Singer and songwriter Tania Doko reveals why tennis is the “rock and roll of sport” in our Superstar Match collection.
Australia, 26 July 2023 | Leigh Rogers
Tania Doko is an Australian music icon.
She is the lead singer of Bachelor Woman, a pop duo finest identified for his or her top-10 hit Buses and Trains, and an achieved songwriter.
Doko has simply launched a brand new solo single, More durable Now, and has a busy few months forward, touring as a solo artist and with Bachelor Woman.
In our Superstar Match collection, Doko reveals her shut connections to tennis and shares recollections from her expertise as an Australian Open ballkid …
Inform us about your tennis expertise?
I’m such an enormous tennis fan. I used to be truly a ballkid on the Australian Open in 1989, the second yr the event was performed at Flinders Park (now referred to as Melbourne Park). I used to be 15 on the time. However though I used to be one of many older youngsters, I used to be nonetheless shorter than everybody else!
What are your favorite recollections from being an Australian Open ballkid?
It was simply so thrilling to be amongst all of it, actually being on the court docket and getting a ground-level view of all of the motion. The perfect ballkids obtained allotted to the larger courts and I obtained as excessive as Court docket 1 (now referred to as Margaret Court docket Area). However I bear in mind not having a terrific day that day, so then I obtained demoted again out to the surface courts. It didn’t matter although, as a result of I simply liked doing it, no matter which court docket I used to be on.
Some of the distinctive recollections is getting meals vouchers. It was one thing loopy like $7 a day, however that would get you a donut, scorching canine and a drink. You might purchase quite a bit with these vouchers, which says lots about inflation! Our lunch space was proper close to the gamers’ restaurant, so it was fairly extraordinary to see who you possibly can spot.
My different greatest reminiscence is the warmth on the court docket. It was simply subsequent degree. We wore these Dunlop runners and had mats to face on, which offered one other layer between the court docket and your ft, however it was nonetheless so scorching. In the future I bear in mind not sporting my hat and I ended up a crimson scalp.
Do you bear in mind being a ballkid for any explicit gamers?
I do bear in mind distinctively being a ballkid for Australia’s Jason Stoltenberg. I obtained hit within the abdomen by certainly one of his serves! I wasn’t fast sufficient to get away. It’s a extremely superior story now – however it wasn’t within the second. Fortunately, I lived to inform the story.
Is {that a} story you inform usually?
I’ve been driving off being an Australian Open ballkid for 30 years now. Having the ballkid expertise has modified my view of tennis perpetually. Having that on-court expertise, it’s such a privileged view. These had been the times when the linespeople would get in hassle for getting line calls improper, the strain was so excessive. Being amongst all that drama was simply so thrilling. It was type of like releasing music earlier than the web, I got here by these ranks. I additionally got here by tennis when there was no know-how concerned in umpiring.
Did you additionally play tennis rising up?
I did! I used to play for St Johns in East Bentleigh. I’d play each Saturday morning within the Bayside suburbs of Melbourne. That’s how I ended up as a ballkid on the Australian Open. I noticed a kind about signing up and did the trials, then I obtained in. My peak was most likely probably the most spectacular factor, as a ballkid you might want to be discreet, so being small I used to be in a position to tick these containers.
What’s your earliest tennis reminiscence?
My earliest reminiscence is enjoying on the age of eight or 9. My dad was a extremely huge tennis fan, so we’d usually hit the ball round within the yard. I additionally bear in mind hitting towards a wall in major faculty. However I rapidly realised Wimbledon was not going to occur for me, I used to be a lot better at singing and music.
Do you continue to play now?
I’m residing in Northern New South Wales in the meanwhile, the place the climate may be very conducive to enjoying tennis all yr spherical. This interview has truly impressed me to get again on the market and play quickly!
You carried out at Rod Laver Area earlier than the ladies’s singles closing at Australian Open 2023, what was that have like?
It was an attractive full-circle second. We needed to squeeze in a sound verify earlier than the gamers got here onto the court docket to heat up, in order that was fairly loopy. I had a gig in Sydney the night time earlier than as nicely, so it was an early rise to race off to Melbourne. I used to be truly launched because the lead singer of Bachelor Woman and a former Australian Open ballkid. I’m certain some individuals within the crowd had been like ‘What, that’s type of odd?’ However it’s good to point out now we have lives exterior of music and it’s vital to produce other experiences as they do feed each efficiency that you simply do. Being a former ballkid is a truth I like to share, I take advantage of it simply as a lot as saying I’ve a level in criminology and my father was Albanian!
Tania Doko from Bachelor Woman acting at Australian Open 2023. Image: Getty Photos
Are there any tennis gamers you’d like to have the chance to satisfy?
I might love to satisfy among the Swedish tennis gamers, like Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander. Within the late 80s to early 90s they had been simply so dominant. They had been the tennis gamers that had been my heroes. I’d like to know the place they’re now. I’ve since lived in Sweden and I married a Swede, so I now know we had been all saying their names improper all of this time!
I additionally assume Roger Federer could be extraordinary to satisfy. I’d like to satisfy Novak Djokovic too. I used to be truly in lodge quarantine on the similar time when all of the controversy about him getting into Australia was occurring. So, I really feel some form of connection there, plus our surnames are fairly related. We’re each from Balkan heritage. Whether or not you want Djokovic or not, it was an odd political time that tennis had by no means seen earlier than. The actual fact he weathered that storm and he’s nonetheless combating and enjoying, it exhibits outstanding power.
Why do you assume Australians take pleasure in tennis?
Melbourne may be very AFL centered, whereas rugby is large in New South Wales and Queensland. A sport like tennis is a good unifier. All types of individuals play tennis, from so many alternative walks of life.
Lastly, are you able to please end these sentences for us …
The perfect a part of the Australian Open is … the joy! I feel it’s the rock and roll of sport. To me, it’s virtually like a present. It’s dynamic. There’s highs and lows. Coronary heart ache. I really feel that tennis gamers all the time put on their hearts on their sleeves. It truly is the rock and roll of all sporting occasions.
Tennis is enjoyable as a result of … while you’re enjoying singles, it’s unimaginable the quantity that one must again themselves. An excellent match includes so many momentum swings. Doubles is enjoyable too, as a result of it exhibits the facility of group work. I feel the Particular Ks – Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis – are great to look at. They’re extraordinarily entertaining.
> Stream now: Tania Doko’s new single, More durable Now
> Learn extra interviews from our Superstar Match collection
E book on-line, play immediately: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
#Superstar #Match #Tania #Doko #July #Information #Information #Options #Information #Occasions