40 THE BORDER MAIL Friday August 16, 2019 bordermail.com.au ] SPORT bordermail.com.au/sport No.1's secret weapon O'Shannessy finds his way to the top

CRAIG O'Shannessy believes his super happy with it. The endless hours of match practice financial side is very good growing up at the Forrest Hill and he looks after his team Club propelled him to very well. I'm very fortu- where he is today. nate to be in my situation, O'Shannessy says playing with particularly because I love and against some of Albury's my job so much. greats developed his mind BK: You have worked and helped him become world with Djokovic for two- number one 's and-a-half years, ever had strategic analyst. an argument? He is widely regarded as having CO: Not one. There hasn't one of the best brains in the even been a time where game. he has questioned me. The former Border Mail journal- Early on in 2017 he played ist, who is now based in Texas, half the year and then he's spoke to BRETT KOHLHAGEN out injured with an elbow during a flying visit to the Border problem. We met in Decem- this week. ber, 2017, just to catch up. We met on the 60th floor of BK: Welcome home, how a downtown skyscraper in a is life as Novak Djokovic's sushi restaurant. We started strategic analyst? with some small talk and CO: It's great, I'm abso- then I opened my computer lutely loving it. up and I asked him if he was BK: What's it like dealing interested in what I actually with the world's No.1 player do. He said sure and it just on a regular basis? went from there. NO PLACE LIKE HOME: Craig O'Shannessy believes Novak Djokovic is on track to win more grand slams than Roger CO: Novak is fantastic. We BK: He's obviously very Federer. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE get along so well. He's got good at putting into practice a great sense of humor but the intel you give him? good kid who sometimes Wimbledon, the Australian when we go over opposition CO: He's always asking doesn't know how to handle Open sits at number one. analysis he just locks in. His questions and wants to the situation. He definitely BK: Do you ever sit attention to detail is second learn. To be that good and could win a slam. A lot back and pinch yourself in to none. When I first started still want to learn says a of it is the team you have regards to how your tennis working with him I said how lot about the guy. After around you. career has evolved? much do you want to see the US Open we went to a BK: Who is the next big CO: Yes and no. In a lot of and he replied: 'I want to see restaurant to celebrate and thing in Australian tennis? ways everything I did was everything you have got'. people including journalists CO: Alexei Popyrin.He's a stepping stone towards It's amazing. were asking me what it's got the body and game and a this. It goes back to my dad BK: How much time do like working with him. I told good head on his shoulders. buying a camcorder and you put into it? them it's like working with a I'm keeping an eye on him. I'd take it to the Wodonga CO: I do a lot of oppo- 14-year-old boy and Novak He's certainly a talent. courts and film the kids sition video analysis. I do just laughed. I said: 'Novak BK: How often do you get playing tennis. Then we'd every single match which this is the biggest compli- back to Australia? go upstairs and look at the takes about seven hours. ment I can give you as you CO: I've still got family in tape. It showed me the There are literally going to are so open to learning, you Albury. I get out once a year power of videoing tennis. be no surprises when Novak are like a sponge which is a for the . People will say it's lucky and gets out there to play. We huge reason why you are so World number one Novak Djokovic is steaming towards Four years ago we came in some ways it is but I think have a plan A, B and C. good'. Others would be too 20 titles. back to Albury for December it's a natural progression as BK: Are there many strate- stubborn or proud. You have and some January. It's great well by working through all gic analysts in world tennis? Novak the player and Novak to have my wife and kids the levels. CO: I'm the only one who the mind. He's outrageously animal but since we've been more, we are in the golden here this time. They will BK: You had some strong takes it to this level of detail good on both fronts. together we have won four age of the returner. The best remember this trip. I'd love influences on your tennis and commitment. Other BK: Is there is a big rivalry of the last five so the proof is years for serving were in to come two or three times growing up didn't you? teams have coaches who dig between Novak, Roger in the pudding. I think he'll the mid-90s when you had a year but I travel so much CO: Frank Tynan was the in a little bit but I'm the first and Rafa? continue to dominate the MarkPhilippoussis, Goran at the moment that it makes number one guy. I lived six person in our sport to be a CO: God yeah. It's those slams and surpass 20. He's Ivanisevic, Richard Krajicek it hard. doors up from the Forrest full-time strategic analyst. three and daylight. They much younger than Roger and .Right now BK: What's the best grand Hill courts, went to school at BK: Give me an honest have had incredible careers and about the same age the return rules the world. slam tournament? Albury High and just played answer here, does Djokovic and love to win. I think as Rafa. It's about hitting spots and CO: Wimbledon sits apart. sets after school until it got pay well? they can all keep going for BK: Who has best serve in not power. It's the home of tennis, dark. Frank, Phil Shanahan CO: Yes, he does. a while yet as well with all world tennis? BK: Would you like to it's on grass. What they and Ken and Rodney Wurtz BK: Want to elaborate the fitness staff, nutritionists CO: I would say Nick work with Kyrgios? do with the tradition you were around then and hav- on that? and support staff that are Kyrgios for sure. He's very CO: I would. I spoke to just can't compare it. Then ing such great players like CO: I don't. in place in today's game. cemented as one of the top his agent at Roland Garros everything else is fair game. them pushed you. I probably BK: Well, can you tell me Everything is so precise and five servers in the history of and got an understanding The Australian Open is by far wish I had more lessons but if Novak pays much more planned these days. our sport. He's that good. of what makes him tick. Yes the number one but the US I think the massive amount than when you were a cadet BK: Novak has 16 grand Nick on his day is one of he's controversial, yes he Open and Roland Garros are of practice sets I played sports reporter at The Border slams, Rafa has 18 and Roger the best because of his crosses the line there is no chasing it. What Craig Tilley helped develop my mind Mail in the 1980s? has 20. How many can your unpredictability, particularly doubt but at the heart of it has done with improving, which is now helping me. CO: He does, yeah man win? on his second serve. Novak you have an unbelievable developing and making it BK: Thanks for your time (laughs). We have a really CO: It's unlimited. Rafa at is good as well. Serving is tennis player. He's only a so player and fan friendly and good luck at the US good arrangement. I'm Roland Garros is a different not about raw power any click or two away. I see a is jaw-dropping. Outside of Open next month.