Kim’s Wild WTA Finals Stories, Holger Rune’s Comeback & More | Love All w/ Kim Clijsters

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Kim Clijsters (1:03)

Hi, everyone. Welcome back to a new episode of Love All. Excited to talk some more tennis with you, Blair. I know you have a busy week coming up, I'm glad we got this session in today.

Blair Henley (1:15)

I am thrilled to be here, Kim, as I am experiencing tennis whiplash. We went from Grand Slam Tennis at the US Open to this week. I am doing challenger commentary from home for a challenger, a 125 in Saint Tropez.

Ten-minute walk to the beach, the weather there was perfect tonight. There was a sunset, there was no... It was a perfect tennis conditions. And yet I was sitting in my gym room looking at a white wall, but it looked wonderful. I got to see David Gauphin play his last match there. He's trying to get some reps, as you know, in advance of his final tournament in Brussels next month. And he ran up against a really tough player who's made some impact at the challenger level in Marc Lyaal, the Estonian, trying to keep up for the Estonians after Annette Conteveit retired and had a baby. So he's doing his job.

Kim Clijsters (2:13)

Yeah, he's definitely playing his last tournament in Brussels in October. So he's trying to get a few more match tournaments in so that he can try to win a few matches there and give the Belgium crowd a nice farewell. So I'm cheering and hoping that that will work for him. But yeah, definitely, you know, tough to lose in those smaller tournaments as well.

Blair Henley (2:37)

Can I start off with a rec room for this week?

Kim Clijsters (2:40)

Yes, please.

Blair Henley (2:41)

I think people should watch more challenger tennis as someone who has sort of learned to commentate through challengers. I'm thankful to the people who've given me opportunities. It is so much fun. I will say one of the things about challenger tennis is when you think you might know who has the edge, you're probably wrong.

There are more momentum shifts than you could possibly imagine, which is what I think makes challenger tennis a lot of fun. And you get stories like one of the players I watched play for the first time today, Andrea Guerrieri from Italy, who started the season ranked 511 in the world. Kim, he spent eight years playing at the ITF level, which is the step below challenger tennis, sharing hotel rooms, taking overnight buses to tournaments. And he has had the season of his career, won a challenger, qualified at the US Open, is now ranked 169 in the world.

Kim Clijsters (3:42)

Amazing.

Blair Henley (3:43)

Right?

Kim Clijsters (3:44)

The effect of the Italian tennis and the great results that they're having is definitely getting through all the levels and being an inspiration. That's really, really nice to hear. I love those stories.

Blair Henley (3:57)

I know. And so if you would like to watch, you can go to the ATP Tour website and over on the right hand side, they have a section for live scores. If you go to the challengers tab, there is an option underneath to watch and you just input your info and you can stream challenger tennis. So if anyone wants to come hang out with me this week, you can find me in Saint Tropez.

Kim Clijsters (4:20)

So you need to practice your visualization skills and really put yourself in that environment over there.

Blair Henley (4:28)

That's right. I'm going to do my, what do you call it? The rhythmic breathing, just to feel like I'm meditating on the beach. I don't know that it's going to work.

Kim Clijsters (4:38)

On a yacht?

Blair Henley (4:40)

They literally did their activations prior to the tournament. They set up a little mini tennis court right next to the yachts in the background, just the yachts, which you know what? They're not shaking the allegations, those people in San Trope, but I love that for them.