I'm super happy to be here again with the team.
05:35I mean, with Andre Pat, first time that I met them.
05:37I mean, I'm trying to learn and absorb as much as I can.
05:40And, yeah, I try to use my little bit of experience on the matches that I come to play.
05:46And, yeah, super excited and try to give my best for this team.
05:51Fantastic.
05:52And, Alex, a late addition, but great to be able to have an Australian in that world team.
05:59What about having Pat here this year and being able to use somebody like him,
06:02who you haven't been around that much?
06:04Yeah, look, it's great to be here, be part of an amazing team.
06:11And, obviously, to be able to pick Pat's brain.
06:16Yeah, it looks like I'm going to be 7-balling first and second all weekend.
06:21So maybe a slight adjustment to my normal game style.
06:26But, no, honestly, it's been a blast.
06:29I'm very excited to be a part of Team World with these amazing competitors.
06:36And to pick not only Pat's but Andre's brain.
06:40It's epic, right?
06:42You don't get these opportunities often.
06:45And what about yesterday?
06:46I know that you had a photo with Pat and with Rod Laver himself.
06:50When you get that opportunity, what goes through your mind?
06:55Those are the type of pinch-me moments, right?
07:01Obviously, as an Aussie growing up, you hear of the greats, right?
07:07And to be able to spend time talking tennis with these greats, it doesn't have a price tag, right?
07:18So these moments are incredible in my career.
07:21And I'm very, very fortunate to be in this position.
07:25So definitely not taking it for granted.
07:26And, Taylor, you come in as the leading point scorer in your team.
07:32The Laver Cup itself, when you look back on it, has had quite an effect on your career.
07:39Why has that been?
07:40And what's so important to it?
07:43I've always just enjoyed these team competitions these weeks where I can hang out with the team,
07:51cheer for them when I'm on the bench, get the energy from them when I'm on the court.
07:54I think it makes a really big difference.
07:56And I think it's an honor to play this event.
08:01I've always really looked forward to coming back and trying to get wins for Team World.
08:06And just quickly about tomorrow as well, because doubles, as we know, for Team World has been crucial.
08:13And you're up with Alex tomorrow.
08:15How do we work on those partnerships and making those decisions?
08:19Yeah, it's tough, obviously.
08:20We had to submit the lineup for tomorrow, yesterday, before we even really got a chance to practice and work with teams.
08:32You know, we know some teams that have played together before, but we all trust Alex on the doubles court.
08:39And last year, I came out on day one with Ben, and we were really going to win.
08:44And so I think we kind of just went with that and decided that we're going to go with this team.
08:50Excellent.
08:50All right, I'm going to open up to the journalists on the floor.
08:53If we could get your – I'll give one an answer.
08:57Thanks.
09:00Hi, Richard Osborne from Labour Cup.
09:03Andre, they've all obviously been listening to you.
09:06And you said earlier the challenge for you would be listening and finding out who these guys are.
09:12And I wondered if you've discovered who they are a little bit this week.
09:16Well, I mean, to the degree that you can, absolutely.
09:19I think the most important thing is to understand, you know, how they process.
09:24We all work so differently, you know, I mean, so different.
09:27And, I mean, it's – and that's going to be so important to understand in real time, you know, what they're looking for.
09:33Information, clarity, focus, you know, energy, you know, everybody responds differently.
09:38So I've had a chance to talk to a few of their coaches as well.
09:42You know, it's just hard to parachute in these guys' lives and act like you know everything.
09:46You know, I don't.
09:47I'm trying not to interfere with what they already do so great that makes them here in the first place.
09:52That's number one.
09:53I'm trying to learn his first role, being the captain, a lot of considerations heading into this weekend.
10:00And, you know, the only one thing I'm clear about are, you know, what I don't know, you know.
10:06What I don't know is what I've never experienced.
10:08So I'm trying to do as much learning as all these, you know, young men have sort of suggested they're trying to do.
10:14So having that bond has been great.
10:17Yeah, the time on the court has been wonderful.
10:19My motivation has been sort of twofold.
10:22It's been a big picture of their career as they develop into who they want to be as a player and their identity on a tennis court.
10:28And maybe there's a North Star I can sort of shine a light on or shine a light on where I see them and, you know, what they're capable of.
10:39And the others is finding little ways maybe to add a nuance.
10:43It's all we're all fighting for margins and edges out there.
10:45And you don't realize how important they are until you live the life that they have to live, you know, on a daily basis.
10:50And so I think there's just a healthy regard and respect for being together.
10:54And we're going to do our best to be there for each other.
10:59Riley, you mentioned some things that you've learned from Andre this week.
11:04What did you learn about Andre this week, kind of behind the scenes that fans don't really know about that you discovered maybe about him?
11:11You can say it, Riley. It's all right.
11:17I mean, Andre is such like a legend of the game.
11:21You always hear so much about him.
11:22And the consensus is he's just this incredibly nice human being and incredibly intelligent.
11:30And this is my first time, like, really getting to interact with him.
11:32I was always jealous because Tommy Paul and Francis got to hang with him when they were younger in Vegas.
11:38And he had them out for a training camp.
11:40And, I mean, the story pretty much was he, I think the USTA was looking to send a group of young guys to train with some of the guys.
11:48Like, you know, I think they called and put some feelers out to some other legendary American players.
11:53And I don't know if the price was right.
11:55And I think Andre did it for free and spent two weeks with Tommy and Francis and all the guys.
12:00So I think that kind of sums up my experience with Andre as best you can.
12:05I mean, he gives back to the game and is happy to spread knowledge.
12:08And, yeah, he's just been a great asset for tennis and especially American tennis.
12:13Thank you, Riley.
12:15For this, Alex, you started your Davis Cup career as an orange boy,
12:19which meant that you were charged with getting oranges and water and everything for your teammates.
12:24And now you're talking about pinch-me moments with Rafter and with Rod Laver.
12:28When you look at the sum total, what does it tell you about where you're sitting right now with all these guys?
12:35Yeah, I mean, in the sport that we live in, everything's very fast-paced, right?
12:42So you don't really get a second to sit back and kind of realise what you've been able to achieve
12:50or what this sport has given you.
12:53So there's always moments like that, like, you know, sitting down with Rod and Pat
13:01or being a part of this amazing team where you get a second to yourself to kind of get a step back
13:08and, you know, be proud of what you've achieved.
13:12And so it's not often in this sport because you're playing from one week to the other,
13:19but every now and again you get a second to take a step back and realise what you've achieved
13:25and those are nice moments.
13:31This is for Andre.
13:32Obviously, you played in the Bay Area for many, many years
13:38and there was a time you had a home here.
13:40Could you talk about the one or two most special moments on court playing here?
13:45And what's your take about the Bay Area?
13:48It's a pretty special place.
13:49What's your take on the Bay?
13:51Yeah, no, listen, I had a lot of good results here.
13:56You know, this was, it came at a great time of the year.
13:59You know, you're, you know, for a good chunk of those years,
14:02every year that it was played here, I actually never played Australia.
14:04So it was a great way for me to get started in the year with, you know,
14:08not just perfect environment indoors, but in this, in the Bay Area, I fell in love with it then.
14:14You know, unfortunately, a long time ago, they moved it to San Jose.
14:17So we've got a great city in our world that hasn't had the chance to have this level of tennis come to the backyard.
14:24And that, to me, only seems right that we can do that both for the community, but also for tennis.
14:32I think it's a win to have San Francisco engaged in that.
14:36I lived here for about six years.
14:38You know, where we took the photo yesterday, all of us together,
14:42I used to look at that view from just the other hill, you know.
14:45So I miss it, miss it in a lot of, a lot of ways.
14:49Yeah.
14:50So bringing it back into this, to this, to this stadium here is like, I mean, it's incredible, right?
14:57I've been here for a few Warriors games and yeah, by the end of this weekend, you're going to say,
15:02okay, you got the Golden State Warriors and you got, you got these Warriors.
15:05Cause that's, that's our game plan to live up to the, live up to the standard this place deserves.
15:11Hey team world, this is Jim Harrington from the Bay Area News Group.
15:17Good to see all of you.
15:18I guess this question for Pat could be really for anybody, but I want to talk about the other locker room.
15:24Obviously we got a lot of good talent over there, but there's one guy in particular who's been on a kind of a role,
15:30Carlos Alcarez.
15:31I'm wondering how you game plan to beat Carlos.
15:35Uh, well, chip charge.
15:41There you go.
15:41We talked about this, right?
15:43Yeah, I'm, I am having a bit of trouble trying to convince my players that chip charge does work.
15:49Probably not on this court though.
15:50I was, you know, um, well, the first match will be on Saturday and we don't get to pick who plays Alcarez.
15:59That's correct.
16:00Is that correct?
16:00Has that been, has that been?
16:01That is correct.
16:02Oh no, but have, have we submitted that yet?
16:04No, we don't need to do it after Friday night.
16:07Do they know that now?
16:08Does who know what?
16:09Do they know the whole Saturday, Sunday?
16:12Shit, have I, have I blown it?
16:14They do now.
16:16They do now.
16:16They do now.
16:17Bloody hell.
16:18I'm going to have let me get out of the day.
16:19No, no, no, we have just submitted it.
16:20It doesn't, it doesn't matter.
16:21Anyway.
16:23That's how much I know what's going on.
16:25Um, I mean, Alcarez is a weapon.
16:27I mean, he's, he's someone who's at the top of his game right now and he's, him and Sinner are dominating a lot of the tournament.
16:34Um, this is a format though that creates, you know, there's two sets and every one of these guys are capable of winning the set against anyone at any given time.
16:44Put themselves in a situation and then playing the tiebreaker to win the match.
16:47Anything is possible.
16:48And that's what I love about the concept of this event also.
16:51You need to throw something different at Emils, you know, as well.
16:54I mean, the guy has serious power and, and, uh, you know, he's, he's, he's a, he's a great athlete, but everyone's vulnerable at certain times.
17:01So it's about trying to go in there and, and, and coming up with a game plan when we know this, which will come out probably tomorrow on who matches up.
17:10And then I was sitting down and strategizing and Andre and I will, we'll sit down and talk to whoever gets to play him and come up with some ideas.
17:17Um, but you're right.
17:18He's, he's tough.
17:19He's brutal.
17:20Um, and he's at the top of his game.
17:22So let's just hope that he had a good week off after the U S open and he hasn't recovered.
17:26Brett Phillips from the first serve.
17:31I just wanted to, this could be to any of you sitting up there.
17:34I mean, the, the labor cup, which has been known for its great innovation, the next gen finals, UTS.
17:41Are there things that you could take from any of those?
17:44If we think about the game where it's going to be in five to 10 years, as tennis looks to keep evolving and keep attracting eyeballs,
17:51because this event has had some great innovation along with those other concepts that maybe could come into, to a life in the future.
18:04Not anybody.
18:05Um, uh, yeah, that's kind of a big picture question.
18:10I mean, in the sense that, you know, one of the things that I just give you from, from my lens, right.
18:14It's like, I, I went through a good, uh, 15 years of, of raising my kids and, and finishing up my foundation in a way that it can live in perpetuity and building a few businesses.
18:27And, and, and, and now my kids are, we're kind of empty nesters and I had the bandwidth to kind of come back to tennis on a certain level and, and, and really appreciate the difference between what it was and what it, what it is now.
18:39I mean, I played through a few generations myself and I was always shocked at what was asked of the changes that happened, both from players to environments and, and the growth of it.
18:48And, and I go back to these places and I don't even recognize them.
18:51I mean, I, I can't get from one place to another because they've changed that much.
18:55So people can talk about eyeballs.
18:57They can talk about the growth of the game or the lack of growth.
18:59And every time I see it, it's only, it's only expanding.
19:02It's only growing.
19:03I mean, it doesn't do that unless it's generating and it doesn't generate unless there are more people that want to play.
19:09Part of it.
19:09So the premise of your question is sort of based on the assumption that it's, it's, it's maybe not growing like it should.
19:16And from, from my perspective, I, I haven't experienced that.
19:21I mean, everywhere I go, I just go, holy crap.
19:24I mean, but you're right.
19:25These events are, are spectacular.
19:27These team events, because we're an individual sport and, and, and there's, there's always room for innovation.
19:33But, you know, yeah, you talk to me on Monday, but right now.
19:38But we got Friday, Saturday, Sunday on our mind.
19:41I'll take the last question here.
19:44Um, hi, uh, my name is Liliana Michelina.
19:47I'm, uh, from, from Mission Local.
19:49Uh, I wanted to ask the coaches, uh, Andrew and Pat.
19:53Uh, you, you have a collection of players from many different countries here, not just USA, you have two South Americans, you have an Australian.
20:01Uh, there's a lot of like, like, uh, ways of doing things like attitudes, idiosyncrasies, just a collection of know how that comes from like many different places.
20:11Uh, how are you absorbing that and as leaders, uh, facilitating that, that mutual learning, that, that spread of knowledge in a way that makes you all better for this weekend specifically, but also moving forward.
20:24Um, I mean, I, I think the first rule of engagement with anybody in life is to, does it convince them you have two ears and one mouth, you know?
20:39Um, so you do a lot of listening, you do a lot of observing, you know, I didn't want to miss one second on the court because the slightest thing that a player does kind of can expose or, or sort of suggest how they process and how they think, right?
20:53So, like, I just always want to be ready to absorb what they may be feeling or not, or, or, or maybe say something that might not be so relevant, but it might be important for me to see if that's something that, that they respond to or, or not, right?
21:09Learning, just doing a lot of learning.
21:11So, um, I think the first job is, is, is not to get in their way.
21:15I mean, uh, I, um, be hard to convince me that I play enough of a role that I'm going to do any winning out there, you know?
21:23Uh, but I think I could screw it up.
21:25Uh, that's how I look at it.
21:27You know, I could, I could help them.
21:29I could distract them or I could, you know, make it about what it's not.
21:32It's, it's not about that.
21:35So you, you, you know, you earn respect, you don't demand it.
21:37And, um, so much to respect about these guys, but also their confidence.
21:42I mean, there's not a player on this team that doesn't think they can, they can do the job.
21:45If it was, if the job fell on their shoulders, I mean, I respect the hell of that.
21:49And you're right.
21:50We're facing, you know, the other side that, that brings a lot to the table as well.
21:54I haven't had the luxury of spending time over there, nor do I want to because I'm here, you know?
21:59So a lot of, a lot of, a lot of competitiveness going on, um, with this team and, and it starts with ourselves, right?
22:06So that includes me when I'm, when I'm around them or, or when I'm thinking about things.
22:12Pat, would you like to add?
22:15Not really.
22:17Uh, I think there's a really good combination between myself and Andre and we're sort of reading the room pretty well.
22:22It's great that the South Americans speak unbelievable English because if they didn't, we're screwed.
22:27Effectively.
22:28We, and.
22:29No, we'd have Alex interpret.
22:31Oh, that's true.
22:31We've got Alex who interprets.
22:32He speaks great Spanish.
22:33And, um, the, um, you know, certain guys and, you know, want to work on a few things and others don't, they're, they're really happy with where they're at.
22:42And so Andre and I read that room and say, yep, we're good with this space and let's leave that alone.
22:47And then we try and throw a few ideas at them and some might stick, some might not.
22:51But it's, if, as he said, we can, we can definitely stuff it up by overcomplicating it for them.
22:57And that's the area that we've got to be careful on treading on these guys.
23:00They've got to play their game.
23:01They've got to be confident in their game.
23:02And, and if one or two ideas rub off, then great.
23:06If they don't, um, that's okay.
23:07But as I said, I can fall into the trap of giving too much information too quickly as well.
23:11And we're very careful and mindful of that.
23:14Just one last one up the back there.
23:16Uh, Vaughn with Overtime Sports.
23:18Uh, I'm getting a Uber Eats order.
23:20I was just wanting to know if you guys want anything.
23:23That's open to Team World, so.
23:25That's really cool.
23:26We have our team, we have our food.
23:28I was going to say from where?
23:28I was thinking Chipotle, but it's my first time in the Bay, so.
23:36You know, it's, you know, I'm thinking Pad Thai too, if you guys want to do that.
23:40That sounds a little risky on the intestines.
23:44I mean.
23:44A little chicken Pad Thai never hurt anybody.
23:47Okay, okay, okay.
23:48I know you got the Chipotle deal.
23:49You know, we could, you know, we could team in on that if you want to.
23:52Yeah, I mean, it just depends where you're ordering from, you know.
23:56Chipotle, I'll get a bowl of it.
23:57We're going to wrap it right on there.
23:59We're going to put a podcast on the time.
23:59Thank you very much, everybody.
24:01Best of luck to Team World on the weekend, and we'll see you out on court tomorrow.
24:06Thank you all.
24:07Thank you.
24:07Thank you.