The Sit-Down

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 with former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, as well as what she was reading and studying. Within two years, Andreeva has risen to become the sport’s newest Grand Slam champion with her recent victory at Roland Garros, making this a particularly fascinating listen given she alludes to the mindset which would ultimately propel her to a major title. (Episode originally published 5 August 2024).

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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 the coming weeks, where the nine-time Wimbledon men’s doubles champion reflects on his highlights and memories from the All England Club.
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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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Host handles:
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