WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:03.359 Do you know what I like about you, Marcus Willis? 2 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:04.400 What is it? 3 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:11.080 I like that you're wearing a hair band? Yeah, because 4 00:00:11.119 --> 00:00:14.720 only fifty percent of our podcast is able to wear 5 00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:16.679 a headband without looking insane. 6 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:20.120 You could you could go who used to wear a headband? 7 00:00:20.600 --> 00:00:21.640 James Blake? You said, do it? 8 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:27.120 Yes, he did, just like a fuzzy white thing rather 9 00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:30.000 than a you know, when he took that off, he 10 00:00:30.120 --> 00:00:31.800 still had the white band. 11 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:33.359 Yeah, do you get that? 12 00:00:33.439 --> 00:00:35.399 Do you have like a sweat back? What are your 13 00:00:35.439 --> 00:00:36.240 sock marks like? 14 00:00:37.240 --> 00:00:40.799 Yeah? Pretty bad in the summer yere m, but yeah, 15 00:00:40.799 --> 00:00:41.359 I like it. 16 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:44.159 Do you want a podcast? 17 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:44.920 Yeah? 18 00:00:44.960 --> 00:01:20.439 That's podcast. We should really. 19 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:06.640 It's the green green grass of home, isn't it? Mate? 20 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:11.640 Farewell the dirt, Hello the lawns. We're legally obliged to 21 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.480 course to gred Wimbledon s W nineteen. We're talking about 22 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:18.000 the build up to the single greatest Grand Slam of 23 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:20.159 the year. We could do a little bit of review, 24 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:22.200 but basically what I want to do is as many 25 00:01:22.239 --> 00:01:28.959 podcasts as possible with ATP star. And you've also I know, 26 00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:34.799 look round, Marcus Willis, but you've just moved one place 27 00:01:34.959 --> 00:01:37.959 up in the whole history of the ATP. Do you 28 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:38.280 know that. 29 00:01:39.959 --> 00:01:44.000 One place up? Yeah, I'm sixty eight. I think I 30 00:01:44.040 --> 00:01:45.879 was seventy four before and tenty seven. 31 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:48.040 No no, no, no, no, no, no no, there's a different 32 00:01:48.079 --> 00:01:51.640 stat one that you don't boast about enough. Okay, Zverev 33 00:01:51.680 --> 00:01:54.680 winning the French Open has now moved off the list 34 00:01:54.879 --> 00:01:57.959 of the greatest player to never win a Grand Slam, 35 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:00.640 which means you have now moved one up. 36 00:02:01.079 --> 00:02:08.280 Yeah okay, sorry, sorry obviously, Yeah, yeah, short list. 37 00:02:09.520 --> 00:02:13.120 He's got longer in turn, so have I Yeah. 38 00:02:13.719 --> 00:02:14.919 Oh it's bonus for everyone. 39 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:19.159 Yeah, yeah, it felt great, It felt great him winning it. 40 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:21.800 Who is the greatest player to not win a Grand Slam? Now? 41 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:24.159 Are we into like there? Are we going back in time? 42 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:30.719 One? Like oh well yeah, yeah, because I mean the 43 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:34.080 rude he's got David and people like that. But did 44 00:02:34.120 --> 00:02:34.919 for make a final? 45 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.680 Ever? No? David Enko was here? 46 00:02:38.680 --> 00:02:41.520 Did he make a final a Slam? I don't think. 47 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:42.919 I don't think you can be the best player never 48 00:02:42.960 --> 00:02:47.080 to win a Slam without making a finale. That's my rules. 49 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.159 But don't shoot the messenger. But that's what If you're 50 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:51.800 not in a final at least one, then you can't 51 00:02:51.840 --> 00:02:56.639 go oh, he was so close that he wasn't really, But. 52 00:02:56.759 --> 00:02:59.120 I'm surprised a little bit about the discourse arounds fair 53 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:01.280 because people look at my tennis club like, well, he 54 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:05.360 just got lucky. He's a serial choker. You know. It's 55 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:08.360 only because Sinner and Alcarez one of there. Blah blah blah. 56 00:03:08.520 --> 00:03:09.599 A bit surprised by. 57 00:03:09.560 --> 00:03:12.199 It for me, they were there, they just lost. 58 00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:18.360 Yeah, well yeah, I mean, how do you view this 59 00:03:18.560 --> 00:03:19.919 Verev Grand Slam win? 60 00:03:21.479 --> 00:03:24.400 Well, I mean, I don't know. It's I feel like 61 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:28.000 he deserves it. We've spoken about him before. He's obviously 62 00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:32.039 struggle with Cinner and Alciaz. But just just because you 63 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:33.400 don't have to be one of them to win a 64 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:35.800 Slam doesn't mean you're not worthy. If the a they 65 00:03:36.080 --> 00:03:40.199 their body is not right or be they lose. It's 66 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:43.240 not very as as fault. He dealt with a heat 67 00:03:43.280 --> 00:03:48.240 better than other players in the first week, and you know, 68 00:03:48.439 --> 00:03:51.080 until the final, he won every match. I think he 69 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:54.719 lost two sets until the final. It's not like it's 70 00:03:54.879 --> 00:03:56.800 like he gagged his way there and got lucky and 71 00:03:56.840 --> 00:04:00.560 he won six one in the fifth and of course 72 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:02.560 he's going to get tight. He's never won a Slam, Like, what, 73 00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:05.639 what do you expect people to just blow their way 74 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:10.840 through every match they've never done something before. I think 75 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:12.400 is playing very well. 76 00:04:12.240 --> 00:04:15.120 Right, good boy's playing very well. I think this for 77 00:04:15.199 --> 00:04:19.279 me is a little bit of the Nadal, Federer Djokovic 78 00:04:19.800 --> 00:04:25.920 hangover in the Remember when Sampras won his first Grand Slam, 79 00:04:26.040 --> 00:04:28.240 it's a couple of years before he wins his next 80 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:31.600 Grand Slam. Yeah, and that is seen as normal right 81 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:34.040 at the time. It wasn't that you are going to 82 00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:37.879 win Grand slams. I feel a feel for Zverev because 83 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:41.879 he's obviously been in two hugely competitive eras, but he's 84 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:46.759 been the best player outside of the two players, right, 85 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:50.079 he's been the third. But it's almost like we expect 86 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:53.800 Zverev now and everybody else who steps on a tennis 87 00:04:53.800 --> 00:04:59.160 court to be uninjured and absolutely mental Goliath, just like 88 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:02.519 feder and adult Job, which were for twenty years. He's, 89 00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:05.079 you know, like it feels like him winning a Grand 90 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:09.560 Slam because the top seed of you know, got ill 91 00:05:09.600 --> 00:05:13.120 and injured and couldn't complete his own run. That's kind 92 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:15.519 of normal. When you go back over Grand Slam winners 93 00:05:15.560 --> 00:05:16.240 in the history of. 94 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:19.480 This, people forget now there's thirteen slams because of his body. 95 00:05:19.519 --> 00:05:23.120 He's being being a tennis players, looking after your body 96 00:05:23.160 --> 00:05:25.839 as well or being able to compete. And that's some people. 97 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:28.759 That's luck. Some people that's their style. You know, if 98 00:05:28.759 --> 00:05:31.480 you look at how Nadal played, he was running an 99 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:34.879 awful lot. He was diving around. He was where if 100 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:37.079 someone like Federal would get injured a lot less, right, 101 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:41.480 that's just fat al craz is again, carnage. He slides around, 102 00:05:42.399 --> 00:05:44.839 hitting balls two hundred miles an hour like he's a 103 00:05:44.920 --> 00:05:47.560 very physical pless So he's going to get injured sometimes. 104 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:52.120 That's part of it. That's part of being a tennis player. 105 00:05:52.240 --> 00:05:55.399 It's not just because olcras on there. Doesn't take it 106 00:05:55.439 --> 00:06:00.319 away from Zev very as hung in there. He's got 107 00:06:00.360 --> 00:06:05.199 type one diabetes, type one, on type two, type one. 108 00:06:05.240 --> 00:06:13.920 I think, yeah, yeah, yeah, we were attempting, but yeah, 109 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:17.800 so so he's got enough to manage as well. I 110 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:22.319 don't know it's people forget that as well. 111 00:06:23.120 --> 00:06:25.120 Just just a quick one because I do want to 112 00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:26.920 talk about the green green grass of home. 113 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:27.480 Yeah. 114 00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:32.360 The overall the French Open, I felt like there were 115 00:06:32.360 --> 00:06:35.600 a lot of withdrawals, a lot of pullouts, especially in 116 00:06:35.639 --> 00:06:39.319 the doubles, as we've spoken about, But how did you 117 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:41.920 view it overall as a slam? Could you mark it 118 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:42.600 out of ten. 119 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:45.040 As a spectator or a player. 120 00:06:45.600 --> 00:06:46.680 As a spectator. 121 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:49.680 As a spectator, I thought it was brilliant men's and 122 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:53.480 women's side. You had the qualifier and made the final. Yeah, 123 00:06:54.240 --> 00:06:57.839 and again you've got you've got that final. But all 124 00:06:57.879 --> 00:07:01.600 the top players lost early. You know, you can't take 125 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:03.839 it away from Andreva because you didn't beat anyone top. 126 00:07:04.439 --> 00:07:08.279 But yeah, but they lost earlier. I thought it was great. 127 00:07:08.680 --> 00:07:12.000 I thought the doubles, you know, once games matters got played, 128 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.879 they're really good. A bit hot the first week, but 129 00:07:15.959 --> 00:07:19.399 again that's interesting, that's part of it. As a player 130 00:07:19.439 --> 00:07:24.399 as well, I enjoyed myself. It was good. 131 00:07:26.720 --> 00:07:28.839 I mean, but. 132 00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:33.160 Yeah, there are there were number ones. It's it's a 133 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:36.560 tough match. I didn't see the final because I was 134 00:07:36.600 --> 00:07:42.000 traveling up here, but yeah, it was it was. It 135 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:44.519 was a good, solid slam. 136 00:07:44.560 --> 00:07:47.959 Now they they lost the final in an hour and 137 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.079 sixteen minutes. It was all pretty quick, wasn't it. 138 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:54.720 Yeah, four and two that's yeah, that's not unheard of in. 139 00:07:54.680 --> 00:08:00.319 Double Yeah, and but hope for not only you, but 140 00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:07.279 for our podcast Army Here forty and forty one years old. 141 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:13.959 The opponents Granolas and new is it forty and forty one? 142 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:16.839 Hope that you will keep going on, my friend. 143 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:19.519 I do, I do? Yeah, No, I mean there's a 144 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:21.519 lot of guys reallyzy. Yes, there's a lot of guys 145 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:24.839 above there's eleven or twelve above forty in the top 146 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:29.480 hundred I think, and a lot of players above thirty, 147 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:32.000 and a lot of players above thirty five. They were 148 00:08:32.039 --> 00:08:33.879 also I think, I want to say top twenty, top 149 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:35.600 thirty singles players, both of them. 150 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:37.240 Yes, I was going to say top thirty. 151 00:08:37.320 --> 00:08:40.559 Yeah, that might help when they're standing back and railing 152 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.360 fourhands at you. 153 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:49.000 Okay, So look, you're you're on the turf. Now you're 154 00:08:49.000 --> 00:08:52.240 in Ilkley, which is a very well dropped How many 155 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:53.279 times have you played Ilkley? 156 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:54.360 A lot? 157 00:08:55.120 --> 00:08:56.120 You really have, haven't you? 158 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:56.519 Yeah? 159 00:08:56.960 --> 00:08:58.600 Yeah, I need to look back and get the numbers. 160 00:08:58.639 --> 00:09:01.519 But yeah, it's changed a lot over the years. Obviously 161 00:09:01.559 --> 00:09:03.799 I played the ten k futures as they were back 162 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:06.519 in the day, and the courts obviously weren't the same. 163 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:09.200 The practice courts you probably wouldn't hit on. You'd rather 164 00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:14.080 go indoor and now the courts are lovely and it's 165 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:17.759 the club's changed obviously weirdly after twenty years. There's more 166 00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:20.639 space in different areas and you're like, oh, every time 167 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:25.639 I go back, courts are really nice. Nice just leave us. 168 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:27.080 A lot of rain in the last few days, so 169 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:29.360 I've had about an hour and a half on the 170 00:09:29.480 --> 00:09:32.159 crass in three days, and a lot more indoor and 171 00:09:32.240 --> 00:09:32.960 gym and stuff. 172 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:34.600 But do you know what, I don't think a lot 173 00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:38.639 of British tennis supporters actually realize, like people who just 174 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.519 have a casual interest in tennis and then it comes 175 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:43.919 around to summer and they're clamoring for Queen's Eastbourne and 176 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:47.240 Wimbledon tickets, et cetera. I don't think they realized that 177 00:09:47.320 --> 00:09:52.240 there's actually a host of tournaments like Ilkley but previously Surbiton, 178 00:09:53.279 --> 00:09:57.120 and there's loads of practice opportunities to go and be 179 00:09:57.440 --> 00:10:02.720 courtside to see people hit, like at the rains Park 180 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:08.080 community site at Wimbledon where Schwichek has been practicing there 181 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:12.320 for a week. Yeah, just walk in, you can, you 182 00:10:12.360 --> 00:10:16.120 can have a coffee there. You will be meters away 183 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:19.360 from the best in the world. But I don't think 184 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:22.679 they realized that a club like Ilkley put on an 185 00:10:22.720 --> 00:10:27.159 international grade event and tickets are less than a non 186 00:10:27.240 --> 00:10:30.000 league football ground. You know, it's totally accessible to anyone, 187 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:33.240 regardless of their income, to go and see and get 188 00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:35.759 up close to brilliant tennis players or. 189 00:10:35.720 --> 00:10:39.600 You well me, yeah, that's the downside of it. You 190 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:42.559 do get some kind of intruders. 191 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:44.519 And you get a full refund if they see you. 192 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:46.360 Is that right to me? So yeah, that's why they 193 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:49.879 keep me in the squash court until people start to leave. 194 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.519 So yeah, that's that's the deal I had. I signed 195 00:10:54.559 --> 00:10:57.799 something in maybe maybe most tournaments. Actually I'll sign something 196 00:10:57.879 --> 00:10:59.960 and so just don't show your face. 197 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:04.120 What do it feel like being back of the grass? 198 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:05.440 When was your first grass? Called hit? 199 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:08.639 A couple of days ago, I mean I hit on 200 00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:10.679 the grass. I played two matches on the grass the 201 00:11:10.759 --> 00:11:12.320 day before I went to Ron and Garrass. I played 202 00:11:12.360 --> 00:11:15.080 the NPL finals at Rampton. M hm. So I've got 203 00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:21.600 a couple of masses in then. Obviously great clayprep. Yeah yeah, 204 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:25.600 but no, no, I find grass famous last words, but 205 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:28.320 I find grass. The year I qualified ten years ago, 206 00:11:28.879 --> 00:11:30.600 I hadn't hit a ball on grass until my first 207 00:11:30.679 --> 00:11:33.240 round of pre colleagues. Mm hmmm, and we got an 208 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:35.200 extended warm up because it'd been raining. I find grass 209 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:40.639 the easiest to jump onto. It's super windy at the moment, 210 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.080 so I mean you're throwing the ball up and it's 211 00:11:43.120 --> 00:11:48.440 it's blowing everywhere, so that that's tough. But yeah, my 212 00:11:48.480 --> 00:11:51.120 first my first hit was just for friendship, and my 213 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:54.840 first hit here was Sunday afternoon. M h windy. 214 00:11:55.759 --> 00:11:56.279 Mm hmmm. 215 00:11:56.720 --> 00:11:59.600 Windy but side side wind, not forward and back. I 216 00:11:59.639 --> 00:12:01.960 don't mind so much because you can what do you do. 217 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:06.399 It's coming in of the ball, Like, how do you 218 00:12:06.639 --> 00:12:07.279 cope in the wind? 219 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:10.039 You've got to You've got to hit hard against the wind, 220 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:12.519 so it comes back round like if if you hit 221 00:12:12.559 --> 00:12:16.399 it straight, the windows takes it to the side, So 222 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:19.360 it's about countering it. But it's it's also like sometimes 223 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:21.360 the wind will stop a little bit and then you've 224 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:26.799 nailed one six feet wide. The serving's hard because you 225 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:31.000 throw the ball up and it's moving everywhere, but there 226 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.480 we go. I think the match courts are a bit 227 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:34.799 more protected, but the practice courts are at the back. 228 00:12:35.799 --> 00:12:38.360 Match cords have got little stands around them, so like 229 00:12:38.440 --> 00:12:41.440 watching the matches, they don't. It's windy, but it doesn't 230 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.399 seem to be as bad. 231 00:12:44.279 --> 00:12:47.799 Do you see you know that phrase about watching bambiyond 232 00:12:47.799 --> 00:12:52.960 ice the Do you see people that you kind of 233 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:56.879 know around the tour through the year, the Clay Quarters, 234 00:12:56.919 --> 00:13:00.759 the full Western and Semi Western Grip Brigade. Do you 235 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:03.879 see them get on the grass at Ilkley now? And 236 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:05.639 are you just having a look at the corner of 237 00:13:05.679 --> 00:13:09.960 your eye as they look a little bit Bambi or Ice? 238 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:13.120 It's it's not what it used to be. It's not 239 00:13:13.120 --> 00:13:16.879 playing as quick because of the wind as well, and 240 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:19.000 the courts are nice. So I've not seen too many 241 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:21.639 like you don't have to serve and volley or even 242 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:22.440 slice here. 243 00:13:22.320 --> 00:13:26.320 Anymore, okay, right, right, So it's not like coming up 244 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:28.600 about hip pipe now, yeah. 245 00:13:28.440 --> 00:13:30.919 Hip pip at least you've been latting kickers on the 246 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:35.120 second and like getting it quite high. That it's changed, man, 247 00:13:35.159 --> 00:13:38.519 it's changed a lot. Whereas back in the day you 248 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.879 get windy qualities, you get someone from splaying off South 249 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:44.679 America looking great, whereas now it's it's not a great 250 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.320 draw because they can get in a rhythm from the 251 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:49.080 back and still rip the wall side to side. Obviously 252 00:13:49.080 --> 00:13:52.799 they're not They're not as effective, but you know, yeah 253 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:55.759 you'll have Yeah, there's no there's not as many easy 254 00:13:55.840 --> 00:13:57.559 draws any well. I mean some people come to win 255 00:13:57.600 --> 00:13:59.519 Wold and qualities a day before, take the money and 256 00:13:59.559 --> 00:14:01.519 go with no expectation. 257 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:05.240 But well, I worked at Queens for a few years 258 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:08.759 during the tournament and Stanford Rinker didn't book a practice court. 259 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:11.919 He just went and played his match, lost first round, 260 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:14.000 and as he was walking off, he was heard to 261 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:18.120 say to his coach grasses for cows and that was it. 262 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:21.480 He went back to Switzerland, came back to Wimbledon, and 263 00:14:21.559 --> 00:14:24.000 I think he might have gone our second round of Wimbledon. 264 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:27.519 Yeah, it's four or five weeks of the year, so 265 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.360 people can afford to do that, right, But if you 266 00:14:29.399 --> 00:14:33.840 said that about clay like I do, you still got 267 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:35.360 to go and play it. I mean, you don't have 268 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:37.360 to win matches on grass, it doesn't affect your year. 269 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:39.120 You have to on clay in hardcourt. 270 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:41.080 Yeah, yeah, that's the thing. 271 00:14:41.480 --> 00:14:45.399 It's a short season, so people can afford to do that. 272 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:48.960 I suppose. I just I don't know. I don't Yeah, 273 00:14:50.120 --> 00:14:53.120 I'm not at stands level obviously, but I find it 274 00:14:53.240 --> 00:14:56.840 tough to believe it. Anything. You go out there and 275 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.799 you're okay with losing, I'm sure I'll still go and compete. 276 00:15:00.559 --> 00:15:02.639 I don't think he was okay with losing. I just 277 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:07.559 felt that he didn't think the practice was that worth it, 278 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:14.240 you know, like I just fear he was thinking some Yeah, 279 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:17.840 I really put my effort in and in four weeks time, 280 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:20.440 I'm back on a hardcle coming up after the break. 281 00:15:20.440 --> 00:15:22.799 I want to talk to you about your grasscourt season 282 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:27.519 in particular, So stay tuned if you're interested. Probably not. 283 00:15:29.519 --> 00:15:31.440 Go somewhere else and stick the catalog. 284 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:42.200 There's other pods. Yeah, welcome back to what are you 285 00:15:42.279 --> 00:15:46.320 talking about? Willis? He is Marcus Willis atp sixty something. 286 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:50.000 I didn't do the research before, but you are sixty 287 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:54.279 something and you're back on the grass. You're in ilkly 288 00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:57.919 at the moment. So first of all, when you're at 289 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:01.360 this time of the year, do you feel like you 290 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:04.360 get a little bit more heat, as in more attention? 291 00:16:07.159 --> 00:16:10.559 Yeah? I mean it hasn't started yet, but yeah you have. 292 00:16:11.279 --> 00:16:13.720 I guess people are around more to come watch or 293 00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:17.639 support when you. When I'm in Phoenix, Arizona, no one's going. 294 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:20.200 Oh are you playing today, mat Like, what are you 295 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:23.679 playing next week? So I think there's that reason. There's 296 00:16:23.799 --> 00:16:27.200 a reason that tennis only exists these four weeks for 297 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:32.759 most people. H and yeah, but no, it's not been 298 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:33.120 too bad. 299 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:36.200 You've got more profile than most players, like a player 300 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:40.720 I don't know. You take the bridge number five in 301 00:16:40.799 --> 00:16:45.080 doubles I haven't checked, but. 302 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:47.120 Probably six in the world or something stupid. 303 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:51.799 And Salisbury I was going to say, someone like him. 304 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:54.039 Isn't it just a couple of slams in the Yeah, 305 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:57.679 I think it is. But I would say you've got 306 00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:00.480 like as much, if not more profile than quite a 307 00:17:00.519 --> 00:17:03.080 lot of these people because of the wind Wood and 308 00:17:03.159 --> 00:17:05.279 Run and because of kind of how you are and 309 00:17:05.319 --> 00:17:09.759 how you play. So do you notice does that add 310 00:17:09.799 --> 00:17:11.119 any pressure to you? 311 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:17.279 I don't feel it. No, it's fine. It's ten years 312 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:20.599 ago now, run, so it's quite cool looking back. But 313 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.680 as I said, I'm just I don't know, getting on 314 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:25.480 with it and sort of practice out today and then 315 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:27.880 you know, see where I end up the next few weeks. 316 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:33.359 And I don't know, man, it's it's it is what 317 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:35.839 it is. Yeah, I don't know. I'll tell you had 318 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:39.720 that story which was pretty big at the time, and 319 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:41.960 people remember it and then people ask me what was 320 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.240 it like? And then what was it like? It's further 321 00:17:45.319 --> 00:17:48.279 and nice? What was it like? Were you nervous? 322 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:50.160 What does he smell like? 323 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:54.079 Yeah? People like you asked like, yeah. 324 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:58.799 This smells great, press the red button for the off 325 00:17:58.839 --> 00:18:03.559 air feederer smell come station, And do you notice that 326 00:18:03.599 --> 00:18:06.079 your your phone gets a little bit hotter. So the 327 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:08.440 people who you haven't heard from for a little while 328 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:12.200 a like, hey, mate, how you mate? Don't suppose there's 329 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:13.880 any Wimby tickets floating around? 330 00:18:13.960 --> 00:18:14.279 Is there? 331 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:19.440 I think? I don't know. I think last year, I 332 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.920 it's tough. I think people people are more shrewd now 333 00:18:21.920 --> 00:18:24.160 they'll start with hey, what's your plans for the next 334 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:26.720 few weeks and who you're playing with? No, I don't know, 335 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:30.759 I don't. I don't think people are necessarily after tickets 336 00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:36.839 the whole time. Some people just want to chat about 337 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:39.839 stuff that they could probably find out online. That's the thing. 338 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:43.640 Like yeah, like roll Garras, I'm like, I went, when 339 00:18:43.640 --> 00:18:51.680 are you're playing? And who? It's the time though, isn't 340 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:53.640 it if I replied to if I reply to it, 341 00:18:53.640 --> 00:18:55.319 then I'm going to get another question. That's the thing, 342 00:18:56.559 --> 00:18:59.279 how are you feeling about it? Fuck? I don't know. 343 00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:06.359 And it's but that's the thing. It's it's when you're 344 00:19:06.359 --> 00:19:11.720 playing a slam you get a few messages. Yeah, when 345 00:19:11.720 --> 00:19:14.440 I'm playing a one two five in another content and 346 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:15.880 this question stop. 347 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:18.839 All Well, it's because they listen to the podcast for 348 00:19:18.880 --> 00:19:19.759 that kind of information. 349 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.279 That's it. 350 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:24.279 Yeah, So do you look at this time of year 351 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:28.160 as a player is an opportunity to earn money and 352 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:31.400 as an opportunity to have a points hole and push 353 00:19:31.480 --> 00:19:32.079 up again. 354 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.279 Yeah, I mean I've been comfortable on the grass over 355 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:42.240 the years. It's an opportunity for sure. But I'm playing 356 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:46.079 the tallist tournaments in the world as well. You know, 357 00:19:46.160 --> 00:19:48.559 if we I don't know if we're playing, you know, 358 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:50.559 we wouldn't have got into Nottingham Me and Dave next 359 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:54.039 week cuts Top one seventy or something for one two 360 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:56.720 five Challenger. You know we are either going to be 361 00:19:56.759 --> 00:19:59.960 in there or potentially playing at Queen's or Queen's Calling 362 00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:02.359 is where you're playing the top twenty players in the 363 00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:06.359 world straight away, So yeah, there's an opportunity. You could 364 00:20:06.359 --> 00:20:10.400 also then we've got maybe potentially Eastbourne and then and 365 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:14.039 then Wimbledon. So in theory, it depends on the draw, 366 00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:16.920 depends how we play, but there's opportunities there to make 367 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:18.240 some money and some points. 368 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:22.599 Yeah, so you mentioned it. You mentioned Dave. Who are 369 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:23.279 you playing with? 370 00:20:24.200 --> 00:20:28.240 David Stevenson, the guy played Queens with last year and 371 00:20:28.279 --> 00:20:31.200 I played a bit with I want to say the 372 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:34.480 previous year one one, what off second? I think that 373 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:39.359 was my second one two five out in Taiwan. Yeah, 374 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.680 good player. I think he's won one ten at the 375 00:20:41.720 --> 00:20:45.759 moment ranked, but you know, six six plays very well, 376 00:20:45.799 --> 00:20:49.720 works very hard, and I'm thinking if I'm going into 377 00:20:49.720 --> 00:20:52.640 the grass, so I want someone who's got a hell 378 00:20:52.680 --> 00:20:57.680 of a lot of weapons that I know that's British 379 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:01.720 that I believe in, or do I find someone random 380 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:03.359 three weeks again and I'm kind of done with the 381 00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:04.359 random stuff now. 382 00:21:05.359 --> 00:21:07.039 So do you think you might partner up with Dave 383 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:09.160 beyond the grass or is that not something that you 384 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:10.160 two have had to chat about. 385 00:21:10.680 --> 00:21:13.200 Well, I think he's playing with Cleve Harper most of 386 00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:17.440 the year obviously for the Grass. You know, they might 387 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:19.519 not get in some of these tournaments, so I think 388 00:21:19.519 --> 00:21:23.160 they've split up into a certain date obviously, if you 389 00:21:23.240 --> 00:21:25.519 go and win wimbled and it's a discussion worth having. 390 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:27.880 But you know, for the grass, it's a smart thing 391 00:21:27.880 --> 00:21:32.680 to do. You know, if we're going this two and 392 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:34.920 two every much, I can safely say that won't be happening. 393 00:21:34.960 --> 00:21:41.799 But but yes, what I've realized is nothing's impossible. The 394 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:44.079 planets are now to play the grass and the you know, 395 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:48.559 the two pot fifty after windmed and yeah, by then 396 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:51.119 it's six weeks time, isn't it. You know where you're at. 397 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:55.119 It's okay. So if he's one hundred and ten in 398 00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:58.359 the world, that doesn't guarantee you entry into Wimbledon, does it. 399 00:21:59.319 --> 00:22:01.880 No, we need a But this is what you know, 400 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:05.079 I'm speaking to a couple of guys about, you know, 401 00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:07.559