Mark Draper: taking Rinky Hijikata and Adam Walton to new heights

The Sit-Down is on location in Brisbane, where producer Rhys de Deugd is joined by Australian coach Mark Draper at Pat Rafter Arena. The timing was perfect, given the two players Draper currently works with – Rinky Hijikata and Adam Walton – were both selected in the Australian Davis Cup team that …

Alex Michelsen: rising star turned US Open quarterfinalist

This week we bring you an episode from the vault featuring American youngster Alex Michelsen. In late 2024 he sat at a career-high world No.41 ahead of his campaign at Next Gen ATP Finals, joining Viv and Matt during a rare break at home in California to discuss his meteoric rise. Michelsen began s…

Dane Sweeny: From “hating tennis” to career-changing US Open

This week Viv caught up with Dane Sweeny at the US Open during the Australian’s breakthrough run to the third round of a Grand Slam. His second-round win over 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti, and the prize money boost accompanying his best Slam performance, has been career-altering, boosting the 25-year-…

Suzi Petkovski (Part 1): a revered Australian voice in the game and self-described tennis tragic

This week’s guest on The Sit-Down is longtime tennis editor, writer and historian Suzi Petkovski, former editor of Australian Tennis Magazine which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary. Petkovski spent 10 years at the country’s preeminent tennis publication and has continued covering the sport…

Best of US Open: Hewitt’s highs, Angie’s arrival, Chang’s chance

This week we bring you another Grand Slam special edition of The Sit-Down – one focused on the US Open, where qualifying for the 2026 tournament begins today. Over more than two years of episodes, guests have reflected on their greatest career highlights, many of which have unfolded in New York. It…

Barbara Schett: from the wall to the world’s top 10

Tennis has been a constant throughout Barbara Schett’s life. Like many before her, she began playing against a wall before her talent was spotted and channelled towards the professional game, where she debuted as a 14-year-old at her home event in Kitzbuhel, Austria. Schett’s career peaked during a…

Evonne Goolagong Cawley: grace, greatness and a lasting legacy

With the 2026 National Indigenous Tennis Carnival concluding on the weekend, we’re releasing an interview with Evonne Goolagong Cawley, the Aussie legend who supported the creation of the annual event in Darwin. Goolagong chatted with Casey Dellacqua at last year’s Night of Champions in Melbourne, …

Tristan Schoolkate: recharged and ready for North America

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…

Barbora Krejcikova: “I never really felt like the player to win a Slam”

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 Nosko…

Craig Tiley: leadership, legacy and the rise of tennis in Australia

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 …