Sinatra, Pavarotti, and the "Nose Hair Shot" - John Alexander’s Life on the A-List

In the latest episode of Deuce, Australian tennis great John Alexander (JA) joins Julie Snook and AP for a trip down memory lane that stretches from the clay courts of 1970s Iran to dinner with Frank Sinatra. JA proves that tennis isn’t just a sport - it’s a golden ticket to the most exclusive rooms in the world.

Dining with Ol' Blue Eyes and Gardening Tips

One of the highlight reels of JA’s career didn't happen on a court, but at a dinner table next to Frank Sinatra. He recalls being struck by how "normal" the icon was, noticing his "big calloused hands" from a surprising hobby.

"He’s a fanatic gardener," JA shares. "He’s telling us about how he goes and gardens in the morning, then comes in and hits the heavy bag to build up his lung capacity for his singing... he was telling us all about how hard he works."

JA also addresses the infamous incident where Sinatra was kicked out of Australia. According to JA, Sinatra took the blame, admitting he "reacted badly" to aggressive press tactics used to drum up ticket sales. "But he loved Australia," JA insists, noting how much the singer appreciated the country that supported him even when he couldn't find work back home.

The Pavarotti Connection: "We Are Here"

JA’s love for singers led to a surreal friendship with Luciano Pavarotti. It started backstage in Milan when Pavarotti’s secretary asked JA to invite the tenor for a game of tennis.

"His first thing he'd say is 'We are here,' which I interpreted as 'I’m big enough to be two people,'" JA laughs. Pavarotti became a regular hitting partner, even when he was meant to be resting his voice. "His understudy was reminding him not to talk while he was playing... but he just wanted to play and be funny."

JA even recalls the time Pavarotti called his mother’s house in Sydney. "Mom says, 'Yeah, and I'm Elvis Presley, you forgot to pass the message!' She didn't believe it was him!"

Mastering the "Nose Hair Shot" at Wimbledon

Transitioning from the court to the commentary box, JA became a staple of Australian summers and BBC’s Wimbledon coverage. He reveals the strict rules of British broadcasting: wait for the applause to finish, don't talk over the umpire, and never state the obvious.

He also explains a technical trick used to ramp up the drama for viewers—the "nose hair shot."

"To get all of the drama, they’d go in for this nose hair shot... they’d close in on the server’s face as he faces the match point... to see the strain on the player’s face." It’s a technique JA likens to Sinatra’s singing style: "You’ve got to start off a little easy and then fill it up."

Tennis in the 70s: Armed Guards and Open Eras

JA’s career spanned the dawn of Open Tennis in 1968, a time of massive change and high-stakes matches in exotic locations. He remembers playing in Iran before the revolution, where the altitude made the ball fly "like Moses making the waters separate."

In 1977, during a Davis Cup tie in Argentina, the atmosphere was even more intense. "The referee said, 'If you don't go back out [to finish the match], they will kill you,'" JA recounts. He ended up winning over the hostile crowd by losing a tight match: "I won the crowd by losing the match... they like a triple win-win-win."

Retirement and a Mission in Parliament

After 11 years in Federal Parliament, JA remains passionate about public policy, particularly housing affordability. He draws a sharp contrast between his era—where a house cost three to four times the average wage—and today’s market. "It impoverishes and imprisons the renter," he says, advocating for more mature political cooperation to solve the crisis.

Even in the halls of power, tennis followed him. He spent years coaching current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his second serve. "I taught him how to spin his second serve so he could serve and volley... he was a great student."

Catch the full interview on FanaticsTV: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdUpgSvWuak

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