The Sit-Down

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 three doubles titles – he has worked as a coach, player agent and tournament director, each role forging strong connections and coming with a wealth of stories, many of which he shares in this absorbing episode.

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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 competing more regularly at the biggest tournaments against the game’s best. After a sizzling start to 2026, the Queenslander has bigger goals in sight, sharing her dreams for Wimbledon and beyond.

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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 Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde along the way to his first doubles major – and a year later in singles, when he toppled the mighty Pete Sampras for his first singles Slam in New York. What followed were more glittering achievements, such as the 2002 Wimbledon singles title, a leading role in Australia’s Davis Cup triumph of 2003 – a team he now leads passionately as captain – and a run to the Australian Open 2005 final, making him the last Aussie man to progress that far in Melbourne. Hewitt’s incredible recall and storytelling add texture and context to these achievements, as he takes fans behind the curtain for his greatest career moments and discusses the influential figures who helped him along the way.

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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 together. While Carillo’s pro career, in which she rose to world No.33 in singles, was cut short by knee injuries, she was quickly discovered and shone as a tennis broadcaster – calling some of the sport’s greatest matches, covering its defining eras and rivalries, and blazing a trail for women in commentary. Her broadcasting career has since expanded well beyond tennis, spanning Olympics coverage, documentary making and even national dog shows, while earning multiple awards – including six Emmys and three prestigious Peabodys. Approaching her 50th year as a broadcaster, Carillo still covers, and clearly adores, tennis – a passion that shines throughout this memorable interview.

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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 one of the sport's most enduring rivalries. The American star was one of the original players to use tennis as a platform for other great achievements — he campaigned against apartheid, set up his own academy, developed Stan Smith events and even became an author. He’s also a former president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Tennis is the thread throughout Smith's lifetime, and as you will hear in this interview, the sport is all the richer for having him in it. 

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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 enduring favourite among Aussie fans at Melbourne Park. Since retiring at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Kerber has been busy with family life. Yet her return to the AO in 2026, and her time in the studio with Viv and Matt, allowed the three-time major champion to reflect on her career journey, her glittering achievements, her connection with fans, and what it was like to compete against her rivals – many of whom remain her friends.

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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. The 27-year-old has adjusted impressively to his new position in the game and has continued winning, recently reaching the fourth round in Miami to rise to the brink of the top 20. As he recounts his story, we learn about his talented tennis family, his journey through the US college system, and his connection with the Monte Carlo Masters – a tournament he would love to win more than a Grand Slam title.

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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 Parisian triumph — most recently last year’s prestigious Stuttgart crown over world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka in the final. She’s also flourished on the doubles court, winning the 2024 US Open and forming a popular partnership with the legendary Hsieh Su-Wei. Ostapenko’s high-octane ballstriking and on-court expressiveness have earned her global fandom, and the 28-year-old hopes for a top-10 return as she focuses on her consistency and mindset in 2026.

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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 coached Madison Keys, worked as a highly respected tennis analyst and broadcaster, served as captain of the US Billie Jean King Cup team and also helps guide son Jagger, one of the world’s top juniors who now competes in college tennis for Stanford.

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Host handles:
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