Celeb Match with Ariarne Titmus | 12 September, 2024 | All Information | Information and Options | Information and Occasions

Ariarne Titmus is an Australian swimming champion.

The 24-year-old gained 4 medals on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Video games, together with gold within the 200-metre freestyle and 400-metre freestyle occasions. She additionally gained silver within the 800-metre freestyle occasion and a bronze within the 200-metre freestyle relay.

Titmus claimed one other 4 medals on the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games, defending her 400-metre freestyle title and profitable gold within the 200-metre freestyle relay. She additionally claimed silver medals within the 200-metre freestyle and 800-metre freestyle occasions.

Now one among Australia’s most completed Olympians, the world document holder is an avid tennis fan too.

Titmus, who grew up in Tasmania and now lives in Queensland, was thrilled when Rafael Nadal made his aggressive return on the Brisbane Worldwide earlier this yr and attended all of his matches.

The swimming celebrity talks about her love for tennis, and particularly the Spanish champion, in our Celeb Match collection …

Inform us about your tennis expertise. Have you ever performed earlier than?

I’ve a shaggy dog story. To get grade in PE (Bodily Schooling) in 12 months 12, I needed to move a tennis time period and I’m fairly certain my instructor gave me a C simply because he appreciated me, not due to my tennis skill. I’m very un-coordinated and positively not made for land, however I like watching tennis.

What’s your earliest tennis reminiscence?

My household could be very sport-orientated and I grew up watching the Australian Open on TV. I turned obsessive about Rafa after I was youthful. His combat and willpower is one thing that I aspire to have. Though he’s not a swimmer, he’s positively my sporting idol. Having somebody like him to observe, it makes you extra in tune with the game.

What’s your favorite tennis reminiscence?

I’d say my favorite tennis reminiscence is assembly Rafa on the Australian Open in 2022. I obtained to take a seat in his participant’s field together with his household and his crew. That was simply an unreal expertise. Are you aware what the perfect half about it was? I realised he and his household are similar to me. They’re very down-to-earth individuals who have labored arduous to get the place they’re. Him and I share widespread objectives in our careers too, in order that was very humbling to see.

Rafael Nadal takes a selfie with Ariarne Titmus after they exchanged signed aggressive outfits at Australian Open 2022. Image: Tennis Australia

Are there every other tennis gamers you’d most like to fulfill?

Roger Federer can also be somebody who’s a legend of tennis. He had such talent and style when he performed. On the ladies’s aspect, I truly suppose Aryna Sabalenka in the meanwhile could be very highly effective and the best way she performs the sport is sort of aggressive, which I like. She appears like she fully backs herself on the courtroom, so I like that.

Do you keep in mind the primary skilled tennis match you noticed dwell?

I’m fairly certain it was on the Brisbane Worldwide in 2017. I might have been 17 and keep in mind seeing Milos Raonic, the tall Canadian man, play Kei Nishikori. That was my first dwell tennis match.

Ariarne Titmus with Australian golfer Min Woo Lee at Brisbane Worldwide 2024. Image: Tennis Australia

As an expert athlete, what impresses you most when watching tennis?

Tennis is clearly a bodily demanding sport, however you even have to pay attention for such an extended time frame. When you let your thoughts wander, that’s when you’ll be able to let the match slip. So it’s not about your bodily skill, it’s about protecting it collectively mentally. I feel these gamers that may management their feelings the perfect and have the perfect perception in themselves are those which might be capable of carry out. So I actually admire that these athletes can keep targeted for such an extended time frame. My longest race lasts eight minutes. They are often on the market generally for 4 or 5 hours, so that actually impresses me.

Lastly, are you able to please end this sentence for us:

Tennis is enjoyable as a result of … You may go and watch it with your pals.