KEY POINTS:
You're playing the Heineken Open Baseline gig next week. Will you be dressing in theme for the occasion? Perhaps some nice white shorts and a sweat band?
There's definitely been talk of it but I'm hopefully going to go with something a bit less obvious.
Because it's on
court, right?
Is it on court? I don't actually know, but that sounds quite cool.
I think it's being held on the back courts. I was just wondering if you'd been issued with instructions to wear non-marking soles?
I always wear non-marking footwear anyway because it really bugs me when I see scuffed floors.
Very considerate of you! And what are your tennis skills like?
I didn't ever have lessons but I did play tennis at high school. I had a few really good games that made me think I could keep doing it. But I sort of lost the knack. The trick with tennis though, it seems, is finding someone you can play with who is equally good, or as bad, as you. Then you can play for hours.
That is very true. And does anyone else in your family play?
Actually, both my Dad [Neil Finn] and my uncle [Tim Finn] were quite keen tennis players until my uncle broke his ankle in a heated grudge match. It was a while ago.
And did that put them off tennis for life? No family tennis matches since?
No, not anymore.
You're teaming up with EJ [Eliza Jane Barnes, daughter of Australian singer Jimmy Barnes] again next week, in what some might call mixed doubles. But if you and Neil were to take on EJ and Jimmy, who'd win?
Definitely us. But we wouldn't care as much as they would. They are very competitive.
And what are the chances of that ever happening? If someone approached you for a celebrity tennis match ...
We'd more likely do it for our own fun, I'd say. Unless the money was right. [Laughs].
Indeed. Now, everyone's played air guitar with a tennis racquet at some point. But have you ever played air tennis with a guitar?
No. But maybe that's a good idea to try out at the concert.
So are you going to head along and watch any of the tennis next week?
Yeah, I'm going to go to the semi-final. I'm taking my nana actually, that's why, or half the reason why, I wanted to do the tennis open because I got to take my nana and grandfather to the tennis. They're very big sports fans. They love it.
Was that your main motivation to become involved in the gig?
I don't know, it just seemed something different to do. Even though, I guess, some people might think tennis is a bit posh, it seemed like a fun sporting event to be playing at. But mostly it was so I could take my nana.
Liam Finn plays the Heineken Open Baseline after-party next Saturday, January 17, at the ASB Tennis Centre. Tickets are $25 and include admission to watch the grand final on the big screen, before the after-party. Tickets from Ticketek.
