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Open Court
The Game-Changer; The Man from Manacor; Switzerland on a Roll in Davis Cup
Aired December 18, 2014 - 12:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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PAT CASH, CNN HOST (voice-over): As we come to the end of the year, everyone takes time to reflect on past accomplishments and future goals on
this legacy edition of OPEN COURT. We look at three men who are trying to build their legacy in tennis in different ways. It's the three R's, Roger,
Rafa and Roddick.
Roger's done it on the court; Rafa's done it off the court and Andy Roddick is trying leave his mark on the game right here at the Royal Albert
Hall.
We are here at the famous concert venue for a World Team Tennis showdown. Andy Roddick is part owner of the Tennis League, which is in
London for the first time to showcase its up tempo take on the game.
Different rules make the game here all about speed and teamwork. Each team is a mix of legend and current stars. First team to reach five games
wins the set and players can be substituted during a match.
Andy Roddick has been a long-time fan and participant in the World Team Tennis format and so becoming a part owner was a natural step for the
outspoken former world number one.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CASH: You're an incredibly passionate tennis player for your country. And you're still involved in tennis, in World Team Tennis in your hometown,
Austin, Texas.
ANDY RODDICK, FORMER WORLD NUMBER ONE: Yes, it was great. Team tennis gave me a chance when I was 17. Getting that experience in a World
Team Tennis season in three weeks, playing 14 times against guys that were all top 150, top 100 in the world was huge for me. And beating them a
couple times gives you that confidence. And now for it to come full circle, it's been a blast kind of being able to throw ideas back and forth
with someone like Billie Jean, who's been such a leader and an inspirational figure in our game. So I count myself lucky to be able to do
that.
CASH: If you could change a few things in tennis to make it better, what --
(CROSSTALK)
RODDICK: There's a couple things. I think the obvious one -- you play less. You know, it's --
CASH: When that ball hits in on a serve.
RODDICK: -- yes, on a serve. You play less and you're going to get the bad end of it sometimes and you're going to get the good end of it
sometimes. But it's about eyeballs and TV sets. So I would get rid of -- and this is completely different than what I thought as a player. I'd get
rid of a challenge system. I feel like we've lost a lot of our personality.
You know, if someone's really having a go at the umpire, you're not going to change the channel. It's an impossibility to change the channel.
It really is. But when it's up there and you're proven wrong, there's none of that banter that we used to see. And we love our guys in the game right
now, Roger and Rafa and the way they carry themselves.
But there's some entertainment value on the guys who don't carry themselves that well. (INAUDIBLE) and I certainly melted down sometimes.
You still -- Johnny Mac's out here all the time, still going nuts and people love it. So either that or just give him one challenge for the
entire match and as long as you're right, you can keep it.
But as soon as you're wrong, you're done.
CASH: Is tennis a sport or is it entertainment?
RODDICK: We're fooling ourselves if we don't think sports are entertainment. I'm not saying we parade around and go Hulk Hogan and enter
the court and set up bows or anything but if there -- we play tennis with regular umpires forever and a day, and it worked. It wasn't like it was
broken at all.
But I think personality is -- there's no home team. You have to give people a reason beyond geographical location to come out and see it. And I
don't think it takes away anything from the credibility of the game, either.
CASH (voice-over): Now entering its 40th year, world team's tennis is the brain child of Billie Jean King with support from her rival team's
captain, Sir Elton John.
BILLIE JEAN KING, TENNIS PRO (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE). I grew up on team sports and I wanted it to also have both equal men and women on it, so
when a child comes to watch he or she is seeing men and women cooperating and championing each other.
CASH: World team tennis has left a legacy from Elton John's perspective but you're also leaving a huge legacy. It's been 40 years --
KING: -- 40 years this summer, actually. We're very excited we're in London. He's been around World Team Tennis now (INAUDIBLE) World Team Tennis since '74.
ELTON JOHN, MUSICIAN AND PERFORMER (voice-over): Yes, it's really lovely to be here in London. I'm very excited about tonight's outcome.
It's a lot of Billie Jean and I (INAUDIBLE). It's 11-10 in my favor at the moment. So (INAUDIBLE).
CASH (voice-over): So tonight you're going to have a bit of fun. You've got Elton John (INAUDIBLE) playing against Billie Jean King.
RODDICK: Yes. You don't think when you're a kid that you're going to forge a friendship with someone like an Elton John, an absolute icon of the
game and very close to Billie Jean as well.
They get sneaky competitive about this thing. Like there's a little bit of pressure. Like you look over at Elton, and he's like, come on.
I'm, oh, man; I'd better do something good here. You don't want to upset him.
CASH: You were the last man standing really from the U.S. tennis (INAUDIBLE) big name. There's some good players there. Where's U.S.
tennis and where's (INAUDIBLE)?
RODDICK: Let's not do smoke and mirrors. It's in a pretty tough place on the men's side right now. Frankly, you hear these stories from
other countries and people hitting in the bottom of pools because that's where they could afford. It creates a certain type of hunger. And I'm not
sure that everybody in our system has that.
CASH: Where did you get your hunger from?
RODDICK: My parents come from a pretty humble background to where if I would have gotten attitude at 17 or 18, my father probably wouldn't have
enjoyed that too much and might have given me a talking-to. At times, I certainly didn't like that. But the years go on, you understand the
methods of the madness a lot more.
Being content is a very dangerous place.
CASH (voice-over): We're luckily to have you back in London, Andy. We definitely enjoy you here.
RODDICK (voice-over): I appreciate that. Thank you.
CASH (voice-over): Come back to see me.
RODDICK (voice-over): Thanks a lot.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
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CASH (voice-over): Still to come on OPEN COURT, a brand new mission for the man of Manacor.
RAFAEL NADAL, TENNIS PRO: We'll have this here. It's something that even makes the story more special.
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CASH (voice-over): Welcome back to OPEN COURT. We've seen how one man is hoping to make his legacy by shaking up the game as it is today.
But another champion is investing in its future.
It's been almost 150 years since Queen Victoria laid the first stone here at the Royal Albert Hall, one player who's laying his own foundation
is Rafa Nadal. The Matador is breaking new ground. But this time it's only 10 minutes from his home in Manacor in what he hopes to be a lasting
legacy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
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RAFA NADAL (voice-over): I have finally all the friends here since I was a kid. I go to the cinema; I go out with my friends. I play some
ball. I go fishing. I go to the supermarket. I real do the really normal life.
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The most seamless man in Manacor is holding court, marking the start of a project that will keep him
rooted in his hometown long after his playing days are done. Hundreds of family friends and local lawmakers turned out to see the first stone set in
the Rafa Nadal Sports Centre and Academy. He invited OPEN COURT to take a first-hand look at a project that's been years in the making.
How proud are you of this achievement?
RAFA NADAL (voice-over): For me, it's something special because I love kids. I love tennis. I love sport. So be able to do something like
this is a very good way to prepare my future.
SOARES: You've got a long way in terms of your career still. But where do you see yourself in terms of within the project, within this
project here, within the academy?
Would you like to be working with the children here?
RAFA NADAL: I think I will be and I sure I will be involved closely to that. And fortunately it's a thing that I will do because it's here in my
hometown. I've living 10 minutes away from here. And I love tennis. So I'm sure when I finish my career, I will have the chance to come here,
practice with them, hit with them, together with my uncle and with a lot of other cultures that have that.
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SOARES (voice-over): The Nadal Academy is designed to attract young players from all over the world. It will house a full-time school so the
young people can combine their studies with their practice sessions. The complex will feature a combination of outdoor, indoor and clay court as
well as a gym and a recovery room.
No word yet though in what will cost the players to attend.
SOARES: You say you love tennis, you love children. But you also love Manacor.
So that's how important it is, building something like this in your home city.
RAFA NADAL: I love (INAUDIBLE) but obviously Manacor and it's where I grew up, where I lived during all my life and it's where I'm happy. So to
have this year is something that even makes the story more special.
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SOARES (voice-over): Nadal's tennis story has been nothing short of special. He's won 14 Grand Slam singles titles, an Olympic gold medal and
brought four Davis Cup trophies home to Spain. This year, Nadal added to his Grand Slam total when he won his 9th French Open. For most, this
signals a great year but not if you're Rafa Nadal.
RAFA NADAL (voice-over): It has been a tough year in general, not playing the final in Australia but in the final I got injured with my
back. And I was coming back to my best again and to play (INAUDIBLE) but playing better and better every single week and arriving here (INAUDIBLE)
with a great level and I won there and I was full confident again.
So it was the most important part of (INAUDIBLE) part of the year for me. And I played good at Wimbledon in general. I was -- I lost that
match. I was proud of the way that I played at Wimbledon this year. I felt the (INAUDIBLE) more comfortable playing there. That's important for
me.
SOARES (voice-over): Fans didn't see Nadal much after Wimbledon. A wrist injury kept him from defending his U.S. Open title and a bout with
appendicitis forced him to cut his season short.
2015's a big year for you, Roland Garros is that, you know, it's a big important number for you, trying to get that 10th win.
RAFA NADAL: Every year is the same. When it was 9, because it was 9 I was (INAUDIBLE).
(LAUGHTER)
SOARES: But this is a special year, that 10 is a nice round number.
RAFA NADAL: Every one was nice for me, you know. Seriously, it's obvious that Roland Garros always will be one of the main goals for me.
SOARES (voice-over): Nadal knows it's up to him to get back in shape in time for the Australian Open. But as has always been the case, he won't
be doing it alone. He's coached by his uncle, Tony Nadal, the two have worked side by side since Rafa was 4.
SOARES: (Speaking Spanish).
TONY NADAL, RAFA'S UNCLE AND COACH: (Speaking Spanish).
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SOARES (voice-over): Now that first stone is in place, the quiet Manacor field has been transformed into a construction site. The academy
is expected to open in 2016.
What kind of legacy do you think this will leave in terms of your career and indeed tennis for Manacor?
NADAL (voice-over): Well, I think I'm doing all my career, tried to do the right things on court and to win or lose with the right values, with
the right things to do on court. And that's what I try now. And I hope to do that with the next generation.
SOARES (voice-over): Well, we hope if we get invited back to see the center, to see it in full swing, be really great.
NADAL (voice-over): You will be invited --
SOARES (voice-over): Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
SOARES (voice-over): We'll be waiting for the invite. And best of luck for 2015.
NADAL (voice-over): Thank you very much.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CASH (voice-over): While we were in Manacor, Isa Soares also caught up with former world number 1, a Majorca native, Carlos Moya. Hear what he
has to say about Rafa online.
CARLOS MOYA, TENNIS PRO: I'm very proud of what Rafa is doing in his hometown and I wish I had such simple ideas when I was a kid.
CASH (voice-over): Also, check out our in-depth article on Rafa's return to the tour at cnn.com/opencourt.
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CASH (voice-over): After an action-packed evening, it was Team Billie Jean King who triumphed. But it wasn't just World Team Tennis players who
were working late in the year to make their mark on the game.
There isn't much that Roger Federer hasn't won. But there's been one rather large trophy missing from his cabinet. So could the Swiss Maestro
orchestrate yet another historic win to add to his incredible legacy?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
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CASH (voice-over): Legacy is about life. It's about learning from the past, living in the present and preparing for the future.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Roger really grasps the fact that this is a moment in time and he's going to make it last as long as he can.
And if he plays his best tennis, I still think next year he's got a chance to win the Slam.
CASH (voice-over): Roger Federer has won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other ATP player. He's held the number one ranking for a
record 302 weeks and won 84 titles.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): The guy never seems to really surprise anymore. The only person really standing in the way right now is
Djokovic.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Roger has been playing some amazing tennis in the last couple of months. He's very confident.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): The guy is just -- he's amazing.
CASH (voice-over): In addition to finding success on the tour, Federer has put tennis on the map in Switzerland. He earned a silver medal
at the London Olympics and at Beijing he captured his first-ever gold medal alongside countryman Stan Wawrinka.
STAN WAWRINKA, TENNIS PRO (voice-over): Inside I was like, OK, now I need to throw him that he can trust me and we're playing good and that's
more inside the feeling that he was happy and inside he was like, OK. Let's do something in doubles now.
In that moment, we're both almost crying. So we start to talk a little bit together, to make one joke. And then we're again laughing and
we're just enjoying the moment.
CASH (voice-over): The pair found success at the Olympics but have not been able to bring the Davis Cup home to Switzerland. Federer made the
team competition a priority this year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Federer's bigger than anything. And I think anything that involves Roger, he's big globally. But in Switzerland,
they're really proud of him. And they're really proud of what he represents and the way he carries himself. And I think the fact that this
would sort of be the one real big line on the resume that he's missing, that's a big deal.
CASH (voice-over): But just when both players needed to be at their best for the Davis Cup final, Federer's preparation was cut short by a back
injury.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had a broken team. Stan was shattered mentally; Roger was broken physically.
CASH (voice-over): Before a packed house and more than 27,000 fans, Stan Wawrinka quickly silenced the French crowd and beat Jo-Wilfried
Tsonga.
WAWRINKA: It was important to be really aggressive from the beginning to trust my game, to work for my game, to take the chance when I had the
chance, to come to the net and to push him back. And yesterday I think I pretty much won my best match in the (INAUDIBLE).
CASH (voice-over): Next up, Roger Federer versus Gael Monfils. No one knew how Roger's back would hold up in match play. The talented French
man celebrated a decisive win over the Swiss.
GAEL MONFILS, TENNIS PRO: I was ready for him and also ready to get back to my team.
ROGER FEDERER, TENNIS PRO: There was no negative. Started to feel better as the match went on. And that's very encouraging, I must say. And
then clearly I did feel that having hit and played and moved at all for five days and Gael did play well. It's not like I couldn't play at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger, let's face it, was not at his best. He could not move laterally the way that he normally can. And you could see
it.
CASH (voice-over): At the close of day one, France and Switzerland were tied at 1-all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All of (INAUDIBLE) are behind Roger (INAUDIBLE). Green team, they are better than the Bryan brother (ph).
CASH (voice-over): A record crowd turned out for the doubles in Lille.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, doubles is often pivotal on Davis Cup. It sets the momentum for the final day of singles. And Wawrinka and Federer
have had some great success in the past, winning the Olympics in Beijing. That moment for them was huge. But they hadn't played that well together
since. Whilst the last four Davis Cup matches together before they came in here.
CASH (voice-over): The Wawrinka-Federer duo rediscovered their golden touch and beat the French in straight sets.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) you're going to be 100 percent tomorrow in terms of your --
(CROSSTALK)
FEDERER: That's my mindset right now. I'm -- (INAUDIBLE) like the last question I'll answer about my back. I'm fine now and it's -- the
match is clearly going to lift all our spirits, especially mine. And then I'll come out tomorrow and give it everything I have.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
CASH (voice-over): Day three began with the pressure squarely on Roger Federer.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) one of the best teams to play after the history. We think he's in good form to win the match today.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Davis Cup's really an interesting event. It's all about momentum, crazy things happen to add pressure, 27,000 people
screaming, maybe not all of them with cowbells, you know. There's a chance it could turn. Roger's back could go again.
CASH (voice-over): French man Richard Gasquet could not stop history in the making. Federer won the third and final match.
FEDERER (voice-over): Me personally, I mean, obviously I'm really happy because I've been playing in this competition probably almost 15
years now. But at the end of the day, I wanted it more for the guys.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sad (INAUDIBLE) but I'm happy for (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There are not enough words to describe what he means to Switzerland. (INAUDIBLE) such a big figure, the biggest one we
ever had, of course. Already in his lifetime, he has left a legacy that will go on and on.
FEDERER (voice-over): It's an amazing day for sports and our country and Switzerland and we're a smaller country. We don't win bigger events.
I hope it can create things for the future, for sports in general. If tennis, it's great. But even for other sports to inspire a generation and
maybe other people to participate more in sports.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Roger Federer!
CASH (voice-over): His tennis resume now complete, Federer returned to Switzerland to share the Davis Cup trophy with the fans, who have been
cheering his career every step of the way.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CASH (voice-over): To look back on a weekend to remember for Roger Federer and Switzerland and to keep up with all the tennis action, remember
to visit our Facebook and Twitter pages.
It's time to bring the curtain down on this episode of OPEN COURT. Join us next month as we head down under for the Australian Open. But for
now, it's goodbye from London.
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END
