Celebrity Match with Mason Cox

Collingwood soccer star Mason Cox reveals he’s a giant tennis fan in our Celeb Match sequence.

Melbourne, Australia, 19 July 2023 | Leigh Rogers

Cox is a well-liked media character too and hosts his personal podcast, The Mason Cox Show.

In our Celeb Match sequence, Cox shares his favorite Australian Open reminiscences and explains why he enjoys taking part in tennis …

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

By no means at a excessive degree rising up, however I at all times performed with my household. We had a tennis courtroom behind our home the place we used to play. My older brother has really lastly surpassed me and my means to play tennis, so he frequently reminds of that once we play our yearly tennis match. Tennis is the one sport he can beat me at, in order that’s the one factor he’s hanging his hat on nonetheless to this present day.

What’s your greatest shot and why?

My serve. I’m freakishly tall, so I get a superb angle over the web and might get fairly good leverage onto the ball too. It’s an ace or nothing generally from me.

What are your earliest tennis reminiscences?

Rising up we had a tennis courtroom behind our home. We used to go down there, although it was a bit sketchy and doubtless unlawful, and climb the fence late at night time. It was most likely five-metres excessive, however we’d climb over, activate the lights and play for hours on finish till mum would give us a name and inform us we would have liked to return again house. We by no means had a key or booked the courtroom, however we at all times managed to discover a strategy to play tennis at any time when we wished to. A whole lot of tennis balls went lacking over that fence!

Do you will have a favorite tennis reminiscence?

I used to be on the Australian Open in 2020 and watched the semifinal between Ash Barty and Sofia Kenin with my brother. This was earlier than I had my Australian citizenship and I believe we have been the one individuals within the crowd who have been American and cheering on Kenin. It was fairly humorous and awkward at occasions, however there was nice banter between everybody who was there. Everybody obtained into it and it was completely hilarious. Fortunately the American pipped the Australian. Though, I’m additionally a giant Ash Barty fan.

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

It was a doubles match again in 2017. It was Bradley Mousley and Alex Bolt taking part in Sam Querrey and Donald Younger. It was one other Australia versus USA match. There was a man there going for the People who was carrying a mullet, an American flag tank prime and a cowboy hat. It was ridiculous and this was my first time experiencing the Australian Open. It was an superior match too, which the Aussies received.

Who’s your favorite tennis participant to observe?

Rafael Nadal. Rafa is so unreal. Seeing him play in particular person, his precision and fervour is simply not like anybody else. He’s simply wonderful and has been an absolute legend for a very long time. Everytime you see the world’s greatest gamers dwell, it’s simply phenomenal. It’s so cool to see in particular person.

This man was insane at the moment! Inspiring! https://t.co/zMuwoFnUGD

— Mason Cox AFL (@masonsixtencox) January 17, 2023

In case you might meet any tennis participant, who would it not be and why?

Serena Williams. What she’s performed for ladies’s tennis is insane. Her profession has been wonderful and past phrases. Not solely from a tennis perspective, however in ladies’s sports activities generally. She’s been such a job mannequin and icon for ladies’s sports activities and altered it for the higher for others coming via the system now. The way in which she represented tennis worldwide was fairly phenomenal, so she’d be superior to satisfy.

Mason Cox on the world premiere of Netflix’s Break Level sequence at Australian Open 2023. Image: Tennis Australia

Lastly, are you able to please end these sentences for us …

The perfect a part of the Australian Open is … the ambiance! It’s the largest occasion in Melbourne, which is fairly cool. Every single day there looks like there’s something new happening. There’s leisure, good vibes, individuals are at all times having fun with themselves whether or not they’re watching within the stadiums or watching on the massive screens outdoors. It’s only a nice, nice expertise for all. It’s an occasion I really like going to each single 12 months. I extremely advocate that everybody, if they will, ought to go alongside.

Melbourne having such a world occasion within the @AustralianOpen is one thing we shouldn’t take with no consideration. Go test it out for those who haven’t already! pic.twitter.com/wEWSxaqQl6

— Mason Cox AFL (@masonsixtencox) January 20, 2023

Tennis is enjoyable as a result of … regardless of the place you come from, bodily stature or the rest, you’ll be able to play and luxuriate in it. There’s no actual barrier to entry with tennis. It’s fairly cool, all you want is a racquet and a ball and you’ll play wherever. You may play in opposition to a wall or on a correct courtroom. I believe it’s a kind of sports activities that regardless of your means, you’ll be able to nonetheless take pleasure in really taking part in it. You may be the worst of the worst and nonetheless have a superb time.

> Read more interviews from our Celebrity Match series

Guide on-line, play at the moment: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on courtroom and have some enjoyable!