How Alizé Lim has been loyal to tennis as both a player and broadcaster

We’ve seen countless athletes transition to broadcasting as their playing careers conclude. Tennis has introduced new voices into the commentary world through opportunities and steps that have given players a standard path to a new career. Alizé Lim is one of those voices, but her path has been anything but standard.

The Frenchwoman has competed at majors, won ITF titles, and worked relentlessly on her craft, but in 2020, her injuries caught up with her. She stopped competing on the tour and began commentating on it. Her broadcasting career has since skyrocketed, and pro tennis is better for having Lim as one of its voices. But even with her next career blossoming beautifully, Lim is not quite ready to give up the real love of her life. Playing tennis competitively is in her blood, and with better health, she is devoted to ending her chapter as a player on her terms at a lower, but still very much professional, level.

She recently joined the Inside-In Podcast to discuss broadcasting, the current state of the game, and why playing her tennis journey out means so much to her.

Lim’s story is representative of many athletes who believe that their careers were shortened and unfairly robbed by injuries. Unlike a lot of her contemporaries, she has the ability to return to action, albeit at a lower level.

Her reason for returning isn’t about money or ranking points; it’s an ingrained love of the game and an enthusiasm to compete.

“My love for tennis was still so present and so strong, that I never had the courage to say. 'I’m done.' Because it didn’t feel like it, and there’s things you can’t decide with your brain. It has to be within yourself,” Lim explained.

She is still competing at smaller tournaments but admits that this is most likely the final act of her playing career. Still, Lim has no regrets and is proud of what the last four years produced.

“I feel like I know more about what I would like to do in the future. I have seized the opportunities too. So maybe it’s time now.”

One of those things Lim discovered about herself was her natural ability as a broadcaster. Working for Eurosport, she’s showcased a natural ability to interview some of the best players in tennis and give measured analysis of the game’s top storylines. Lim was not someone who dreamed of holding a microphone as a child, but rather began her new endeavor by holding conversations with the players she’s known for ages.

“To me it was asking questions to my mates, to my colleagues, so it wasn’t even a job. It’s just another activity. And then next thing you know, it’s one more thing and one more thing. I’m starting to realize right now that it’s an actual job,” Lim says with a smile.

Where she really shines is interviewing players, because she’s lived that life and knows the emotions they are going through before, during, and after competition at the highest level.

“I know some questions are going to be uncomfortable," she says. "I say to [my producer], 'This sounds like an interesting question to you, but I know if someone asks me that question, I know I’m not going to answer something honest. I’m going to say the journalist answer, and I don’t want to go there.'”

Having been a player herself, Lim is afforded a level of credibility with the current pros that is well-earned. They are more eager to chat with her, and often times are more open in their responses than they otherwise would be. Such was the case when Lim interviewed Rafael Nadal last December, as he was preparing to embark on the final leg of one of the most legendary careers in sporting history.

Nadal has given countless interviews, but rarely was he as transparent and revealing as he was with Lim. At one point, the 22-time major champion said he was amazed to win just one Grand Slam tournament, a feat he repeated over and over (and over) again.

“When psychologists tell you to stay in the present, this is the definition of it,” Lim recalled. “When we talked about the 2022 Australian Open final against Medvedev, he said, ‘Oh, I was sure I was going to lose that match. 100% I was going to lose it. And I just thought OK, let’s just fight and we’ll see what happens.’

"That was also so authentic and I loved it. He thinks he’s going to lose, but his drive to fight is stronger and that makes him win anyways.”

Lim continues to be as devoted as ever to tennis, and her personality shined brightly on this episode of the Inside-In Podcast. She discussed Iga Swiatek’s reign at the top of the WTA, the beautiful scenes at the Monte Carlo Masters, and why the only thing that Elena Rybakina is lacking is a driver’s license.

Lim has given most of her life to tennis in one shape or form. The competitive drive she showcased between the lines is already helping her succeed on the microphone, and there will be no shortage of opportunities in her future. Whether hitting forehands or interviewing the megastars, the game will always be in her blood.