The Sit-Down

With the 2026 National Indigenous Tennis Carnival concluding on the weekend, we’re releasing an interview with Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the tennis legend who supported the creation of that annual event in Darwin. Goolagong chatted with Casey Dellacqua at last year’s Night of Champions in Melbourne, reliving the journey to career heights including seven Grand Slam singles titles and the world No.1 ranking. Celebrated for her graceful all-court play and revered the world over, Goolagong won her final Slam title as a mother at Wimbledon in 1980. After winding down her playing career a few years after that, Goolagong Cawley has...

Having already played 19 tournaments in the first seven months of 2026, Tristan Schoolkate decided it was time to return home to “get out of the hamster wheel”. Joining Viv and Matt from Brisbane during a training block, Schoolkate said he’d enjoyed the chance to reset and refresh before heading to North America, one of his happiest hunting grounds. It’s where he won his first Grand Slam match at the 2024 US Open, and where in 2025 he reached his first ATP quarterfinal in Los Cabos, beat Joao Fonseca at the Canada Masters, made his top-100 debut and returned to the second r...

Two years ago, Viv sat down with Barbora Krejcikova on the eve of Wimbledon 2024 – a tournament the Czech star went on to win for her second Grand Slam title after Roland Garros in 2021. We’re bringing that episode back given Czech tennis is again at the forefront of the game, thanks to Linda Noskova’s triumph at the All England Club and last week’s tournament in Prague, where crowds packed the stands in another reminder of tennis’ enduring popularity there. While that’s all been happening Krejcikova has been showing hints of the elite level she can produce. Since June s...

Last week, Craig Tiley finished up after more than 20 years with Tennis Australia, where he began as Director of Player Development, then became Australian Open Tournament Director, and later CEO. He joined Viv and Matt in Pod Laver Arena to reflect on the countless highlights and memories in that time, including the exponential growth of the AO, the rise of Australian champions and the legacy he leaves as he departs Australia to begin his new role as CEO of the United States Tennis Association. Famous for his innovative approach, Tiley discusses how tennis can improve and what potentially lies...

Acclaimed film director Zach Heinzerling joined Viv and Matt this week to discuss Rafa, the four-part documentary series which premiered on Netflix on 29 May. Rich with extensive archive footage, rare interviews with Nadal’s inner circle and fresh insights on the significant moments which defined Nadal’s storied career, the series almost never happened. Just days into filming, the Spaniard suffered a serious injury that threatened to derail the project. Heinzerling discusses how the documentary took shape from that point, the elements of Nadal’s personality and story which captured his interest, and what it was like to work with N...

In the second part of our interview with Todd Woodbridge, we focus on the Australian legend’s Wimbledon memories and milestones. The storied tournament is where Woodbridge achieved some of his greatest career highlights, from winning the 1993 men’s doubles title – the first of five in a row with Mark Woodforde – to triumphing in nine of 10 men's doubles finals, plus reaching the singles semifinals in 1997. The fact he thrived at the All England Club is a testament to the power of a dream, former as a child when he would watch Wimbledon on the TV at night in front of the h...

In this special edition of The Sit-Down, we delve into our archives to revisit our guests’ favourite Wimbledon moments. We hear from Brits Tim Henman and Katie Boulter, who have thrived on home support at the All England Club and, in Henman’s case, have a spectators' vantage point named in his honour. We chat to Australian legends Pat Cash, Lleyton Hewitt, Mark Philippoussis and Pat Rafter about what it was like to feature on the final Sunday. Wimbledon was also significant for former world No.1s Angelique Kerber, Garbine Muguruza and Stan Smith, all of whom reflected on thei...

Joanna Garland’s profile exploded at AO 2026 when she won through to the final of the 1 Point Slam at Rod Laver Arena, beating Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, Maria Sakkari and Donna Vekic along the way. She sat down with Viv and Matt to relive what was one of her greatest professional tennis experiences, and how things shifted for her in the aftermath. In this candid interview, Garland also shares stories from developing her game in Chinese Taipei, how she’s come to be based in the Netherlands, and her connection to the UK, where she was born. And that’s wher...

In an episode we released almost two years ago, Viv sat down with then 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva ahead of Wimbledon 2024. She was one of the stars of the moment, having just reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at Roland Garros and rising to the brink of the top 20. Shortly after, she captured her first career WTA singles title in Iasi, then won an Olympic silver medal in doubles at the Paris 2024 Games. In this interview Andreeva showcased her strikingly mature personality and unique perspective on the game, discussing her love of all surfaces, comparisons with Martina Hingis, and working...

This week, 22-time major doubles champion and Olympic gold medallist Todd Woodbridge joins us in the studio to take us back to where his love-affair with tennis began. A prodigious junior, Woodbridge quickly enjoyed success as a pro, cracking the top 20 in singles while also becoming one of the greatest doubles players of all time. After the highs of Grand Slams, tour life, Olympics and Davis Cup, Woodbridge transitioned to the media, where he has built an award-winning broadcast career. Because there was so much to dive into, we’ll bring you a second part of this interview in th...

This week we’re joined by Paul Kilderry, Tennis Australia’s Director of Professional Tennis who was at Roland Garros as several Aussies scored career breakthroughs in Paris. There’s also plenty to look forward to with the grasscourt season approaching, a time when Aussie players traditionally thrive. Yet this was also a chance to reflect on Kilderry’s own tennis journey, which saw his family relocate to Florida so he could attend the famed Nick Bolletieri academy as an elite junior. Following his playing career – during which he beat Grand Slam champions Richard Krajicek and Pat Rafter and also won t...

In a rare episode of The Sit-Down conducted in the locker rooms of John Cain Arena, Kimberly Birrell joined the podcast when she was recently in Melbourne for Australia’s most recent Billie Jean King Cup tie. The 28-year-old reflects on a career journey interrupted by serious elbow injuries, which required surgery and made her doubt if her body would hold up to the rigours of professional tennis. What has followed has been a period of sustained success; Birrell peaked at world No.60 and has entrenched herself in the top 100, also enjoyed a stint as Aussie No.1, and is co...

At the recent Night of Champions fundraiser in Melbourne, Lleyton Hewitt revealed his three tennis dreams were Grand Slam success, reaching No.1, and Davis Cup glory. He achieved all three, reflecting on them in this special interview with Davis Cup teammate and fellow Aussie tennis icon Todd Woodbridge. Hewitt’s talent was obvious when as a 16-year-old, he upset Andre Agassi en route to his first career ATP title in Adelaide, vision we unearthed from the archive. And it wasn’t long before Hewitt peaked on the Grand Slam stage, first in doubles at the 2000 US Open – beating top seeds...

In August, Mary Carillo will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame alongside Roger Federer in what promises to be an unforgettable ceremony. Carillo will enter the Contributor Category, honouring those “who have made a transcendent impact” on tennis. Speaking to Viv and Matt from her home in Florida, Carillo – one of the sport’s best storytellers – recalled discovering the game as a child in New York City, where she joined the same local club as John McEnroe. They were later coached by the legendary Harry Hopman and went on to win the 1977 Roland Garros mixed doubles title toge...

Many people will know Stan Smith as the man behind the iconic adidas Stan Smith shoe, which is not surprising given there have been more than 100 million pairs sold and collaborations with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Stella McCartney. But Smith is also known for his legendary tennis career – among his seven Grand Slam titles were two singles majors (Wimbledon and the US Open) and he rose to world No.1 in the early 1970s. He was also a part of seven triumphant US Davis Cup teams, many times battling it out with a golden generation of Australian legends in...

Ten years ago, Angelique Kerber won the Australian Open in a result that changed the course of her career. The German star, with Polish roots, had long been a top player. But a magical fortnight in 2016 saw her save a match point in the first round, beat Victoria Azarenka for the first time in seven tries in the quarters, then stun Serena Williams in a thrilling decider – the only time Serena ever lost an AO final. Not only did the triumph set the stage for a season that Kerber finished at world No.1, but it made the lefty an en...

Aussie Billie Jean King Cup captain Sam Stosur’s obsession with the clay wasn’t always what it is today. As the clay-court season gets underway in Stuttgart, the 2010 Roland Garros finalist sits down with Matt and Viv to discuss how she learned to master the surface, and which European clay court she would most like to have replicated in her own home.

Originally published on 15/04/2024

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Valentin Vacherot joined Matt and Viv in Pod Laver Arena when he was the 30th seed at Australian Open 2026 – his first seeding at a Grand Slam tournament. This was staggering, because just over three months earlier, the Monégasque was ranked outside the top 200. Everything changed in Shanghai, where Vacherot qualified for the main draw, then upset five consecutive seeded opponents — including Novak Djokovic in the semifinals — to reach his first ATP Masters final. There, he faced cousin Arthur Rinderknech, and won that match too, to become one of the sport’s unlikeliest champions in just his seventh tour-level event. Th...

Jelena Ostapenko’s biggest career highlight came almost 10 years ago, days after turning 20, when she broke through for her first tour-level title at Roland Garros while ranked 47th. During AO 2026, when she sat down with Viv and Matt, the Latvian star revealed her career might have been easier to navigate had she won that Slam title at an older age. Still, Ostapenko’s journey has continued to deliver success; she peaked at world No.5 not long before reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2018, and she’s reached a total of six major quarterfinals, plus won eight more WTA titles since her Pa...

Tennis icon Lindsay Davenport joined Viv and Matt during AO 2026 to reflect on a career that delivered three Grand Slam singles titles, the world No.1 ranking in both singles and doubles, and an Olympic gold medal. Davenport’s prodigious ball striking and clean power made her a standout figure among a WTA golden generation. She often battled fellow legends including Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, and Venus and Serena Williams in her Grand Slam finals. The last major final was in 2000 at the Australian Open, a beloved tournament where many of her career milestones came. Since retiring in 2008, Davenport has co...

Teen sensation Joao Fonseca sat down with Viv at the Brisbane International in January. One of the game’s most exciting rising stars, the Brazilian began 2025 outside the top 100 and surged to a peak world No.25 on the back of two ATP titles and third-round finishes at two Slams. After an injury-marred start to 2026, Fonseca reminded onlookers of his potential when he powered into the Indian Wells fourth round — his best result at a Masters tournament. Armed with explosive power and an impressively mature outlook for a 19-year-old, Fonseca opens up about the players he’d love to face, the ri...

At just 20 years of age and in only his second full year on tour, Learner Tien is striking a rare balance: keeping a level head while embracing the game’s biggest stages. Joining Viv and Matt on The Sit-Down during Australian Open 2026, Tien reflected on the qualities that have boosted his rapid rise into the world’s top 25. In just his second main-draw appearance in Melbourne, Tien strengthened his growing reputation against the game’s biggest names, stunning Daniil Medvedev for a second straight year to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinal. With plenty already achieved, the grounded young star r...

Fresh from claiming her fourth WTA singles title in Ostrava, Katie Boulter joins The Sit-Down to reflect on her return to the world’s top 100, and the challenges—and rewards—that have shaped her journey. The popular Brit speaks to Matt Trollope about her time spent with Princess Catherine at Wimbledon, the current state of British tennis, her new coach, and why she is determined to speak out against online bullying. With her marriage to Alex de Minaur approaching, Boulter also reveals what she loves — and what she suspects she’ll never quite love — about Australia, and why she believes 202...

In her first podcast interview, Alexandra Eala joins The Sit-Down as she continues a brilliant start to 2026. Fresh from her semifinal finish in Auckland, Eala sat down with Matt and Viv in Pod Laver Arena as she was preparing to make her Australian Open main-draw debut. The 20-year-old has gone on to win 10 of 16 matches this year and surged from outside the top 50 to a career-high No.31 since January. The rankings peak follows a memorable week in Dubai where she upset top-10 player Jasmine Paolini en route to the quarterfinals. It came less than a year after the breakthrough...

When Lorenzo Musetti joined Viv and Matt during AO 2026, he was flying. The Italian had entered the event as a new top-five star after his run to the final in Hong Kong to begin the season, and continued his vein of form through to the last eight in Melbourne. In his first Australian Open quarterfinal, he led Novak Djokovic two sets to love before injury intervened. Musetti has now reached the quarterfinals at all four majors, as his hardcourt game evolves to match the success he has already experienced on clay and grass courts. The 23-year-old discusses that evolution...

For the first time in more than 20 years, Jennifer Capriati returned to the Australian Open, a tournament that produced some of her greatest career success. She was in Melbourne to present the women's singles trophy on the 25th anniversary of her maiden Australian Open title and first Grand Slam triumph. Capriati's AO 2001 came more than a decade after she emerged as a teen prodigy, only to suffer burnout and spend significant time away from the game. Also in 2001, she won Roland Garros and rose to world No.1, and in 2002, returned to Melbourne Park to defend her title in an...

In our first episode of 2026, Viv and Matt are joined by Stan Wawrinka for a live-recorded interview on the Grand Slam Oval fan stage. Wawrinka is embarking on his final season on tour, drawing a close to a glittering pro career of more than 20 years. That career vaulted to the next level when the Swiss star broke through for his first Grand Slam singles title at Australian Open 2014, beating Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal along the way in a famous victory. Wawrinka would go on to win Roland Garros and US Open trophies to cement himself among the legends...

In our final episode of The Sit-Down for 2025, Viv and Matt are joined by Daria Kasatkina, who in March made the switch to representing Australia. It was a big decision in an emotionally intense season that the 28-year-old ended early due to burnout. Now more refreshed, Kasatkina chatted from her base in Spain, where she is preparing for her first Summer of Tennis representing the green and gold. She takes listeners right back to the beginning: how her parents, both professional athletes themselves, set her up for success, and how she developed her crafty, nuanced style of play. She...

Carolyn Broderick joins Viv and Matt in Pod Laver Arena to give listeners an insight into her role as Chief Medical Officer at Tennis Australia and for the Australian Open. Hundreds of tennis players are soon to arrive in Australia in January, the majority from a Northern Hemisphere winter. It means they face a huge adjustment — after having traversed multiple time zones — when they begin preparing and competing in the Australian summer. We learn about the “self-sufficient medical centre” that operates for four weeks at the AO, staffed by a multi-disciplinary team that offers physical and mental health services, plus ann...

After a brief off-season, 2026 preparations are already underway for Alex de Minaur, who joined Viv and Matt on this week’s episode from his base in Monte Carlo. The Aussie No.1 enjoyed the chance to reflect on his 2025 season, during which he reached his first AO quarterfinal and won his 10th career ATP title in Washington DC – while also overcoming burnout and shifting perspective – to achieve his highest year-end ranking. Those performances saw him nominated once again for the prestigious Newcombe Medal, awarded to Australia’s most outstanding player and ambassador for the sport. ‘Demon’, as he is affectionately known, also...

Wheelchair tennis star Heath Davidson, whose profile exploded after he and partner Dylan Alcott claimed quad doubles gold for Australia at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, joins Viv and Matt this week in Pod Laver Arena. Davidson’s prominence in the sport, and wheelchair tennis advocacy, have helped shape the upcoming summer of tennis; January will see wheelchair events integrated into the United Cup and the Brisbane and Adelaide Internationals leading into Australian Open 2026. More motivated than ever to compete during the new-look summer, Davidson remains a fixture in the top 10 at age 38, all the more inspiring given the hurdles he wa...

American Patrick Kypson joined The Sit-Down this week in a great place in his career. The 26-year-old sits at a peak ranking of No.117, thanks to results on the Challenger circuit which also helped him secure a main-draw wildcard at Australian Open 2026. After missing three months of 2025 due to a foot stress fracture and dropping outside the world’s top 450, Kypson soared when he returned, winning four ATP Challenger titles and benefitting from a commitment to more aggression and a better transition game to compliment the counterpunching instincts he honed from childhood on the green clay courts of North Car...

A revered name in modern Australian tennis, Casey Dellacqua is universally admired for her on-court achievements, commentary insights and humility through success. The West Australian-turned-Sydneysider played eight Grand Slam finals through her peak, claiming the French Open mixed doubles title in 2011. A famous partnership with Ash Barty delivered finals at all four Slams, but her name first went up in lights after a defeat of Amelie Mauresmo and a fourth-round run at AO 2008. Her singles career is oft underappreciated; Dellacqua progressed to at least the third round at every major. The former world No.26 stepped into Pod Laver Arena...

The last time Maya Joint sat down with us, in April, she was the world No.78 preparing to make her Billie Jean King Cup debut for Australia. Seven months on, she's a two-time WTA title winner, ranked 32nd and was the first player selected to lead the Culture Amp Australian Billie Jean King Cup team into action for this week's Play-offs in Hobart. Joint's return to The Sit-Down gave us a chance to chat to the teenager about just how far she's come, and the fact she's put herself in contention for a Grand Slam seeding in 2026. Now living...

In the second part of Matt's chat with Judy Murray, the Scottish matriarch talks about her passion for the investment in and visibility of women's sports. Inspired by the Billie Jean King quote, "if you don't use your voice, nobody will hear you," Murray discusses her work in the women and girls space, including with the WTA to foster more tennis opportunities at a grassroots level in Saudi Arabia — current home of the WTA Finals — and in her previous role as British Fed Cup captain, where she brought more women into high-performance roles. Be sure to check out Part 1 of T...

Mark Philippoussis joins Viv Christie in Pod Laver Arena to reflect on a career that saw him crack the top 10, reach two Grand Slam finals and star in two triumphant Australian Davis Cup teams. The Melburnian's star soared when he stunned world No.1 Pete Sampras as a teenager, in his home city, at Australian Open 1996, and two years later appeared in his first major final at the 1998 US Open. Philippoussis admits his second major final defeat, to Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2003, was more painful to process. Yet just a few months later he ended that year on a...

Viv and Matt are joined by not one, but two guests: Daria and Luke Saville. During a rare week at home in Melbourne together in 2024, the Savilles left dog Tofu with Dasha's mum and sat down for their first proper interview together. In a wide-ranging chat, they recall how they met as juniors, Daria's relocation to Australia, and how their professional tennis careers have unfolded in tandem: hitting together, offering each other advice, and learning from one another, shining a light on their various strengths as players, and their respective coaching ambitions. Also, Viv refreshes Luke's memory with his...

Since making his ATP-level debut on home soil in Antwerp, Belgian Zizou Bergs has made methodical progress in his career. From his position outside the top 500 then, to cracking the top 50 this year, Bergs has emerged as a compelling player on court with a well-rounded attitude to life off it. In this week’s episode, we share Jackson Mansell’s interview with Bergs in Sydney at last month’s Davis Cup tie, when Bergs helped Belgium to a 3-2 win over Australia at Ken Rosewall Arena. In a wide-ranging chat we learn of the origin of his name, his dedica...

Having competed on tour for the better part of a decade, 27-year-old Priscilla Hon is enjoying her best season to date. The Queenslander this week made her top-100 debut, reward for a purple patch of form during which she has flourished on the biggest stages. After qualifying for Wimbledon, Hon did the same at the US Open, going on to reach the third of the main draw in a career-best Slam performance. She then headed to the China Open and powered into the third round, her best WTA 1000 result. Hon joined Viv and Matt on screen from Beijing — where sh...

In his burgeoning pro career, Rinky Hijikata has shone on the doubles court. At just 21 years of age, he combined with fellow Aussie Jason Kubler to win Australian Open 2023, and in 2025 reached the Wimbledon men’s doubles alongside Dutchman David Pel. Those results have given Hijikata invaluable exposure to the pressure of huge moments on the game’s biggest stages; experience he hopes to translate to his singles game. As he discusses with Jackson Mansell on this week’s episode, the Sydneysider – who’d made a rare return to his hometown for Australia’s Davis Cup tie against Belgium — was keen to pu...