1 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:06,920 Hey guys, welcome to What's the Call the podcast where sports 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,120 meets side eye. We're here to break down the 3 00:00:09,120 --> 00:00:12,040 matches, the meltdowns and the moments that make us pause and 4 00:00:12,040 --> 00:00:14,480 say, what was that call? I'm Theo. 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,880 I'm Andrea. And we're glad you're here. 6 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,080 Whether you're sports obsessed or just here for the drama, 7 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:22,800 there's a seat for you courtside, so let's dive in. 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,200 Hi guys, welcome back to another episode. 9 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:34,200 Today is a very special one. We just wrapped an interview 10 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:38,440 with one of the most decorated players in tennis. 11 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:45,280 He is a quad wheelchair player, the British #1A former world #1A 12 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:49,560 multiple Grand Slam champion, a four time Paralympic medallist 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:54,200 and has recently received an MBE here in the UK. 14 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:56,600 We really hope you guys enjoy listening. 15 00:00:56,600 --> 00:01:00,560 It was such a fun one to record. And thank you to Andy for coming 16 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:04,000 on. Welcome to What's the Call, Andy 17 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:05,680 Lapthorne. Hi guys. 18 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,600 How you doing? Doing well? 19 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:08,720 Doing well. How are you? 20 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:10,040 I'm good. I'm good. 21 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:11,120 Thank you. Very good. 22 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:16,120 What's the latest? Just got back from the States 23 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:19,920 where we competed in 2 events. Little bit of time at home now 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,200 and then off to Asia for the for the next set of events that 25 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,720 we're playing. Crazy, crazy schedule must be 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,000 quite tiring, no? Yeah, we, we travel all over the 27 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,960 world. We essentially chase the sun, as 28 00:01:33,040 --> 00:01:36,240 they say. And yeah, basically the same as 29 00:01:36,240 --> 00:01:40,040 the ACP and WTA girls all over the world, playing tournaments, 30 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,680 trying to get ranking points and then leading into the Grand 31 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,240 Slams. Can you tell us a bit about your 32 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:48,280 journey and how you got into a wheelchair tennis? 33 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,520 Yeah. So I was born with cerebral 34 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:55,720 palsy, so I've had that since birth and then when I was 35 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,320 growing up was searching for different sports that I could 36 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,720 potentially play. And when you get to an age where 37 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,360 you realise that you're not going to be doing sort of able 38 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,920 bodied sports and playing for teams that I supported as a kid, 39 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,640 you sort of search for sports that maybe potentially could be 40 00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:15,080 a job. And, and back then obviously 41 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:20,400 what would have been probably 25 years ago now, there wasn't many 42 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,680 disability sports out there that were massively visible. 43 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:27,640 We tried wheelchair basketball and then stumbled across 44 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,920 wheelchair tennis where at the time they were just starting to 45 00:02:30,920 --> 00:02:34,040 get into some of the Grand Slams and it was a bit more visible 46 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:38,960 when then we're told that they were a wheelchair world tour 47 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,520 with prize money and stuff. And yeah, that was that was it. 48 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,760 Then I sort of could see a career path and even at sort of 49 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,680 1011 years old, that was the choice. 50 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:52,000 So you always knew you wanted to be a professional athlete, 51 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:54,400 sounds like? Yeah, that's that's what I 52 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,520 wanted to do. I'd always loved watching sport 53 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,000 on TV and stuff. I'm a massive West Ham football 54 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:04,840 fan and I loved boxing growing up and having been sitting with 55 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,440 my dad on, on many a big boxing night watching, watching those 56 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:13,720 fights, tennis was sort of the closest thing for me in terms of 57 00:03:13,720 --> 00:03:16,360 one-on-one combat. I'd played a bit of wheelchair 58 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:19,200 basketball, but obviously with it being a team sport, it was, 59 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:21,800 it was difficult. And then when I, when I found 60 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,840 tennis and and started playing, sort of fell in love with it. 61 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,400 And then you're trying your best then at that age as a kid just 62 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,120 to play and enjoy it. But then when you get to sort of 63 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:36,600 15, 1415 and you're you're playing for the juniors and GB, 64 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,960 then you then you start to dream of maybe having a career. 65 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:44,480 And yeah, sort of when I got to 15 decided that's what I was 66 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,800 going to try and do. And yeah, we ended up here. 67 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,640 That's incredible when people hear wheelchair tennis, what do 68 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:56,000 you wish more people knew about it? 69 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,320 The fact that there's only one rule difference for a start, so 70 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,080 we get 2 bounces. The first bounce obviously has 71 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,360 to be within the court and then the second bounce can bounce 72 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:07,680 anywhere. Other than that, it's all 73 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,400 completely the same. I would say it's the best sport 74 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:15,080 in the world to play for a person with a disability to be 75 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:16,880 able to play with an able bodied person. 76 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:20,240 So that me and my brother, when we grew up, we'd play against 77 00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:21,839 each other. He'd play on one bounce, I'd 78 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,320 play on 2 bounces. There's not many disability 79 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,920 sports where you can sort of link the two that easily. 80 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,920 And yeah, just the tour, the growing tour, the professional 81 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,760 players, the level of the matches now, some of the crowds 82 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:39,880 that we're getting now, for people to come out and see what 83 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:42,720 the guys, especially the the younger guys now coming through 84 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:44,680 are doing, it's an amazing spectacle. 85 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,840 And yeah, we're just trying to keep growing it. 86 00:04:46,920 --> 00:04:51,640 What's been the most memorable atmosphere you've played in? 87 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:55,960 There's been a few like me and Dylan played on the first ever 88 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,160 wheelchair match on the Centre Court at Grand Slam on Rod Laver 89 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,840 in Australia. That was pretty special. 90 00:05:01,840 --> 00:05:05,040 To go from playing in front of two men and a dog at one point 91 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:08,800 to then playing in a full rod Labour arena against an Aussie 92 00:05:08,800 --> 00:05:13,080 in a Grand Slam final was pretty amazing experience and a 93 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,560 privilege to be part of the first one of those. 94 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,240 And then obviously home Paralympics in London was was 95 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:22,120 amazing to have the home crowd and the big crowds there. 96 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:26,360 And then recently in Paris for the Paralympics, to have full 97 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:30,640 stadiums at Roland Garros purely for Wiltshire tennis was was 98 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,160 incredible. And the atmosphere there, 99 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:34,880 especially from the South American guys, even though they 100 00:05:34,880 --> 00:05:39,440 were booing me most of the time was, was pretty amazing. 101 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,520 And to go to be able to roll out onto courts like Susan Longman 102 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,440 for a singles match, the Paralympics and it to be totally 103 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:51,520 full was, yeah, an amazing experience and just shows how 104 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:55,280 far we've come as a sport. Do you thrive in those kinds of 105 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:57,520 environments, even if they're booing you? 106 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:02,880 Yeah, I mean, for me, like being a football or soccer fan, been 107 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:05,400 in a lot of interesting atmospheres and, and for me 108 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:08,280 being in those environments, it doesn't, it doesn't faze me. 109 00:06:08,280 --> 00:06:12,400 And I'd rather be in the stadium of 20,000 people going against 110 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:14,040 me than playing in front of no one. 111 00:06:14,320 --> 00:06:17,160 So yeah, when we turned up in Paris, there was lots of rumours 112 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,760 that for the Paralympics they weren't going to sell the 113 00:06:19,760 --> 00:06:22,080 tickets, the tickets weren't going to go well and stuff like 114 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:23,840 that. So then to turn up on the first 115 00:06:23,840 --> 00:06:28,120 day and to be in the locker room and see the court completely 116 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:31,160 full in the build up to our match and see all the South 117 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,560 American flags and stuff. I was playing a guy from Chile. 118 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,520 So I knew when I was looking on the screen at Ron and Garst that 119 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,040 it was going to be an interesting, an interesting 120 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,600 atmosphere. And luckily for me, like I'd 121 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,440 played three Paralympics before that, lots of experience. 122 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:51,000 And yeah, just just one of them where it was like, I think this 123 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,320 is going to be, this is going to be an experience because this 124 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:57,840 place is going to be full and like going to bed the night 125 00:06:57,840 --> 00:07:00,760 before was thinking it was potentially going to be empty. 126 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,400 And then when you roll out and you can feel the energy and 127 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,240 stuff. And actually a funny story, like 128 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,800 I was speaking to my coach before we went on and it was 129 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:12,360 like the last thing we said was like, just settle the crowd down 130 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:14,040 early. Don't let the crowd get up for 131 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:15,080 it. Like this guy's going to come 132 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,400 out with a lot of passion. Don't let him get the crowd into 133 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,520 it. And he had break point on me in 134 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:23,040 the first game and hit a round the net post forehand down the 135 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,120 line for a winner. And the place went up absolutely 136 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:28,400 mental. And like I just looked over to 137 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,160 the player box and started laughing because literally the 138 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,080 it's like the worst case scenario. 139 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:35,040 He's hit one of the best shots I've ever seen. 140 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,560 And but the atmosphere was amazing. 141 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:42,200 And just this to be the biggest memory for me when he hit that 142 00:07:42,200 --> 00:07:45,560 shot was just me thinking, OK, everyone's going against me, but 143 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:49,080 like, these people going absolutely crazy for a guy in a 144 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,240 wheelchair playing tennis, this is like all the years of hard 145 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:58,160 work could sort of paid off in a way to be in a position where 146 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:00,840 people were cheering against me because they actually cared 147 00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:03,000 about who won in the world tennis match. 148 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:07,240 For me, that was almost like, OK, we've got to a good place 149 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:09,000 now. And I was so relaxed and just 150 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:12,320 really enjoyed the whole experience and ended up winning 151 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,120 the match. And yeah, just an incredible, 152 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:19,640 incredible experience. And 2025 marks the 50th year of 153 00:08:19,960 --> 00:08:23,160 wheelchair tennis. And you've mentioned a few, but 154 00:08:23,720 --> 00:08:27,920 we wanted to ask, looking back across the years, what has been 155 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,080 a really pivotal moment for the sport? 156 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:33,360 Yeah, I mean, Aussie Open with Dylan was obviously massive to 157 00:08:33,360 --> 00:08:38,080 get that match on Rod Laver and show that not only could we play 158 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:40,360 on the Centre Court, but we could draw a crowd. 159 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:43,440 That was a huge moment for the sport of wheelchair tennis. 160 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:45,880 And there's been so many over the years getting into Wimbledon 161 00:08:45,880 --> 00:08:48,680 and getting to play on the grass because initially they were 162 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:51,000 worried that the wheelchairs would damage the grass. 163 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,920 So that was a big moment. The same with the player Roland 164 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,480 Garros. And then I think just all the 165 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:58,960 tournaments along the way, the small tournaments with the 166 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,480 volunteers and stuff that had that had given us an opportunity 167 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:05,360 to play when there wasn't anywhere to play. 168 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,400 They've all played a pivotal role, especially in the UK, the 169 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:12,440 the crowds we get at Wimbledon and stuff are pretty special and 170 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,640 and just keeps driving it forward. 171 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:19,640 And looking to the future, how do you see the sport evolving? 172 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,080 What would you like to see? Yeah, I mean continuing to build 173 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:26,960 the tour at a lower level to make sure that the the players 174 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,480 that aren't able to play in the Grand Slams at the moment that 175 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:32,560 are trying to come through have a pathway to become a 176 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:34,400 professional wheelchair tennis player. 177 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,920 Because if you're not in the Grand Slams in Wiltshire tennis 178 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:41,440 at the moment, you're struggling to earning enough money to be a 179 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:42,840 professional wheelchair tennis player. 180 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:46,280 So to try and build the lower levels of the tour up enough to 181 00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:49,320 make sure that the younger players have got a pathway into 182 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:51,440 the sport. And then I guess just bigger 183 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:55,800 draws at the Grand Slam and just push it as far as as far as what 184 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,120 it can be pushed. I think like Dylan was a great 185 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:00,760 one for that. He he pushed it all the way and 186 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,400 we've pushed together to try and get onto some of the biggest 187 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,680 courts in the world. And I think once you once you 188 00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:08,800 put it out there, people do enjoy watching it. 189 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,840 So yeah, just pushing as much as we can really. 190 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,200 We saw that last year you were awarded an MBE. 191 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,080 Huge congratulations. That's so incredible. 192 00:10:18,160 --> 00:10:20,240 We wanted to ask sort of what that moment meant to you 193 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:25,000 personally. No, I mean like obviously I come 194 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:28,720 from a working class background and I'm not your typical tennis 195 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,880 background of a, of a tennis player. 196 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:35,480 So to, to get to a point where we went from second hand 197 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,960 wheelchairs, second hand rackets, struggling to pay for, 198 00:10:38,960 --> 00:10:42,680 to go to tournaments and stuff like that, to then achieving 199 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:47,240 what we achieved as a group, as a family, as a team, to then be 200 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:49,520 recognised with that was, was very special. 201 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:53,440 Not just for myself, but for for my mum, my dad, my brother, all 202 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,840 the people that had played a part in, in getting me to where 203 00:10:56,840 --> 00:10:59,280 I've got to. Yeah, an incredible honour and, 204 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:03,280 and just hopefully prove to any, any kids out there that do come 205 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:08,040 from a similar background to me that tennis isn't unattainable. 206 00:11:08,040 --> 00:11:10,760 Like it obviously it's tough because it's an expensive sport 207 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:15,120 and like historically certain backgrounds play tennis, certain 208 00:11:15,120 --> 00:11:18,760 backgrounds don't play tennis. So to have your normal average 209 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:22,920 guy receive something like that, hopefully that inspires someone 210 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,440 along the way to to think that they can play tennis. 211 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:27,760 And obviously I'm a pretty normal guy. 212 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:31,480 I do things in my own way. I, I have fun with it. 213 00:11:31,560 --> 00:11:34,440 I've enjoyed the nightlife when I was, when I was younger on 214 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:38,960 the, I wasn't always your textbook tennis player. 215 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:45,080 So to be, to be myself throughout and do it my way, it 216 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:48,760 was it was nice to still get the recognition in the end. 217 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,840 And yeah, it made it all worth it. 218 00:11:51,280 --> 00:11:55,000 Yeah, we, we loved, we loved to hear that and see that you also, 219 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:57,800 you know, enjoy other things outside the court. 220 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,520 That's great to see. And also obviously, yeah, tennis 221 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:05,400 is a sport that does have certain barriers to entry. 222 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:08,360 So in order to breakthrough those, it's definitely so 223 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:13,240 inspiring and hopefully many people will follow. 224 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:18,120 I hope so, and I hope it just shows that like any sport you 225 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,400 want to get into, it's doable. Sometimes it's tough, sometimes 226 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,480 things happen like it wasn't easy for us at times. 227 00:12:24,880 --> 00:12:27,160 We told a million times that it would never work. 228 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:30,000 It was like we were doing things in the wrong way and stuff like 229 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:31,520 that. I've heard that my whole career. 230 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:35,320 And I think just sometimes if you have enough self belief and 231 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:38,920 enough positive power around you from people that believe in you, 232 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:40,480 you can you can achieve anything. 233 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,840 So. Absolutely, 100%. 234 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:47,600 And you're you're proof of that. So yeah, again, congratulations 235 00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:49,840 on that incredible sort of honour. 236 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:55,800 OK, So we have to talk about the Sir Alex Ferguson phone call. 237 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:01,320 How did that go down and what did that moment change for you? 238 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:05,520 Yeah, I mean, I was working with a guy called Paul Stewart, who 239 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:09,440 was a fellow wheelchair tennis player at the time, and he 240 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:13,120 stopped playing to help me before Rio and became a bit of a 241 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:16,560 mentor. And him and his dad owned a lot 242 00:13:16,560 --> 00:13:19,560 of race horses at the time now and a famous racehorse called 243 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:21,800 Big Bucks who won a lot of races at Cheltenham. 244 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,000 I see he'd met some some interesting people along the 245 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,200 way. And I guess like, like I've 246 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:30,440 said, I didn't do things in a normal way that normal athletes 247 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:32,920 do. So he was trying to, before Rio, 248 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:37,160 just instill a little bit more belief in me and trying to to 249 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:38,720 approach things in a different way. 250 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:42,240 And I guess he knew that from following a football. 251 00:13:42,840 --> 00:13:45,800 Someone like Sir Alex would be pretty inspiring for me. 252 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:48,800 She had one day I was sitting at home and just got a random phone 253 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,040 call and said, Sir Alex, can you call this number back, please? 254 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:53,760 Yeah. And I initially thought someone 255 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:55,120 was on the wind up. I was like, what you mean? 256 00:13:55,240 --> 00:14:00,840 So then after about 10 minutes, I got a text from Paul saying 257 00:14:00,840 --> 00:14:03,480 you need to call Sir Alex back. Called him back. 258 00:14:03,720 --> 00:14:07,320 And yeah, it's an amazing sort of 20 minute phone call where he 259 00:14:07,320 --> 00:14:09,920 just sort of said, look, I've, I've been following your 260 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,640 progress. Paul's told me all about you. 261 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:15,840 He told me you're a West Ham fan, which he didn't enjoy that 262 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:17,160 much because he. Stopped. 263 00:14:17,720 --> 00:14:19,200 Stopped and winning the League One year. 264 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:21,840 And he reminded me of that. So we had an interesting 265 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,720 conversation and it was just really inspiring for him to sort 266 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,920 of tell me some of the stories of where they obviously had 267 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:30,560 their backs against the wall at times. 268 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:33,720 And I was going into Paralympics against the guy that I was 269 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,520 really struggling to beat and knew that I'd probably come up 270 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:40,680 against him, David Wagner, the American guy, to have that nod 271 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,920 from him. And just like the comparison to 272 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:46,800 different players, like he was talking about Eric Cantonar and 273 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:48,680 sort of saying how it's a similar thing with him. 274 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,400 And that just gave me confidence to to continue to be myself and 275 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:56,680 not doubt myself. And then won, won the semi final 276 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:01,360 in Rio, beat the American guy and actually received a e-mail 277 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:04,560 from Sir Alec before the final. Wish me luck telling me that 278 00:15:04,560 --> 00:15:08,120 he'd be watching and stuff. And yeah, to to receive those 279 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:11,400 type of things from, from someone like that was obviously 280 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:15,120 incredible and very privileged to have to have been able to 281 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:17,520 tuck the brains of someone that's been at the top of their 282 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:19,360 sport for so long. Amazing. 283 00:15:19,360 --> 00:15:22,360 And such a huge mentor. I mean, yeah, he like commands. 284 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,680 So much respect. And I mean, yeah, what a great 285 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,560 story. Yeah, it was, it was amazing. 286 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,560 And he he gave up a lot of his time for me and it really helped 287 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:34,320 me get to get to where I got to in that Paralympics. 288 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:37,320 And unfortunately he came up a little bit short in the end, but 289 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:40,160 definitely helped me get through that semi final match. 290 00:15:41,160 --> 00:15:45,560 And just on that Paralympics, you think you said once that 291 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,640 winning silver is is a gold lost. 292 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:52,640 Looking back on that, do you do you still feel that way? 293 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:57,920 Yeah, I mean, I've got 3 silvers and the bronze, and the bronze 294 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,960 was the most enjoyable because you actually have to win the 295 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:05,000 match to get the bronze. The three silvers, especially 296 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:10,800 the singles in Rio where I was like you never expect as a kid. 297 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:12,880 Like your goal is to get to the Paralympics. 298 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,280 Your goal is to try and get there and do as well as you can. 299 00:16:16,280 --> 00:16:18,600 But all of a sudden you end up in the Paralympic final. 300 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,360 And I remember going to sleep the night before thinking like 301 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:23,880 you're so close and then to lose. 302 00:16:23,880 --> 00:16:28,280 It is, yeah, lives with you. Like London still lives with me. 303 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,720 Not all the time now, like I can sleep most of the time, but 304 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:34,280 there's still times where I think to myself now that's so 305 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:38,640 close like so it is tough and but you do look back and think 306 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,800 bloody hell, like 3 silver medals is it's a good effort 307 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:46,400 because the, the hardest thing about the silver is there's so 308 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:50,080 much that goes on after you lose normally, like even with the 309 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,520 grandstand final, you have speeches and stuff and then you 310 00:16:52,520 --> 00:16:55,080 get off the court and you can go and do your thing. 311 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,720 With the Paralympics, there's so much more that goes on. 312 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,240 You've got the whole medal ceremony, you've got interviews, 313 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:03,040 you've got the media, there's, there's so much that goes on 314 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:08,480 where you have to sort of put a brave face on and like you've 315 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:12,000 put 40 years of working to try and get to a gold medal and it 316 00:17:12,000 --> 00:17:16,359 can, it hurts a lot. So it never feels nice to lose 317 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,920 in the final of the Paralympics. But I'm lucky enough that I've 318 00:17:18,920 --> 00:17:20,880 had, I've had three shots out there. 319 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,960 I've, I've never managed to get it done in the Paralympics, but 320 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,400 lucky enough that we play in a sport where the Grand slams come 321 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,680 around pretty often and they, they've made-up for it in a lot 322 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:31,480 of ways. So. 323 00:17:31,840 --> 00:17:34,800 You've got your 4 Paralympic medals and on that you also have 324 00:17:34,800 --> 00:17:37,760 18 slam titles. Incredible. 325 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:42,160 In amongst all of that, what has been your proudest moment and is 326 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:46,760 it one that people would expect? I guess like always stand true 327 00:17:46,760 --> 00:17:49,960 to myself, like I still have the same mates that I had when I was 328 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:53,520 sort of 5-6 years old. It's still the same guys running 329 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,040 around with me. Like at Wimbledon, we're pretty 330 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:00,320 famous for being the the guys that are pretty loud and pretty 331 00:18:00,320 --> 00:18:01,560 different. The rowdy bunch. 332 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:06,160 It's always been the same guys and I'm, I'm proud that like the 333 00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:08,520 loyalty that they've shown me, I've shown them. 334 00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:12,080 It's never changed. It'll always be the same guys no 335 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:13,680 matter what I do and what I achieve. 336 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,440 So I'm very proud of that. And then also like winning the 337 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:22,040 US Open in the singles growing up, like New York was always my 338 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:23,720 place. I'm a massive New York Knicks 339 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:24,200 fan. Us. 340 00:18:24,520 --> 00:18:25,560 Too. Let's go, Knicks. 341 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:30,320 Yeah. You get it done twice was was 342 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:34,080 special and obviously to to beat Dylan when he was going for all 343 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:38,040 four and he'd absolutely whooped me in Wimbledon in front of all 344 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,600 my family and friends. To win that one and get one back 345 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,320 for everyone was it was a pretty sweet moment. 346 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:46,400 And then obviously just the Paralympics, getting to play for 347 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:50,520 your country and being part of the basically the movement 348 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:54,440 that's now seeing these kids that are coming in now being 349 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,680 outside and living, playing disability sport, being able to 350 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,200 go to these events and know that there's going to be a crowd. 351 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,520 And having been a part of that at the start, that's that's 352 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,160 probably the proudest. Part love it. 353 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:10,400 Amazing. You obviously reached that world 354 00:19:10,400 --> 00:19:12,800 number one spot. You also mentioned that once you 355 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:17,000 got there, I didn't feel how you expected that it was more like 356 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:21,760 what now than this big moment. Do you think chasing the goal 357 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:23,680 was more fulfilling than achieving it? 358 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:25,600 Yeah, I mean, it was such a strange 1. 359 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,080 Like I remember being in Australia and being so close to 360 00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:31,120 it. And like they always say, don't 361 00:19:31,120 --> 00:19:33,520 look at the rankings, don't know about the rankings, all that 362 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:35,080 stuff. And I made every mistake that 363 00:19:35,080 --> 00:19:37,560 you can make because I knew exactly how much I needed to do 364 00:19:37,560 --> 00:19:40,400 in the last tournament before the Aussie Open and nearly lost 365 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:43,000 the match that I probably shouldn't have lost because I 366 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:48,160 was so tight. Like, my, my God, if I win or 367 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:51,480 win the last couple of points here, we're going to be #1 in 368 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:54,920 the world. But then obviously I achieved it 369 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:57,200 and it felt amazing. And I just remember waking up 370 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,400 the next day in the hotel room in Australia and being like, 371 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,200 what on earth do we do now? Because like from the age of 372 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:08,640 sort of, I'm going to say 1415, when you're, when you start to 373 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:11,840 back yourself to be a pro and and you're sort of like, OK, I'm 374 00:20:11,840 --> 00:20:14,320 going to make it. And then the goal becomes you 375 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:15,840 want to be the best player in the world. 376 00:20:17,160 --> 00:20:21,160 That was sort of like a 10 year, 11 year journey of every day I 377 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,400 woke up and was like. I want to get to #1 in the 378 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,560 world. And then when I woke up I was 379 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:29,520 actually world number one. It was like, OK, now I 380 00:20:29,840 --> 00:20:33,080 completely lost. I have no idea what to do now. 381 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,920 Remember ringing up my mum and being like, it feels terrible 382 00:20:36,920 --> 00:20:39,840 because now I don't feel like I've got anything to chase. 383 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,200 It was a strange one, obviously, like an amazing moment to to get 384 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,000 there and to achieve it. It was just a little bit lost 385 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,680 for a few months there afterwards in terms of like, OK, 386 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:50,480 what do we do now? What's the motivator? 387 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:53,120 What's going to get you up out of bed to go out and work hard 388 00:20:53,120 --> 00:20:56,240 to, to make sure you stay there? And yeah, it's just one of them 389 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:58,960 things where it just felt different to what I thought it 390 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:00,800 would. And that's probably the biggest 391 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,960 achievement of all to actually get to #1 in the world, because 392 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,520 anyone can win, win a tournament on any week. 393 00:21:07,520 --> 00:21:10,560 If you, if you played well that week and things go your way, you 394 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:12,480 can, you can win a tournament here or there. 395 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:15,080 But to actually get to #1 you've got to be good throughout a 396 00:21:15,080 --> 00:21:17,520 whole year. And, and to do it in the time 397 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,080 when obviously Dylan was still playing and stuff like that, 398 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,080 it's, it's proof that the hard work definitely paid off. 399 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,160 And that's an amazing achievement. 400 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:30,000 Yeah, consistency all the way. What Eventually you said after a 401 00:21:30,000 --> 00:21:34,240 couple of months you were able to find something that did get 402 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:37,680 you out of bed and that did motivate you, but what did that 403 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,640 for you? I think just you sort of say to 404 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,680 yourself like that, how many Slams can we win? 405 00:21:42,680 --> 00:21:44,600 Now what? Where's the next Slam? 406 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:46,720 How are we going to win it? How are we going to try and 407 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:49,240 chase that down? Obviously Wimbledon's been a 408 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:52,560 massive goal and I've lost in the final there in singles, so 409 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:54,760 that was always a goal. Whether that will ever happen, 410 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:57,560 no I don't know. But like the other goals winning 411 00:21:57,560 --> 00:21:59,840 U.S. Open, I went on to win U.S. 412 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,040 Open, which was amazing. I've done that twice in in 413 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:06,640 singles and this point I had as many as possible. 414 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:10,120 Now to to try and make it as difficult as possible for the 415 00:22:10,120 --> 00:22:13,440 next British guy that comes along in in my category and 416 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,160 wants to try and put some records on the board. 417 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:19,200 Try and make it as hard as possible and almost try and be a 418 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,160 bit selfish and try and try and win as many as you can before 419 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:27,400 you stop. Yeah, I mean your entire 420 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,080 journey, but also, yeah, how you remotivate yourself. 421 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:32,920 I feel like there's always something more you can pursue, I 422 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,560 guess, which is I guess what you just kind of said. 423 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:40,880 But on British tennis, we know that your best friend's the Jack 424 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,400 Draper and close to Andy Murray as well. 425 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,560 What does it mean to you to represent British tennis? 426 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:49,760 Yeah, it's obviously amazing to get to play in our version of 427 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:53,400 Davis Cup, which is the World Team Cup, has been, it's been an 428 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:56,920 amazing honour to be around all these guys for all these years. 429 00:22:57,000 --> 00:23:01,240 Create friendships with with all the guys that have been so good 430 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:04,080 to us as wheelchair players over the years, especially Andy in 431 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,400 the early days who always spoke up for us and has always been a 432 00:23:07,400 --> 00:23:09,760 top guy. And then and then now getting to 433 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,960 know Jack of as well as I do and, and spending time with him. 434 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,720 He's a young guy on his way up and, and learning, learning his 435 00:23:17,720 --> 00:23:21,200 way and learning the tennis tour and just getting to spend time 436 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:24,080 with him and spend moments with him and sitting and watching him 437 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,000 play. It's, it's really good fun and 438 00:23:26,360 --> 00:23:28,760 something I really enjoy. And I think we will, we will 439 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,200 take great pride in trying to represent Great Britain as best 440 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:35,240 as we can on the on the tennis circuit, but also trying to 441 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,120 trying to have a laugh when we can. 442 00:23:37,120 --> 00:23:39,760 And you're on the tour a lot and it's a lonely place. 443 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:43,120 So if you can, if you can find a couple of mates along the way to 444 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,400 to share it with it, it definitely helps. 445 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,120 Absolutely. It sounds like there's a lot of 446 00:23:48,440 --> 00:23:53,920 camaraderie and like a good friendship amongst the tennis 447 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:56,360 players which or British tennis players, which is just great to. 448 00:23:56,360 --> 00:24:00,120 See, I think I think definitely especially like the older groups 449 00:24:00,120 --> 00:24:06,120 are like we Andy, Dan Evans, Damien Murray with Skopskis, all 450 00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:09,800 those guys, that sort of group, like it was always the majority 451 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:12,520 of us would be training at the NTC and it was always a good 452 00:24:12,520 --> 00:24:16,080 vibe and everyone was always pushing each other along. 453 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:18,880 And with Andy obviously getting to #1 in the world, everyone was 454 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:22,080 sort of pushing to try and to try and be as good as him. 455 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:25,800 And yeah, it was such a great environment to to grow up in 456 00:24:25,800 --> 00:24:28,480 and, and training. I feel like the British guys 457 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,400 have always had a good system for good banter and stuff. 458 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:36,160 And we've always, never taken it too seriously with each other 459 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:38,280 and, and yeah, we always get behind each other. 460 00:24:38,280 --> 00:24:40,000 And it's it's nice to have that on the tour. 461 00:24:40,360 --> 00:24:43,080 Yeah, keep it light. Who has the best banter? 462 00:24:44,360 --> 00:24:47,920 Best banter? Oh, that's a tough one. 463 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,200 They're all, they're all pretty bad, to be fair. 464 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:54,240 So I would say Andy can be quite funny. 465 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,320 He's got a dry sense of. Humour hilarious. 466 00:24:56,320 --> 00:24:57,480 I I love, Yeah. It's so funny. 467 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:01,360 Yeah, he's got a dry sense of humour and Jamie, to be fair to 468 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:04,200 him, is is not bad. And Johnny, Omar, I think she's 469 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:06,160 very funny. Yeah, less said the better. 470 00:25:06,160 --> 00:25:07,640 Not. That. 471 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:14,760 So what's your favorite slam slash tournament? 472 00:25:16,200 --> 00:25:18,280 Oh, it's tough. I would probably have to stay 473 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:23,040 New York just purely because I've won my 2 singles there or 474 00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:27,320 won my first singles slam there. The Knicks connection, just 475 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,880 being in New York and stuff has always, been always felt like 476 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,200 home away from home. Why do you like New York, 477 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:34,400 though? Really, Andy? 478 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:37,960 Yeah. New York nightlife's very good. 479 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,760 There was some in my younger years when I was first coming on 480 00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,840 the tour and stuff, used to enjoy a night out with, 481 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,400 especially if I had some friends coming with me to some of the 482 00:25:47,400 --> 00:25:50,640 slams, we would we would go out and experience the nightlife. 483 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:54,720 Not so much now because I'm older and wiser, but definitely 484 00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:58,000 like back in 2014 when I won, we were out pretty much every night 485 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:00,320 in New York. So it's always been a place 486 00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:05,040 that's been been kind to me and I, I've always enjoyed the vibe 487 00:26:05,040 --> 00:26:08,760 and just being able to be like right in the mix in the centre 488 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:10,920 of New York. And yeah, you can get into 489 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:15,840 trouble, that's for sure. Also like such a fun place to 490 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,320 be, like the vibe for me there is is so much better than 491 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:22,040 everywhere else. So I've always loved New York, 492 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:25,880 but then obviously Australia in recent years has become a 493 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,560 phenomenal event and especially for the players, they look after 494 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,280 the players so well. It's yeah, it's been incredible. 495 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:36,320 Yeah, I feel like the New York energy is unmatched and Andre 496 00:26:36,320 --> 00:26:39,280 and I have gotten into our into our fair share of trouble in New 497 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:43,920 York as well, that is for sure. But Australia, like you said, it 498 00:26:43,920 --> 00:26:48,080 really is killing it in terms of the tournament and what they 499 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:50,120 offer to players and also to fans so. 500 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:53,520 Yeah, it's been, it's been an amazing turn around there from 501 00:26:53,600 --> 00:26:56,800 from what it was when it first when I first went there to what 502 00:26:56,800 --> 00:27:00,840 to what it is now. It's it's an amazing event and I 503 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,280 need to get bigger. It's an amazing place. 504 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:07,880 It takes you away from the dark and cold London winters. 505 00:27:08,600 --> 00:27:11,360 Yeah, time in there is great as well because you're you're 506 00:27:11,360 --> 00:27:14,280 missing, you're missing that time of the year when everyone 507 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:17,520 in the UK is a bit down in the dumps after Christmas and New 508 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:20,320 Year and you get to go and spend time in the sun. 509 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:26,640 So it's always, it's always good timing A. 100% So we're curious, 510 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,280 what are your pre match rituals if any? 511 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:33,520 I mean, over the years it's changed. 512 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:38,400 I'm quite chilled out. I think just being as relaxed as 513 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:41,840 I can, listening to some music depending on who's around and 514 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,840 what event we're at, having a bit of banter and just trying to 515 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:49,760 chill as much as I can before then obviously focusing in sort 516 00:27:49,760 --> 00:27:53,600 of 1015 minutes before and going through the game plan and stuff. 517 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:59,320 And yeah, like, I'm not one of these guys that can be locked in 518 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,720 for for like an hour, hour and a half before. 519 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,720 And like, you know, like you see these people that just don't 520 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:06,480 talk to anyone. If someone says hello, they 521 00:28:06,480 --> 00:28:08,640 won't talk and stuff like that's not me. 522 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:11,560 I'll be laughing and joking. Like especially if we're at 523 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:13,840 Wimbledon. I've got a few of my mates like 524 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:17,040 in the team for the week 'cause they they come along and one of 525 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:19,560 them will be the physio, one of them will be the. 526 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:21,600 Oh right, love it. Yes, exactly. 527 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:22,640 Sports. Cycle. 528 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:24,800 They've all got a different thing on the badge and they all 529 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:28,960 think they're part of the team. So we end up just usually in the 530 00:28:28,960 --> 00:28:30,960 gym or something. Sometimes we end up playing 531 00:28:30,960 --> 00:28:34,520 cricket and stuff like that in the gym and just, it's all very 532 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:38,760 relaxed and I just like to yeah. So no. 533 00:28:38,760 --> 00:28:42,160 Superstitions. I'm not really the only ones 534 00:28:42,160 --> 00:28:44,400 that I touch the sideline as I go onto the court. 535 00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,520 If I don't, if I forget to do that, then that drives me nuts. 536 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:51,240 But that's the only one because like, I've seen how those sort 537 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:54,400 of things can drive people and science a lot too. 538 00:28:55,120 --> 00:28:58,800 Many, yeah, I feel like tennis players are very superstitious, 539 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:01,000 so. And athletes in general. 540 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:03,880 And us too. Us, we're very superstitious. 541 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:05,560 I think we're both like Mediterranean. 542 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:10,200 I'm half Greek, Andreas Spanish. They play a big part in like the 543 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:13,200 Mediterranean sort of culture superstitions, so. 544 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:16,920 Who do you think has the best personality in tennis right now 545 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:18,160 and everything? I asked this. 546 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:20,480 But like who's the funniest has the best banter? 547 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,560 Savilanka seems to be quite a good fun whenever I've seen her, 548 00:29:24,560 --> 00:29:27,040 she seems to be quite relaxed and quite chilled. 549 00:29:27,400 --> 00:29:30,560 Kind of think in the men's locker room, who's got a good 550 00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:32,880 banter? I mean, a few of the guys have 551 00:29:32,920 --> 00:29:35,960 gone now, like the older guys, like Stan Varenko was always one 552 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,720 that liked a bit of banter and Roger was actually completely 553 00:29:39,720 --> 00:29:42,520 different in the locker rooms to what he was like once he went 554 00:29:42,520 --> 00:29:44,600 out to the court and stuff, he would always be like he was. 555 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,320 A joker is a joker. Yeah, he's he. 556 00:29:47,840 --> 00:29:50,360 He used to like some banter and would be quite loud in the 557 00:29:50,360 --> 00:29:54,960 locker room, but then obviously Nick Kyrios, he's like the life 558 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:56,480 and soul in the locker room when he's in there. 559 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:58,720 Like in Australia, he was absolutely loving it. 560 00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:03,120 So he's always someone that brings brings the energy and and 561 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:05,320 yeah, it's always a more interesting locker room when 562 00:30:05,320 --> 00:30:08,040 he's in there, that's for sure. Oh, I can imagine. 563 00:30:08,080 --> 00:30:12,480 So I mean, you've been on on tour for around 20 years now. 564 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:15,560 Is it? So yeah, there Are there any 565 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:19,080 good locker room stories that you can share with us? 566 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:24,080 I mean, just like you end up sitting and watching matches 567 00:30:24,080 --> 00:30:27,320 next to Federer and Djokovic and guys like that. 568 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:32,520 It's such an amazing experienced sort of if a match goes five 569 00:30:32,520 --> 00:30:35,400 sets or whatever and it's a tie break and you've got ATV and 570 00:30:35,400 --> 00:30:39,840 there's Vedra and Djokovic and the dowel huddled around the TV 571 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:42,960 and everyone's sort of shouting and stuff when when the points 572 00:30:42,960 --> 00:30:44,240 going on. So that's always been 573 00:30:44,240 --> 00:30:46,680 interesting. And then obviously being there 574 00:30:46,680 --> 00:30:50,000 when these guys have have played each other and seeing like how 575 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:54,200 they prepare for the matches and how the different guys go about 576 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:58,720 it in different ways for some of the biggest matches that have 577 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:00,840 ever been played has been has been incredible. 578 00:31:00,840 --> 00:31:04,480 Like Rafael is just exactly what you would think he would be 579 00:31:04,480 --> 00:31:06,600 like. Lots of energy, jumping around, 580 00:31:06,600 --> 00:31:09,720 running up and down. Novak's quite a chilled guy. 581 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,840 He's always been a nice guy to me and someone that I've got 582 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:17,160 along with really well and he loves a laugh and a joke and 583 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:22,120 it's always been fairly chilled up until when the match is about 584 00:31:22,120 --> 00:31:25,560 to start. He's he's pretty, yeah. 585 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:28,600 And then we'll lock in, but he will always be out for a chat 586 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,240 and stuff. I feel like from the outside we 587 00:31:31,240 --> 00:31:35,800 obviously see them as like these incredible athletes, which they 588 00:31:35,800 --> 00:31:40,720 are, but ultimately you guys are all regular human beings at the 589 00:31:40,720 --> 00:31:43,440 end of the day, just want to have a laugh as well, so. 590 00:31:43,720 --> 00:31:46,960 I think like it's just different personalities. 591 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:51,200 Some people are extroverts, some people are introverts, and 592 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:53,720 people do it in different ways. Some people are really messy 593 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:56,000 around their lockers, some people keep everything. 594 00:31:56,120 --> 00:32:01,800 Who's messy and who is not? I seem to remember one time 595 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:04,720 being quite shocked that Rafa's rackets were just everywhere. 596 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:06,960 Really. That's surprising. 597 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:10,560 Yeah, I'm thinking that that was completely different to when 598 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:13,040 I've seen him, like obviously on the courts, like he would just 599 00:32:13,040 --> 00:32:15,280 put his rackets and they would sort of be everywhere. 600 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:19,800 But then most of the guys would be pretty keeping it pretty 601 00:32:19,800 --> 00:32:22,160 normal. When Jack plays, obviously Jack 602 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:26,160 Draper, he goes so many tops and I, I say to him all the time, 603 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:29,640 there's no way you're doing your own washing mate, because if you 604 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:32,240 had done your own washing, mate, there's no way you're wearing 605 00:32:32,240 --> 00:32:35,640 that many T-shirts every day in training because he goes through 606 00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:40,240 so many. So yeah, these guys, the amount 607 00:32:40,240 --> 00:32:43,960 of clothes that they get and the amount of clothes that they wear 608 00:32:43,960 --> 00:32:47,720 is absolutely incredible. Obviously we're always playing 609 00:32:47,720 --> 00:32:51,120 when it's boiling hot. So it's, yeah, you need as many 610 00:32:51,120 --> 00:32:53,960 tops as you can get, really. What is the deal actually with 611 00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:57,600 laundry on site? That the ground sounds, it's 612 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,560 great. You just put your stuff in a in 613 00:32:59,560 --> 00:33:01,760 a bag and Chuck it in the laundry bin. 614 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:04,160 They bring it back the next day, which is always nice. 615 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:06,840 And then the main thing when you're on the tour by yourself 616 00:33:06,840 --> 00:33:11,400 is just trying to not shrink your clothes or put weird 617 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:13,720 colours into white socks and stuff like that. 618 00:33:13,720 --> 00:33:17,040 Because when you're on tour on your own and you're trying to 619 00:33:17,040 --> 00:33:19,120 wash your clothes and stuff, the last thing you want to do is 620 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,680 shrink all your kit. And then the next day you got to 621 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:25,600 go out onto court with like an extra small T-shirt. 622 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:27,840 And this happened to me before. I was like, why are you wearing 623 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:30,280 such a small top? I'm like, let's not talk about 624 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:34,200 that, let's not talk about that. So but the slams and stuff are 625 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:36,160 amazing. Like you literally they give a 626 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:39,080 load of laundry bags and you just whack it in and then it 627 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:40,840 comes back the next day. Good, doesn't it? 628 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:43,440 Do you think Jack Dries just takes his top off so that 629 00:33:43,480 --> 00:33:49,400 everyone can wolf us? I couldn't possibly comment, but 630 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:52,080 I don't think so because he does it at training every day as 631 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:54,400 well. So I think he just goes. 632 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:57,800 I think he just goes through so many tops. 633 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:03,160 How do you feel about his new look? 634 00:34:03,440 --> 00:34:05,920 I know you. You were the source that told us 635 00:34:05,920 --> 00:34:09,320 that he did not have a breakup because we spread that rumour. 636 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:14,679 Yeah, he's been all good. And like the haircut thing, 637 00:34:14,679 --> 00:34:18,360 obviously he's in the group chat with me and my coach and we both 638 00:34:18,440 --> 00:34:21,960 got not much hair. So I think maybe it was just a 639 00:34:21,960 --> 00:34:24,239 little nod to us. But I was as shocked as everyone 640 00:34:24,239 --> 00:34:28,440 else when he shaved his head. But yeah, I think he I think he 641 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:30,120 pulled it off. He. 642 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:32,560 I don't think he looks bad, I prefer the long hair but I don't 643 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:34,360 think he looks bad I mean. Yeah, he can. 644 00:34:35,320 --> 00:34:37,760 Yeah, I think. That I think the long hair will 645 00:34:37,760 --> 00:34:41,080 be, will be coming back. It's just he's in that stage at 646 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:44,560 the moment where it's the regrow stage, which is going to take a 647 00:34:44,560 --> 00:34:47,159 few months and then he'll and then he'll be all good. 648 00:34:47,159 --> 00:34:49,440 But he, yeah, he likes to change it up. 649 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:51,639 Yeah. So who knows what's next? 650 00:34:51,880 --> 00:34:55,000 The sleeveless How do you feel about his sleeveless look? 651 00:34:55,120 --> 00:34:58,880 For me, it just looks like Jack, but yeah, he's obviously got a 652 00:34:58,880 --> 00:35:01,440 good look. The girls love it, so why not? 653 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:04,320 As long as he's playing good tennis and that, then yeah, all 654 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,720 good. If you've got the guns, get out 655 00:35:06,720 --> 00:35:07,200 of it. Yeah, for. 656 00:35:09,080 --> 00:35:13,600 Sure. For sure, love it. 657 00:35:13,720 --> 00:35:17,280 True. So back to the big four, because 658 00:35:17,880 --> 00:35:21,360 Theo and I are, and like many were both obsessed with them. 659 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:26,520 Who's who's sort of the most intimidating one out of all of. 660 00:35:26,960 --> 00:35:30,880 Them most intimidating initially probably fed her up because you 661 00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,680 build him up in your head and then when you actually see what 662 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:37,480 it's like in the locker room and stuff and how chilled he is, 663 00:35:37,480 --> 00:35:40,840 like you're not really that intimidated by him. 664 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:42,800 He's such a nice guy. Yeah, but. 665 00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:45,600 Like Rafa, like when he's in match mode. 666 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:46,760 You definitely. See. 667 00:35:47,560 --> 00:35:50,360 Yeah, you can definitely see that he's switched on and when 668 00:35:50,360 --> 00:35:54,360 he's sprinting up and down and stuff and you're like, don't go 669 00:35:55,600 --> 00:35:58,560 near this guy for a while. And then Andy was always nice 670 00:35:58,560 --> 00:36:02,200 and chilled, Novak the same. And I think just all those guys 671 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:06,440 around that era like Stan and stuff, they all just competed so 672 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:09,000 hard. And it was, it was such a 673 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:13,240 privilege to be around and to get to be behind the scenes 674 00:36:13,240 --> 00:36:17,000 during that, during that time and, and see how all those guys 675 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:20,160 prepared and how they all did what they did. 676 00:36:20,160 --> 00:36:21,640 It was, yeah. It was amazing. 677 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:27,960 Incredible. So we always end our episodes on 678 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:33,280 a final call. So, Andre, do you want to fire 679 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:36,520 away? Who in tennis, past or present, 680 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:39,240 would you most want to share a Double S partnership with? 681 00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:43,840 For me, that's easier. It's hard to say. 682 00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:47,240 John McEnroe. OK, interesting, interesting 683 00:36:48,080 --> 00:36:50,160 new. York car very out there. 684 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:54,520 Bit of a maverick. Bit of a maverick, see a lot of 685 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:59,120 myself in him. He's someone that I like found 686 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:02,920 myself would be quite close to in similarities and the way we 687 00:37:03,280 --> 00:37:05,760 went about the game and stuff. So yeah, he'd be the one that I 688 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:08,520 would probably say was was the closest. 689 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:11,120 Love that. What a legend. 690 00:37:11,720 --> 00:37:14,440 Well Andy, thank you. This has been such an 691 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:16,920 interesting and inspiring conversation. 692 00:37:16,920 --> 00:37:20,560 We've thoroughly enjoyed it. From your journey into the sport 693 00:37:20,640 --> 00:37:24,080 and to where wheelchair tennis is heading, it's been seriously 694 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:27,200 eye opening. So thank you for coming on. 695 00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:28,640 Thank. You for having me on guys do. 696 00:37:29,120 --> 00:37:31,880 You want to tell our listeners where to find you on socials and 697 00:37:31,880 --> 00:37:35,040 maybe what tournaments you have coming up so everyone can keep 698 00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:38,840 an eye out. So Instagram is Andy Lapforn 699 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:43,040 under score and all the results and stuff I'll put on my 700 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:47,280 Instagram and we are heading towards Ron and Gareth. 701 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:51,400 So just about to head on to the clay and then we will see you 702 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:53,800 all at Ron and Gareth. Yeah, thanks so much for joining 703 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:56,520 us again, and we'll definitely be watching this season closely. 704 00:37:57,280 --> 00:37:58,960 Thank you guys. Thank you. 705 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:03,360 Bye. Thanks for listening. 706 00:38:03,640 --> 00:38:07,160 That's it from us this week. If you enjoyed the episode, make 707 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:10,000 the call, follow rate and share it with someone who loves the 708 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:13,160 drama as much as the sports. Send us your voice notes, hot 709 00:38:13,160 --> 00:38:16,240 takes, and soft launch sightings at What's the Call Pod. 710 00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:18,920 Until next time, what's the call?