WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:02.839 What did you you know? Like, obviously we just heard 2 00:00:02.839 --> 00:00:05.400 that lovely bit of celebrity gossip. Does it surprise you 3 00:00:05.440 --> 00:00:05.719 at all? 4 00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:07.919 Yeah? It's weird hearing. 5 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:13.560 Which which one the younger one or the older one? 6 00:00:13.880 --> 00:00:18.160 Uh? Which one the older one? 7 00:00:19.839 --> 00:00:26.760 Yeah? I've heard this around the younger one that that 8 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:29.800 doesn't surprise me. He seems like an like that guy 9 00:00:29.920 --> 00:00:32.000 is always just screaming and stuff like that. I can 10 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:38.000 see how he's a weird Anyway, talking of weirdos, why 11 00:00:38.039 --> 00:00:57.079 don't we do what are you talking about? Willis podcast? Okay, 12 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:03.000 so today was it everything you imagined? Playing and winning 13 00:01:03.159 --> 00:01:06.480 at the French Open? Is it cool there? What's the 14 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:09.640 coolest thing? And half the stadiums are empty? Actually I 15 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:11.920 want to talk to you about that sinner out of 16 00:01:11.959 --> 00:01:16.079 the French and it's blown the drawer wide open, although 17 00:01:17.079 --> 00:01:21.239 maybe not because of sparev Serena coming back. And of 18 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:25.840 course today we do class ourselves as amateur scientists and 19 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:30.120 we are going to stress test custard. All right, So 20 00:01:30.239 --> 00:01:34.519 we know that custard is very much the greatest liquid 21 00:01:34.599 --> 00:01:40.280 on earth, and today we are stress testing it. Marcus 22 00:01:40.280 --> 00:01:45.879 Willis atp. Sixty seven, How are you, sir. 23 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:50.959 Sixty seven in the live Dave might be sixty eight. Yeah, 24 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:54.439 I like to think let's go sixty seven six. 25 00:01:54.719 --> 00:01:56.400 I just like the six to seventh thing. You know, 26 00:01:56.560 --> 00:01:58.799 you know how youthful I am. I'm very much down 27 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:01.920 with youth culture. So that whole six seventh thing. I 28 00:02:02.040 --> 00:02:03.359 like that you are now six seven? 29 00:02:03.599 --> 00:02:08.120 Yeah, I am him? Do you? 30 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:10.840 I mean I know that there's a there's a whole 31 00:02:10.840 --> 00:02:15.159 bigger thing here. Like imagine if five years ago I'd 32 00:02:15.199 --> 00:02:18.800 said we're going to be podcasting just after you played 33 00:02:18.800 --> 00:02:21.479 the French Open, you'll be sixty seven in the ATP. 34 00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:24.759 Yeah, I wouldn't have believed it. You take that when 35 00:02:24.759 --> 00:02:26.919 you're five years ago, I wasn't playing tennis. 36 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:29.400 Okay, So what were you doing five years ago June 37 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:31.240 twenty twenty one. 38 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:36.000 Wasn't it? Yeah? Coaching? 39 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:40.039 Yeah, coaching, Yeah, I didn't do much lockdown. 40 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:46.919 Probably drinking, eating, Yeah, those three things really yeah, no 41 00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:51.080 particular all a life. Well yeah, what. 42 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:55.599 In your who were you coaching at the time? Like, 43 00:02:55.680 --> 00:02:58.400 are you coaching players who are now on the tour? 44 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:01.039 Are you literally coaching club tennis? 45 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:06.960 Combination of club players and you know, hitting with you know, 46 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:11.120 better players, But nothing concrete, I'd say at that point, 47 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:15.639 so I was doing bits and bobs. 48 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:18.240 Yeah, I mean the bits are always enjoyable, the bob's less. 49 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:18.759 So yeah. 50 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:21.800 What about if someone had said to you, do you 51 00:03:21.840 --> 00:03:25.560 know in five years in June twenty twenty six, you'll 52 00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:28.360 be atp sixty seven in the live. 53 00:03:28.439 --> 00:03:31.479 I probably you've would have believed it more than there 54 00:03:31.520 --> 00:03:35.520 with the French before I started playing again, and then 55 00:03:35.520 --> 00:03:40.000 looking at the points and what it takes to get there, 56 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:42.840 because when you're not in it and you don't know, 57 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:45.159 and you go our top hundred doubles, yeah that's achievable 58 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:48.680 or sixty seven or but the gap between one hundred 59 00:03:48.680 --> 00:03:51.280 and eighty is massive, and the gap between eighty and 60 00:03:51.319 --> 00:03:55.520 where I'm at now is massive. So you're saying it 61 00:03:55.800 --> 00:04:00.439 were you're coaching and looking around, and you know players 62 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:03.199 used to play with being there going yeah, yeah, that 63 00:04:03.240 --> 00:04:07.280 could happen. But you know you say that to me 64 00:04:07.319 --> 00:04:12.360 when I'm playing my first futures. No, I wouldn't have 65 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:14.159 wouldn't have made sense, to be honest. 66 00:04:15.759 --> 00:04:18.120 If I'd said to you, if we could get a 67 00:04:18.160 --> 00:04:21.680 time machine, I'll go back there, and I said, do 68 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.720 you know in five years time a mate of a 69 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:27.079 mate is going to give you an opportunity and you're 70 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:31.319 being a state agent. Or five years time you're going 71 00:04:31.399 --> 00:04:34.120 to be off the back of playing in the third 72 00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:38.079 round of the French Open, having played all four Grand 73 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:41.399 Slams and one matches at all of them, would you 74 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:43.839 have said, yeah, I can see myself and a a 75 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:44.439 state agent. 76 00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:46.079 Yeah. 77 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:48.120 I mean I was looking at normal jobs as well, 78 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:51.680 so yeah, I would have probably believed. 79 00:04:51.399 --> 00:04:55.399 The stage and thing more. Yeah, you know, because there 80 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:57.279 was no way back to play. 81 00:04:57.319 --> 00:05:01.040 Really, you don't take time to step back and think 82 00:05:01.040 --> 00:05:02.879 about stuff like this. Do you know I feel it's 83 00:05:02.920 --> 00:05:04.399 me that's that's going. 84 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:10.920 Yeah, it's crazy, Yeah, mega, isn't it? Yeah that's cool. 85 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:18.040 So look, you you have just you're back from Paris 86 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:22.959 from Roland Garross. Was it everything you'd imagined playing, completing 87 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:25.560 your Grand Slam set? But playing at the French. 88 00:05:27.800 --> 00:05:31.160 What's it? Everything? I message? I didn't really have time 89 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:32.279 to imagine it. You know. 90 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:34.560 I knew the facilities because I went there last year 91 00:05:34.600 --> 00:05:37.519 to sign in as an alternate for a day. Obviously 92 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:41.879 we didn't get in, but so I knew what was around. 93 00:05:44.199 --> 00:05:48.920 I didn't really didn't really imagine it. One way or another. 94 00:05:49.000 --> 00:05:51.560 It was you. 95 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:54.000 Have to react so much to what day you're playing, 96 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:57.240 which court you're playing, who you're playing. It was so 97 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:00.800 kind of quick that you're always doing to me. But 98 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.199 it was amazing bloody hot for you that. 99 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:09.240 M It's been a bit of a taiale of two weathers, 100 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:11.639 isn't it, Because over there now it's actually becoming overcast 101 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:16.199 and quite cool and wind and blustery. Yeah, very different 102 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:19.279 conditions for the clay, right, the play completely different. 103 00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:21.519 Yeah, it's much heavier, even in our even in our 104 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:25.639 third round. Yeah, there was a lot heavier. It was 105 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:27.480 dropping a lot more, wasn't flying as much. 106 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:31.519 I've never been to the French Open, but it always 107 00:06:31.560 --> 00:06:35.800 looks cool. I feel like French people are pretty cool people. 108 00:06:35.879 --> 00:06:39.639 There's quite a lot of straw boaters and cravats going on. 109 00:06:41.199 --> 00:06:41.759 Is it cool? 110 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:45.279 I like it? Yeah. I think the atmosphere's phenomena. It's 111 00:06:45.639 --> 00:06:49.560 very very busy. It's it's it's. 112 00:06:49.240 --> 00:06:52.040 It's strange you watch on TV and there's empty seats. Right, 113 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:55.040 we're going to discuss this. But walking around as a player, 114 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:58.199 you can't move, you know, if you're walking to susan 115 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:02.360 long long to practice or or or somewhere else. It's 116 00:07:02.399 --> 00:07:06.839 incredibly busy, probably less so now because there's less less. 117 00:07:06.639 --> 00:07:10.360 Players in the tournament, but it was very well attended. 118 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.399 I think one of the reasons that people think it's 119 00:07:14.439 --> 00:07:17.040 empty is because a lot of the court prit seats 120 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:20.759 are in camera shots and a lot of time something lunch, 121 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:25.519 so that that's never a good look anyway. But I 122 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:27.639 think every year you see a lot of empty seats 123 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:28.600 at certain points. 124 00:07:28.319 --> 00:07:30.360 In the day. I didn't. 125 00:07:30.399 --> 00:07:33.519 I didn't see that on the outside courts, you know, 126 00:07:33.560 --> 00:07:35.759 when I played my third round, it was pretty full. 127 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:39.560 Court seven fourteen was always rammed because you have French players. 128 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.800 Maybe it's just a big stadium courts. But it was busy, 129 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:50.120 it was hot, it was fun. We were now in 130 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:54.360 Paris when PSG were playing the final and I very 131 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:57.279 very quickly retired to my room because people were running 132 00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:58.839 around top of letting flares off and. 133 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:02.439 Stuff like that, really like out on the streets. So 134 00:08:02.519 --> 00:08:05.600 psc beat Arsenal on pair and what was what was 135 00:08:05.639 --> 00:08:06.560 Paris like that night? 136 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:08.120 It was. 137 00:08:09.639 --> 00:08:12.639 It was like another like two or three levels more 138 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:14.959 in England what we do, but like not in a 139 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:15.360 good way. 140 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.279 I would say, oh really, yeah, yeah. 141 00:08:18.279 --> 00:08:20.480 I mean, obviously there's good atmosphere in places, but then 142 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:22.759 a lot of people are just running around like headless chickens, 143 00:08:22.800 --> 00:08:23.319 like looting. 144 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:28.680 Wow, yeah, there's police. There was police everywhere. 145 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:31.120 We were going to go walk to our restaurant we 146 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:33.120 went to every night, and then there were people running 147 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.000 towards us, away from something in smoke everywhere. So let's 148 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.519 just eat on the corner, like twenty yards from our hotel. 149 00:08:40.559 --> 00:08:43.600 There was a little restaurant and we were sat outside 150 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:50.480 kind of outside between inside and outside, and PSD scored 151 00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:55.320 and we had to run to the furthest table inside 152 00:08:55.320 --> 00:08:58.759 the restaurant because, yeah, people were letting flares after there 153 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:00.480 was stuff getting destroid. 154 00:09:01.720 --> 00:09:03.759 I feel the French are quite good at this. They're 155 00:09:03.840 --> 00:09:06.799 quite good at striking, and then they're quite good at 156 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:10.679 all of a sudden turning into blame is our barricades? Bang? 157 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:11.360 Yeah it was. 158 00:09:11.399 --> 00:09:11.679 It was. 159 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:13.960 It was mental one, but to the point where I 160 00:09:14.000 --> 00:09:17.120 was like not scared, scared, but like I want to 161 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:19.840 get into my hotel room there, and there's. 162 00:09:19.639 --> 00:09:22.600 One way to celebrate a cup win, isn't it. 163 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:23.519 But yeah, it was. It was. 164 00:09:23.559 --> 00:09:26.360 Obviously it's a minority, but I'd say there's more minority 165 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:29.519 than in the UK. People get rowdy and stuff like that, 166 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:32.720 but they're there to watch the football and enjoy the football, 167 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:34.679 and there's always a palace. 168 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:36.759 Won the f A Cup, Me and all the Palace 169 00:09:36.799 --> 00:09:40.480 fans should have looted and set Croydon on fire because 170 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:42.360 it would have caused two or three million pounds worth 171 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:43.000 of improvements. 172 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:48.279 Yes, yeah, it should have done. But and you won 173 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:49.200 another one recently. 174 00:09:51.200 --> 00:09:59.919 All we do is wing cuts boring. What did you playing? Overall? Right, 175 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:03.440 the whole experience of it. So the placers stayed, the 176 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:09.000 changing of the place's stayed, the travel, the coaching, hitting, 177 00:10:09.240 --> 00:10:12.440 all of it. If you learn, what's your big takeaways? 178 00:10:13.240 --> 00:10:15.399 I mean, obviously I'm talking to you, so don't be 179 00:10:15.440 --> 00:10:16.879 a fay. I learned nothing. 180 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:20.440 My big takeaway, I suppose now, is that we went 181 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:24.320 into that third round against one of the best teams 182 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:26.879 in the world on clay or on any surface, but 183 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:30.919 especially right now. We went into that match, or certainly 184 00:10:30.960 --> 00:10:32.960 I did. I went into that match believing we had 185 00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:37.159 a chance to win, and not just to you know, I'm. 186 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:38.759 Going to have to play out my skin and hit 187 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:39.919 high risk shot. 188 00:10:39.960 --> 00:10:43.039 So there was a strategy and we went million miles 189 00:10:43.080 --> 00:10:46.240 off being at least a breakup in the first we 190 00:10:46.279 --> 00:10:49.759 have fifteen forty in the rally, chance to put the 191 00:10:49.799 --> 00:10:51.720 ball away, didn't and then they came back and won. 192 00:10:51.799 --> 00:10:54.200 And then second set again one or two break points 193 00:10:54.200 --> 00:10:54.720 in that game. 194 00:10:56.879 --> 00:10:58.960 So I don't know, I've got more belief that. 195 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:03.320 I can slay with these guys, like the best players 196 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:06.039 in the world, more than I had a year ago. 197 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:08.440 I mean a year ago it was second wimbled and 198 00:11:08.559 --> 00:11:11.840 I just I hadn't played Australia yet. So a year 199 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:16.080 ago I'd only played Wimbledon, and you know, we were 200 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:18.240 pumped to get through our first round Hillio, Varra, Patt 201 00:11:18.279 --> 00:11:21.600 and we gost six and four, played all right, but 202 00:11:22.279 --> 00:11:23.799 it was for me, it was about getting in these 203 00:11:23.840 --> 00:11:31.039 events and you know, trying to sneak a win or two. 204 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:31.960 Which it still is that. I mean, top players, top ten. 205 00:11:31.840 --> 00:11:35.840 Players lose first round the Slam sometimes that's that's the 206 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:38.000 reality of it. But I suppose there's more belief now, 207 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:43.200 there's more unclear on what I need to improve, and 208 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:46.799 that's pretty cool. It's exciting for me now, whereas you 209 00:11:46.799 --> 00:11:50.440 know a year ago or so or even you know 210 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:54.200 late last year, I was still really kind of by myself, 211 00:11:55.600 --> 00:11:58.600 churning out to tournaments, sort of thinking how high can 212 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.360 I get? Like this, now I've got, you know, support, 213 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:03.919 I've got ad Louis helping me out there. I've got 214 00:12:04.080 --> 00:12:08.960 Adam with me, I've got yeah, it's it's it's more real. 215 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.240 Now I feel less alone. I feel. 216 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:16.279 Yeah, more more belief in the whole thing, which is cool. 217 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:23.120 When you're coming up against them, the pair that you 218 00:12:23.240 --> 00:12:25.200 played like, they've gone into that. They're in the quarter 219 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:26.200 finals already. 220 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:27.799 Right, yes, Sammy's now they won last night. 221 00:12:27.720 --> 00:12:32.879 Seven fourteen twelve, and yeah, I like final that. 222 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:35.000 Would be a good match. Oberlight and news A are 223 00:12:35.080 --> 00:12:35.440 very good. 224 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:42.559 Yeah, okay, so it's Favasori and Bellelli. What do you 225 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:45.919 realize in the warm up in the first game that 226 00:12:46.120 --> 00:12:48.960 you're playing against players of that quality? Or are their 227 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:51.759 little kind of clutch moments that they can produce. 228 00:12:53.200 --> 00:12:54.159 Yeah, it's nothing. 229 00:12:54.840 --> 00:12:56.919 They can play out of the ordinary stuff, but it's 230 00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:59.960 it's more like when you're hitting with them, you know, 231 00:13:00.080 --> 00:13:02.080 they hit a nice ball like every but everyone does. 232 00:13:04.159 --> 00:13:07.440 It's kind of yeah, every time you have a half chance, 233 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:10.840 they're probably going to make a good first serve. They 234 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:14.039 don't miss stupid balls in certain moments. They don't give 235 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:17.320 you anything really. Yeah, they might miss a few returns 236 00:13:17.320 --> 00:13:20.799 here or there, but there's no they don't just gift 237 00:13:20.840 --> 00:13:25.720 you a break or gift your love thirty and if 238 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:28.519 they are down, you know, you know, the fifteen forty 239 00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:30.399 we had had a second serve. I made the return, 240 00:13:30.440 --> 00:13:32.960 I say in the point, and then you know, three 241 00:13:33.039 --> 00:13:36.360 unreturnables in a row pretty much right, and then your 242 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:38.279 four to three on seven you've got to you know, 243 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:39.600 hold your game, which we did. 244 00:13:39.639 --> 00:13:45.200 But there's a you know, yeah, they're just incredibly solid 245 00:13:45.279 --> 00:13:48.960 at what they do. So there's no they don't. 246 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:50.960 Drop the ball short, they don't go to stupid shots. 247 00:13:51.000 --> 00:13:56.000 They don't there's no randomness really, it's just incredibly locked in. 248 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:02.440 And I mean it was four and three overall. But 249 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:06.639 as you said, opportunities, especially in our first set, opportunities 250 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:12.000 were there. Is that sometimes is being in that position 251 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:17.279 better for you next time you're in that position? You know, 252 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:19.200 like I do a little bit of you when you're 253 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:22.480 fifteen forty, You're like, we're fifteen forty against really good 254 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:24.519 players at the French Opening. Is there a bit of 255 00:14:24.519 --> 00:14:25.960 that or is it just another point? 256 00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:28.440 I have time Like it was fifteen forty. I was, 257 00:14:28.559 --> 00:14:29.919 I was planning on where I was going to hit 258 00:14:29.960 --> 00:14:30.639 the return, and. 259 00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:34.279 It's just it's just play and go after it and 260 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:34.879 stay loose. 261 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:37.399 And you know, the one second steve I had, I 262 00:14:37.440 --> 00:14:39.399 hit a good return. As I said, we're in the point. 263 00:14:42.000 --> 00:14:44.600 But then from thirty forty they've hit three first serves 264 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:49.440 and then second set. Oh one, all I've left the 265 00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:51.200 ball that I thought was going long. It's caught the 266 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:55.919 back edge of the line and very very back edge 267 00:14:55.960 --> 00:14:57.879 of the line. I still thought it might have been long, 268 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:04.360 but it was in apparently, But yeah, it comes down 269 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:09.200 to well an eighth of an inch sometimes, yeah, but 270 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:12.559 yeah we did it wasn't you know the match before 271 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:15.399 they played us, they played Bumbay and Venus they lost 272 00:15:15.440 --> 00:15:17.840 six points in their serving the whole match, six or 273 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:20.559 seven points. So you know, you don't have the right 274 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:23.720 to have opportunities just when you do, you ideally want 275 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:25.080 to take them. 276 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:27.679 But you say their opportunity to you know. 277 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:29.600 And four of the break points too, were in the rally, 278 00:15:30.679 --> 00:15:32.799 and one of those I thought we probably. 279 00:15:32.519 --> 00:15:35.759 Should have taken. Yeah, you know, had I hit the volley. 280 00:15:35.799 --> 00:15:38.120 I'm still hitting a volley and approaching Mollie and the 281 00:15:38.600 --> 00:15:42.360 to their four hands. It's very good. So yeah, So 282 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.879 a lot of times I've. 283 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:46.600 Played, you know, good pairs and you lose four or 284 00:15:46.600 --> 00:15:48.440 five or six and four, but you have one break 285 00:15:48.480 --> 00:15:51.600 point randomly or zero, and it's more of a chopping 286 00:15:51.639 --> 00:15:52.240 than that much. 287 00:15:52.279 --> 00:15:54.440 We just played. I suppose I. 288 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:56.679 Thought they were very good second serve returners. 289 00:15:56.840 --> 00:16:01.080 Yeah, they don't miss. Yeah, especially on Yaka. They got 290 00:16:01.159 --> 00:16:04.159 round news foor handslot on mine. 291 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:04.720 On mine. 292 00:16:04.759 --> 00:16:06.720 As a malefty, I could make it a bit more 293 00:16:08.039 --> 00:16:09.399 difficult for them, but they don't. 294 00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:11.600 They don't just give you random errors very rarely. 295 00:16:12.799 --> 00:16:15.879 Yeah, yeah, that's what I thought. It's but it's it's 296 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:19.200 what they were doing on the second serve, like, from 297 00:16:19.240 --> 00:16:24.240 a coaching point of view, was effective and repeatable returns, 298 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:27.639 isn't it all of every second serve return Like very 299 00:16:27.799 --> 00:16:31.519 rarely would they go for something outrageous. It was in. 300 00:16:31.799 --> 00:16:36.039 It was forcing you guys to play. It's relentless, isn't it. 301 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:36.960 It's just relentless. 302 00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:39.519 Yeah, and then sometimes you know, I'd hit a return 303 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.879 second to last game, took it early, came in, but 304 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:44.240 they just hits the angle winner off it straight away, 305 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:45.480 but they've got. 306 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:48.279 They've got a little bit of clutch, Yeah, a little. 307 00:16:48.039 --> 00:16:49.759 Bit of class, a little bit extra class. 308 00:16:49.799 --> 00:16:52.799 You know, I hit a return that nine of the 309 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:54.399 time you're going to have a volley from at least 310 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:58.200 and he's just when I passed you. So there is that, 311 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:00.159 and then have a sorry on his second serve. 312 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:03.240 Returney a justice position. 313 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:06.759 So sometimes they'll you know, stand really wide and change 314 00:17:06.759 --> 00:17:08.519 your eyesight of it, and other times they'll take it 315 00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:12.079 early and hit the back end, so you never really know. 316 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:14.359 I do it as a net player because I can 317 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:16.240 see how he's moving, but as a survey you don't 318 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:18.759 know if he's going to circle and you don't know 319 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:21.160 if he's going to blast the inside in or you 320 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:22.759 know he's going to take the back end earlier, he's 321 00:17:22.759 --> 00:17:24.200 going to larb and get in the point that way. 322 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:27.960 So it's it's effective, and it keeps you thinking and 323 00:17:28.039 --> 00:17:29.720 it keeps your eyes pretty active. 324 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:30.400 As an opponent. 325 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:34.480 They haven't really lost many matches on play recently, so 326 00:17:35.920 --> 00:17:37.240 obviously they're very good saying. 327 00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:41.039 Saying all of that has almost made it sound for 328 00:17:41.119 --> 00:17:43.680 somebody who hasn't seen it and is maybe watching or 329 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:46.119 listening to us now, it makes it seem like there 330 00:17:46.160 --> 00:17:52.680 was a bigger gap. I mean, the the match was tight. 331 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:57.279 I was able to see it. It was tight, and 332 00:17:57.400 --> 00:18:00.799 there were just moments. So I'd say probably overall is 333 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:05.279 about a ten point difference between the YouTube something like that. Yeah, 334 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:11.480 you four, sorry, and it just comes down to where 335 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:16.759 those ten points fall. But you saying that about having 336 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:19.079 the confidence of being on the court with those guys, 337 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:21.200 knowing that you can get in with those guys. You're 338 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:25.000 playing the fifth seed in the third round on your 339 00:18:25.640 --> 00:18:32.160 least preferred surface. Yeah, on grass, on grass, I think 340 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:32.880 you guys have it. 341 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:37.839 Yeah, it depends depends on you. Other stories. 342 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.599 I mean they're no mugs or grass the don't get 343 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.200 me wrong, but. 344 00:18:40.359 --> 00:18:41.119 Very very well. 345 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:44.920 But yeah, I'd say for me, I'd have more of 346 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:46.519 a chance and more comfortable on that surface. 347 00:18:46.559 --> 00:18:52.160 But there we go. It's not all hate with the 348 00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:54.240 Clare's some positives. 349 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:58.599 We'll try and find them in the break because when 350 00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:00.519 we come back, we're going to talk about the draw 351 00:19:00.720 --> 00:19:03.839 that's blown wide open by Sinner. I want to get 352 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:06.440 your view of what it's like to be in a 353 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:08.880 drawer and see a couple of top seeds go and 354 00:19:08.960 --> 00:19:12.480 Serena Williams back at forty four. Will Marcus Willis still 355 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:14.759 be playing at forty four, Let's find out after this 356 00:19:23.599 --> 00:19:26.480 Welcome back to the words You're talking about Willis Podcast 357 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:31.200 with him eighty p. Six seven Marcus Willis and me Dave. 358 00:19:31.880 --> 00:19:35.039 So let's just go a little bit into the French open. 359 00:19:35.319 --> 00:19:39.559 Sinner out of the French blew it wide open. Lots 360 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:41.839 of shocks following, you know, Djokovic out and so on, 361 00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:47.279 and basically the whole top ten, top fifteen capitulated, leaving 362 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:51.920 as Verev a reasonably clear path for his maiden Grand Slam. 363 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:55.720 Have you ever played in a tournament and you arrive thinking, 364 00:19:55.759 --> 00:19:57.000 you know, I'm going to work on this, I'm going 365 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:58.480 to work on that, and all of a sudden the 366 00:19:58.519 --> 00:20:00.880 drawer opens up, a little bit of top seeds go, 367 00:20:01.039 --> 00:20:04.960 maybe someone's injured, and and you think, oh, hang on, 368 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.079 my goalposts have shifted. 369 00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:08.799 I haven't. 370 00:20:08.839 --> 00:20:11.680 I've always been quite I don't know if it's a 371 00:20:11.680 --> 00:20:15.480 good or bad thing, but I've always known I can 372 00:20:15.559 --> 00:20:20.440 lose to anyone at any point, but. 373 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:22.559 In the same way, I respect everyone. 374 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:26.759 So you know, if I'm playing someone significantly lower ranked 375 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:28.160 who hasn't had great results. 376 00:20:28.319 --> 00:20:30.400 I will still respect. 377 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:33.279 Them and rate what they can do, because I found 378 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:35.720 in times where I thought, oh, I'm going to win this. 379 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:39.119 You get someone playing off their face and you don't, 380 00:20:39.160 --> 00:20:40.720 and it's you need to be prepared for them to 381 00:20:40.720 --> 00:20:43.119 play the best tennis. So, yeah, I've been in loads 382 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:45.759 of tournaments where seeds are drops. In doubles, it means nothing, 383 00:20:45.960 --> 00:20:50.359 especially at challenges you like in slams. You know it's 384 00:20:50.440 --> 00:20:56.880 more rare, but it still happens. Yeah, in singles, I've 385 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:00.279 been in a lot of tournaments where seeds strapping. You go, 386 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:02.839 all right, well we'll cross that bridge if I'm in 387 00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:05.920 their section of the drawer quite often, actually quite a 388 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.559 lot in my career, and I played the top seed 389 00:21:07.640 --> 00:21:10.200 or second seed first round, and I think I had 390 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.079 a really good record against them, And I think almost 391 00:21:14.119 --> 00:21:16.559 as better a player seed first round than when they 392 00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:17.759 get later on in the tournament. 393 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:20.519 So you've been the one knocking them out. 394 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:22.839 Yeah, quite a bit. I want to say, it would 395 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.960 be interesting to do the stats on that. I suppose, 396 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:28.519 but obviously some might lost. 397 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:32.160 But I always said, you know, recently, in singles, if 398 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:35.400 you're playing a tournament, especially a change of surface or 399 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:36.200 a new tournament. 400 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:37.319 If you play a. 401 00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.799