Post retirement, Woodbridge served a stint as the coach of the Australian Davis Cup team. "I wear many hats now," the doubles legend tells TOI, before elaborating: "I am a commentator (with Channel Seven), a coach, and a spokesman (for Tennis Australia) too. I look after the tennis development programme in Australia. I mentor coaches and players." The 'second round' of his life isn't that smooth sail, he admits. "When I was playing, all I was bothered was about my next match, and my next banana! Now, there is so much to take care of," he says.
Woodbridge quit the sport in 2005, and his famed 'partner in crime' Mark Woodforde did so five years earlier in 2000. Does he miss the other Woodie? "No, not at all. I spent too much time with him!" he says, before bursting into a laugh, before informing: "He is settled in the US. It's been a few months since I spoke with him." Of course, they did spend a good time together, winning everything on a tennis court in the 90s. They clinched 11 Grand Slam titles, a haul which included five straight Wimbledon trophies, as well as an Olympic gold at Atlanta in 1996.
Sadly, the only pair which challenged their supremacy for a while, split at its peak. "I told Mahesh (Bhupathi) back then, its a bad business decision you are taking." Does he know what led to their split? "Ego," pat comes the reply. "Both have too much ego. Both have strong personalities, especially Lee (Leander Paes)." While pointing out at the 'exact' problem, though, Woodbridge makes it clear he was friends with both. "Both are fantastic guys. I partnered Bhupathi in the last six months of my playing career. I wish all the best for his International Tennis Premier League (ITPL)," he says.
Will the ITPL, and Vijay Amritraj's Champions Tennis League (CTL) work. "The first time should be fine, but the real test of these events will come in the subsequent years," he analyses, before adding: "I got a call from both to commentate, but I have my hands full."
The next day, Woodbridge takes you around the fabulous Australian Open courts, with young players acknowledging him along the way. "A lot of people don't understand that any system takes time to produce champions. They want instant results, which isn't possible. Nick Kyrgios (the talented 19-year-old Aussie) is a product of our development programme. We have three players in top 100, and around 15 in 200. The fruits of our efforts will slowly show now," he says.
You marvel at the Rod Laver Arena, and are left bewildered with what Woodbridge tells you next. "This entire court is covered with a certain fibre material once the Australian Open is over, so that we can hold other events here. A few hours after he won the title in January, Stan Wawrinka was astonished when he returned for a post-match interview. We told him there was a concert to be held here in three days' time."
It's indeed a wonder to see the Aussies make the most of a sports stadium. It is laudable to see how they're making the most of Woodbridge's experience too.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/followceleb.cms?alias=Todd Woodbridge,Mark Woodforde,Mahesh Bhupathi,Leander Paes,International Tennis Premier League
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