ATP Finals Day 6 - Leon Smith Guests! Deep Dive on Alexander Zverev; Semi-Finals Previewed
The Tennis Podcast
David Law
4.5 • 2.6K Ratings
🗓️ 16 November 2018
⏱️ 27 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
As Alexander Zverev reached the last four of the ATP Finals for the first time, Leon Smith joined David and Grad Matt to talk all about him.
What does Leon make of Zverev’s progress? When will he start breaking through at the Grand Slams? Are we expecting too much too soon, bearing in mind he’s still up against the likes of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer? What will Ivan Lendl bring him? And has he possibly played the Lendl card too soon?
Leon also looks ahead to Saturday’s semi-finals at the O2. Will Federer’s variety be too much for Zverev? What makes Djokovic such a brilliant returner?
Finally, Leon shares his thoughts on the ATP Cup launch and reminisces about captaining Britain to Davis Cup glory.
The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi, I'm Andy Murray and you're listening to the tennis podcast |
| 0:14.2 | It's Friday and we already know who's gonna be in the semi finals |
| 0:18.3 | So what we do it is we've just had our dinner Leon Smith and me are sitting here with our coffees ahead of what is |
| 0:24.9 | Essentially a dead rubber Leon and we're just gonna go from the coffees I think to the whiskeys, aren't we? |
| 0:30.5 | Well, maybe but you know, I've sat through a few dead rubbers in the Davis Cup chair |
| 0:34.4 | So I know what they're like, but there's a bit more stake in these ones with the prize money. That's on offer |
| 0:39.9 | Yeah, it's just a bit of a hello Matt. How you good evening? I'm very well |
| 0:42.8 | Thank you excellent |
| 0:43.9 | So the semi final lineup is Novak Chokovic against Kevin Anderson |
| 0:47.8 | It is Roger Federer against Alexander Sverov |
| 0:50.6 | This afternoon we have had Sverov coming through winning in straight sets first set very tight against John Isner who |
| 0:58.8 | I don't know. What do you think Matt? What did you think of that match out there today? How did you feel that Sverov got on? |
| 1:04.7 | I thought the first set was pretty good from both players. It was kind of a classic Isner match in many ways |
| 1:10.1 | I always think of an Isner match as |
| 1:12.4 | Maybe if the journey isn't all that interesting you do end up at quite a decent destination |
| 1:17.7 | You sort of you get good moments in Isner matches and we had the at the end of the first set where he hit a |
| 1:23.4 | He pulverized an inside out forehand to set up a set point |
| 1:27.6 | It's very offended it off and then grab the tie break and then |
| 1:31.2 | Once that first set was over Isner knew he was eliminated |
| 1:35.1 | It's very I've just had to win the match to qualify and the second set |
| 1:38.4 | Kind of faded and it was over fairly quickly, but |
| 1:42.4 | What do you think Leon of Sverov and the progress he's making? |
... |
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