The Sit-Down

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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Host handles:
@Viv_Christie
@MattyAT
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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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Host handles:
@Viv_Christie
@MattyAT
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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:
@Viv_Christie
@MattyAT
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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 rivalries he’d love to form, the people who have made his journey possible, and how he spends his time away from the court as his rapid rise continues.
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Host handles:
@Viv_Christie
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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 remains firmly focused on what comes next, and with the support of high-profile coach Michael Chang, the bigger milestones still to come – perhaps in his home state of California, where he is competing as the 25th seed at the unofficial "fifth Grand Slam".
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Host handles:
@Viv_Christie
@MattyAT
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.