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THE U.S. OPEN AUGUST 2015
30 ON RACISM IN AMERICA: I’M HAPPY THAT I’VE BEEN ABLE TO HOPEFULLY OVERCOME THE RACISM TO MYSELF AND MY FAMILY AND TO SHOW OTHER BLACKS THAT THEY CAN OVERCOME IT TOO.
STYLE
- RICHARD WILLIAMS
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Fashion forward with Genie Bouchard, one of the most marketable athletes of the year
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Travel Watch: U.S. Open Explore New York City like Grigor Dimitrov, the hunky and newly single Bulgarian
26 “I THINK THE CAREER OF A TENNIS PLAYER ALWAYS HAS SOME UPS AND DOWNS AND IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PLAY OVER 15 TO 20 YEARS WITHOUT ANY SETBACKS.”
YOUR GAME
FEAT U RE S Victoria Azarenka talks about comebacks, her youth and going home to Belarus BY TUMAINI CARAYOL
30 SHAPING SERENA AND VENUS
How Richard Williams approached parenting to achieve confidence and greatness in his daughters BY DAVID COX
38 A NEW DAWN IN AMERICAN TENNIS
The winds of change are working their way through American juniors, particularly the boys. Watch out for the likes of Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Reilly Opelka BY DAVID COX
44 THE U.S. OPEN PREVIEW
Beyond Serena, American hopefuls aim to make a mark in New York: Jack Sock, Madison Keys, John Isner, Venus & Co. BY CHRIS SKELTON
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6 VOLUME 8. ISSUE 4
26 RISING LIKE A PHOENIX
REGULARS Publisher's Point: Focus on America Cheering for the home team during the U.S. Open Aug. 31-Sept. 13
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Gear & Style Fall Shopping List: Something for everyone to improve your game, on and off the court
PARTING WORDS 66
Q&A with Maria Sharapova BY TUMAINI CARAYOL
D EPA R TM ENT S FIRST SERVE
NEWS & VIEWS BY ROMANA CVITKOVIC 11-24 Insight into the pros lives, from health to coaches to relationships 11
Stan Wawrinka bares all for ESPN Body Issue
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The revamped International Tennis Hall of Fame
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Junior + College Notes, Boosting your chance in college
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Federer, Nadal, Sharapova and more, the World’s richest tennis stars
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ON THE COVER World No. 1 Serena Williams looks to tie Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles in New York
PUBLISHER'S POINT
AMERICA HAS SOME OF THE MOST ENTHUSIASTIC TENNIS FANS IN THE WORLD, so come summer when the ATP and WTA tours are on US soil, life gets very interesting, if not crazy. As the calendar leads to the US Open, debate stirs with predictions on who will out-perform whom in New York.
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Turning to the American field of players, on the women’s side of the draw there’s a huge favorite in World No. 1 Serena Williams. Even still, the conversation doesn’t end there. With top ladies that include Venus, Madison Keys, Coco Vandeweghe and Sloane Stephens, talk is lively. These women have shown us that there’s a realistic chance that several could advance into the second week. In 2015, at least one of these women [not including Serena, who has won all Major titles so far] has advanced to the 4th round or beyond in each Major tournament. In contrast, the American men have been disappointing at the Slams. Only Jack Sock has advanced to the fourth round and even John Isner and Steve Johnson, who have had the most consistent success, have only advanced to the third round twice. But, as we know, anything can happen in the “City That Never Sleeps.” So you’ll need to get your tickets to watch matches unfold live or tune into the Tennis Channel for ongoing coverage. For now though, until
Focus on America 2015 U.S. Open Aug. 31 – Sept. 13 the event kicks-off on August 31st, I suggest flipping to page 44 for Beyond Serena: American Hopefuls Aim to Make a Mark in New York. Here’s hoping that the men find a new gear on our home court stage and the women push beyond their current level, too.
AMERICAN BOYS MAKE STATEMENT While cheering our veterans to victory in New York, I also have an eye on the younger generation, particularly the guys who are seriously – yes, seriously – proving that they have what it takes to hoist a Grand Slam trophy one day. I find Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Frances Tiafoe and Reilly Opelka quite intriguing. World No. 1 junior Taylor Fritz is 17, stands 6-foot-4 and has a huge serve that’s been compared to that of Pete Sampras. Fritz is very athletic and has consistently performed well this year, reaching the quarterfinals or better on all Major surfaces. Speaking of surfaces, I was pleasantly surprised to learn Tommy Paul prefers clay to hard courts. In
an all-American final in Paris this year, Paul beat Fritz to collect the singles title. After the victory, the 18 year old Paul turned pro. And who could forget 17 year old Frances Tiafoe, the youngest American to compete in the French Open [2015] main draw since Michael Chang. Tiafoe is already ranked No. 187 and has an unwavering work ethic – as well as a charming, upbeat personality. I’ll also be curious to check out Reilly Opelka who won the boys singles title at Wimbledon this year. Opelka is 6-foot-10 and I bet, at 17, he still hasn’t reached the end of his growth spurt. Also important to note, he moves amazingly well for his height. Before these young Americans take to the courts in New York, you’ll want to turn to page 38 for A New Dawn in American Tennis to get some background into their ascent.
SERENA EMBRACES PRESSURE The US Open presents a special opportunity for Serena, where if she wins the
singles title she will tie Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22. If that happens, Serena will likely set her sights on matching Margaret Courts alltime singles record of 24. No one doubts Serena’s talent, but after winning consecutive titles in Melbourne, Paris and Wimbledon this year, the 33 year old seems even more motivated. Serena’s father and coach, Richard, says the success of his daughters [both Venus and Serena] was always in the plan. Tennis View Contributor David Cox recently spoke to Richard about how he raised his daughters and shaped them into mega champions. When asked how they became mentally tough, Richard said: "Exactly the same way as they became human tough. Running for their lives. When you live in the ghetto, you learn to be able to run for your life." Turn to page 31 for the full story.
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THE LIST:
And now for a couple of interesting announcements that we heard as we approached press-time…
TENNIS PLAYERS FEATURED PROMINENTLY
SUMMER OF NEW BEGINNINGS Two of the hottest professional tennis players are back on the dating market. ATP top 20 Grigor Dimitrov and World No. 2 Maria Sharapova ended their two-year courtship. On July 24th, Grigor told the press that he and Maria have gone their separate ways and that he wishes Maria only the best. Without the distractions of a relationship, the Bulgarian says he will refocus on his tennis and trusts he’ll perform better. By the way, just days before his split with Maria, the 24 year old Grigor also ended his coaching partnership with Roger Rasheed.
ROGER FEDERER: THE WORLD’S BIGGEST BRAND
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Mickelson and LeBron James in the Top 20 list released by the London School of Marketing. The study calculated the brand value of the athletes, taking into account their current income from sponsorships as a percentage of their total earnings, and also factored in their social media presence. "Roger is genuine, honest, down to earth, and gives his time generously to his partners and foundation. Companies look for role models and Roger is as good as it gets,” Tony Godsick, CEO TEAM8, told ATPWorldTour.com.
Roger Federer has been named the world’s most marketable sports star, edging out Tiger Woods, Phil TERESA THOMPSON
Roger Federer – Tennis Tiger Woods – Golf Phil Mickelson – Golf LeBron James – Basketball 5. Kevin Durant – Basketball 6. Rory McIlroy – Golf 7. Novak Djokovic – Tennis 8. Rafael Nadal – Tennis 9. Mahendra Singh Dhoni – Cricket 10 Cristiano Ronaldo – Football 11. Kobe Bryant – Basketball 12. Maria Sharapova – Tennis 13. Lionel Messi – Football 14. Usain Bolt – Track 15. Neymar – Football 16. Andy Murray – Tennis 17. Kei Nishikori – Tennis 18. Derrick Rose – Basketball 19. Floyd Mayweather – Boxing 20. Serena Williams – Tennis
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PUBLISHER AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Teresa Thompson PRODUCTION PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Jay Thompson ART DIRECTOR AND DESIGN Antoni Pham ASSISTANT EDITOR Romana Cvitkovic EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Tumaini Carayol, David Cox, Romana Cvitkovic, Nick Nemeroff, Chris Skelton COPY EDITING Raechel Kenealy
ADVERTISING Holly Pitot, Teresa Thompson info@TennisViewMag.com SPECIAL PROJECTS Kay Caldwell SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BACK ISSUES Email: Subscribe@TennisViewMag.com USPS: TAZ Publications, PO Box 7282, Seminole, FL 33775 EDITORIAL AND PHOTO SUBMISSIONS Editorial@TennisViewMag.com FEEDBACK Email comments to Editorial@TennisViewMag.com Include your name, phone number and email address. Letters chosen for publication may be edited for length and clarity.
ART AND PHOTO CONTRIBUTORS TennisClix, Chaz Niell, Mauricio Paiz, Michael Thompson ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Chris Skelton SOCIAL MEDIA Tracey DeFrancesco, Romana Cvitkovic, Chris Skelton 8 U.S. OPEN 2015 | TENNISVIEWMAG.COM
Tennis View Magazine is published by: TAZ Publications, LLC, PO Box 7282, Seminole, FL 33775 [USA]
twitter.com/TennisViewMag Tennis View (ISSN 1937-7894) is published by TAZ Publications, LLC. Copyright 2015 by TAZ Publications, LLC. Title “Tennis View” is registered US Patent and Trademark Office. The opinions expressed in Tennis View magazine are not to be considered official expressions of TAZ Publications, LLC. TAZ Publications, LLC does not accept any responsibility for the actions of its readers. The contents within Tennis View Magazine are for informational purposes only and should not be treated as health care or health management advice. The materials herein are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of content in this magazine. Reliance on any information provided herein is solely at your own risk. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any material in this publication without written permission of TAZ Publications, LLC is expressly prohibited. Publisher reserves the right to accept or reject all advertising matter. Publisher does not assume responsibility for errors, omissions, and/or changes in advertising or editorial material.
Fall 2015 U.S. Open Issue Volume 8 • Issue 4 Printed in the USA.
FIRST SERVE ACHIEVEMENTS
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FUNNY QUIPS
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EVENTS
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CONFLICTS
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NEWS & VIEWS
J Stan Wawrinka ESPN The Body Issue
STAN BARES IT ALL MULTIPLE SLAM CHAMPION STAN WAWRINKA RECENTLY POSED FOR ESPN'S ANNUAL BODY ISSUE. IN IT, HE TALKS ABOUT GOING FROM “OVERWEIGHT” TEENAGER TO POSTER BOY. “AT THAT TIME I WASN'T PRACTICING THAT MUCH, TENNIS WAS JUST A HOBBY,” HE SHARES. “BUT IT WASN'T EASY TO FEEL THAT WAY.” Now 30, the Swiss stands at a muscular 6’0” and 179 pounds. “My body is for my tennis, it's for my sport,” Wawrinka notes. “I'm not a model at all. I don't work out to go to the beach, I work out to play well and to do well on the court.”
Initially, the Swiss was hesitant to be a part of the spread. “First I said no for a few months but then I realized it’s personally a challenge to pose naked and also it’s a big honor to be in that magazine. They really try to show the body of the athletes, putting the sport in the front and that’s the reason why I decided to do it.” He also revealed the secret to his two key weapons: his serve and onehanded backhand. “It's coming from my movement and coming from all my body and also my back and my abs -- I do a lot of back and abs and core. It's all about the core exercises for warm-up.”
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P A R T N E R S H I P S
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(New) Balance for Life Milos Raonic has signed an exclusive sponsorship deal that will extend and strengthen the Canadian’s relationship with New Balance for the length of his professional playing career and beyond. The 24-year-old was the brand’s first tennis athlete when he signed in 2013, and will continue to be utilized in marketing campaigns as well as product development for apparel and footwear. Other notable tennis athletes with lifelong contracts include Roger Federer (Wilson, racquets and accessories) and Ana Ivanovic (Adidas, apparel and footwear).
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“I am soft [as a person], but on court I am ambitious and I like to fight. I like to respect people around me. I have always thought that you have to be a good person before a good player, so I keep that with me and it helps me a lot.” – Simona Halep
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JULIAN FINNEY
Ana Ivanovic was recently named an ambassador for the Quercus Foundation, which raises awareness and funds for children living in extreme poverty. The Serbian will support the foundation's current project to raise $1.5 million for The Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, one of the leading children's hospitals in the world. In a separate venture, the 27-year-old also signed a Shiseido Suncare deal and will become the face of its Wetforce Sun Protection line.
Italian Flavia Pennetta was recently appointed an ambassador to the sunglass company Maui Jim joining the ranks of fellow tennis players Martina Hingis, David Ferrer, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Benoît Paire. Maui Jim sunglasses are known for their use of unique PolarizedPlus2 technology that eliminates UVA and UVB rays and glare, and is a popular brand with line judges, players and fans for improved views of the game.
Tennis Warehouse Renews with ATP Online retailer Tennis Warehouse has renewed its partnership with the ATP World Tour as the official online tennis store of the ATP through 2017. Since 2000, Tennis Warehouse has powered the online tennis store for the ATP World Tour via the ATP’s flagship website, ATPWorldTour.com. With locations in the U.S, Europe and Australia, Tennis Warehouse is able to service fans worldwide. The partnership represents the ATP’s longest standing retail partnership.
MAL TAAM
CHAZ NIELL
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Ivanovic Picks Up Multiple Deals
Maui Jim Adds Pennetta
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Spaniard Rafael Nadal has extended his endorsement deal with Kia Motors for another five years. The 14-time Slam champion will continue to appear in global advertising campaigns for the Korean carmaker until 2020. The 28-year-old first partnered with Kia in his native Spain in 2004, before becoming a global ambassador for the company two years later. He is also partnered with Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Telefonica and PokerStars.
Hingis Teams with Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame has named Martina Hingis as the organization's first global ambassador. Hingis, a former world No. 1, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2013, in recognition of an outstanding career highlighted by 17 major titles in singles and doubles. In the new role, Hingis will play an active part in the Hall of Fame's effort to preserve the history of tennis in the year ahead, including promotional events in China and Singapore later this season.
AUGUST 15, 1995 After nearly a two and a half year hiatus from tennis due to the stabbing by Gunther Parche in 1993, Monica Seles plays, and wins, her first WTA match back against Kimberly Po at the Canadian Open.
7 Wozniacki Teams with Lavazza
Caroline Wozniacki has signed a one-year endorsement deal with Italian coffee maker Lavazza. Though the brand will have no branding on the Dane’s clothing or racquet bags, the deal will see her have coffee in New York with the winners of a contest connected to the US Open. The deal is Lavazza’s first with an individual athlete in addition to already established sponsorship arrangements as the official coffee provider at the US Open, Wimbledon, and Roland Garros.
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Pliskovas Partner with Virgin Active Top 20 player Karolina Pliskova and her twin sister Kristyna have partnered with Virgin Active as their newest ambassadors to help promote the sport of tennis to junior tennis players training at Virgin Active Health Clubs across the world. Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson opened the first Virgin Active club in 1999. It has since grown to over 1.4 million members and 262 clubs spanning four continents and nine countries.
FLASHBACK
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Rafa Serves Up Kia Extension
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THE SHOWMAN Ever since his Wimbledon breakthrough last year, 20-year-old NICK KYRGIOS has been one of the most recognizable faces of tennis’ next generation. In a recent Vogue interview, the Aussie admitted he would rather watch basketball than tennis, praised Drake’s new mix tape, and admitted he cuts his hair every four days. He also noted that the square pave diamond earring he picked up in London is his favorite “because it’s the biggest.” Quickly becoming the new showman on the ATP World Tour, Kyrgios loves to give fans the full treatment on court. "Some players out there don’t really interact with the crowd, they’re really serious, but I think it’s part of my personality as well. I go out there and I like to entertain, especially if there is a big crowd. I don’t want them to have to watch ordinary tennis.”
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1 “When I was injured, I never thought I would be playing at 28. I have had a lot of incredible experiences [as a player] and I hope I will have many more. But, believe me, I will be very happy when I finish. There will be no regrets. I want to have family time. I want to have kids.” – Maria Sharapova
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US Open: Steel Set for Ashe Stadium Roof Since last year's US Open ended, more than 5,000 tons of steel, 1,700 structural beams and 115,000 3-pound bolts have been installed in preparation for a retractable roof over Arthur Ashe stadium. Though the steel superstructure is now firmly in place, the $150 million privately-funded project is not expected to be complete and in use until next year’s US Open. It will take 5-7 minutes to open and close, and a fabric canopy covering will be used to ensure uneven shadows do not affect players. The opening of the roof is said to be large enough to lower Wimbledon’s center court and its retractable roof through it.
2 WTA Solidifies 2016 Calendar The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) recently revealed their 2016 playing calendar, which will include 56 WTA events in addition to the Olympic Games Tennis Event in Rio de Janeiro, and four Grand Slams. The calendar will feature a record nine tournaments across mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, compared to just two events in 2012. A new International-level event in Louisville, Kentucky will also debut the week before the US Open, bringing the total events in the States to nine.
FLORIAN HEER
Murray, The Feminist As one of the world’s first elite sportsmen to employ a female coach in Amelie Mauresmo last summer, Andy Murray has inspired praise, judgment and debate in equal measure for the appointment. “I knew it hadn’t happened before, but I wasn’t thinking of it being a groundbreaking move or having an influence that could cross over into other sports,” Murray began. “Then, after seeing the response to it, and some of the things that have
been said, I can see it is. I’ve actually become very passionate about getting more women in sports, giving women more opportunities. When I was younger, I wasn’t thinking about stuff like that. But now I’ve seen it with my own eyes, it’s quite amazing how few female coaches there are across any sports.” Asked whether he considers himself a feminist, he answered, “If someone who believes everyone should have equal rights is a feminist, then yes, I am a feminist."
OCTOBER 12, 1998 Lindsay Davenport dethrones Martina Hingis as world number 1 – the first time in her career.
I Despite being American tennis’ new “it” girl thanks to her semifinal run at the Australian Open, Madison Keys hasn’t let the pressure get to her. Speaking to The Wall Street Journal’s Tom Perrotta, she admitted to buying a second phone for tournaments so she could avoid the negative comments on social media that distracted her in the past. The 20-year-old also noted a special wish in the interview: to get a tattoo like her coach Lindsay Davenport, who has two of them. But Keys’ mother Christine takes a firm approach: “My mom is always like, ‘When you have four kids and you’ve won Grand Slams and you’re retired and you want one, you can. But right now, you don’t get to have one,’” Keys joked.
{ Bundle of Joy }
Two-time Slam champion Li Na and her husband Dennis welcomed their first child, a girl named Alisa. She was born June 3rd at 2:25AM local time in China, weighing in at just under seven pounds. "Dennis and I introduce our Alisa. We are very happy and love her," Li wrote on social media before sharing a picture of the new trio. The baby girl shares a birthday with Spaniard Rafael Nadal, but a tennis career is far from certain, saying that she would encourage her daughter to take up sports, although not necessarily tennis alone. Li’s life story will also be made into a film to be released in 2016, and will be based on Li’s autobiography “Li Na: My Life.” 16 U.S. OPEN 2015 | TENNISVIEWMAG.COM
FLASHBACK
CHAZ NIELL
NO TATTOO FOR KEYS … YET
Taking in History at the Revamped Tennis Hall of Fame
e After three years of planning and a $3 million renovation, the Museum at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI officially re-opened its doors this past summer. With over 1900 artifacts of tennis history from the past 100 years displayed throughout the redesigned exhibit galleries, the museum delivers an entirely new, engaging visitor experience with decorative displays and iconic memorabilia highlighting moments that transcended the sport. A highlight of the new museum is a holographic theater in which visitors feel as though they are in the room with champion Roger Federer.
The revamped museum celebrates the history of the game through the stories of the 243 Hall of Famers, who come from 21 countries around the world. Exhibits include Serena Williams’ form-fitting Lycra “catsuit,” Stan Smith’s 1974 Supreme tennis shoes, Rene Lacoste’s famous crocodile blazer and much tennis fashion evolution through the years. It’s as much for the diehard fans as the casual ones. Set at the Newport Casino, the nation's first country club, it was built in 1880 and became the host of the US Nationals - now the US Open - a year after opening. In 1914, the tournament
moved to New York City, but the trophies remain in Newport. After touring the museum, visitors can explore the 7-acres that make up the historic grounds of the Newport Casino, from the newly built indoor courts to the manicured grass courts of the Bill Talbert Stadium.
Billie Jean King Honored During the 2015 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Billie Jean King was honored with a special presentation of her official Hall of Fame ring. King, a 39-time major tournament champion and one of the sport's most impactful leaders on and off the court, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1987. This year’s Hall of Fame inductees included former world No.1 player Amelie Mauresmo, 6-time Paralympic champion David Hall and industry leader Nancy Jeffett. Billie Jean King, Pam Shriver, Gigi Fernandez, and Stan Smith, along with 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli and ESPN's Patrick McEnroe were among the tennis stars who participated in the induction festivities.
“At the beginning I was really impatient. I expected this year to be like last year and even better. But as it’s gone on, I’ve realized, maybe it is a slump. First, everyone told me it’s going to happen and then everyone’s telling me it’s happening right now, so maybe it actually is. I realized I should just accept it. The results are still not there but I know that, if I do the proper things, the results will come eventually, whether it’s this week or next week, at the US Open Series or even next year.” – Genie Bouchard
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JUNIOR + COLLEGE NOTES
BOOSTING YOUR CHANCE IN COLLEGE BY NICK NEMEROFF
ER DAVID WILCZYNSKI, ENTERING A TENNIS PROGRAM THAT HAS BEEN HOME TO PLAYERS SUCH AS MIKE AND BOB BRYAN, JOHN MCENROE, AND HIS CURRENT COACH PAUL GOLDSTEIN, WAS EVERYTHING HE HAD HOPED FOR AS A JUNIOR TENNIS PLAYER. A school like Stanford “was always this dream for me” Wilczynski recently told Tennis View Magazine, praising the prestigious institution for its “great mix of academics and tennis.” Wilczynski, who became the first player in Stanford’s history to play a dual match at all six singles spots, had an extremely impressive freshman season, compiling a 22-14 record and clinching their first round match in the NCAA tournament against the University of Tennessee this past spring. Although Wilczynski has three more years of college tennis ahead of him, he is using the summer months to apply his first-year experiences by playing half a dozen Futures and Challenger events, the professional tour’s lower-level tournaments. The decision between turning pro or staying in college has created a never-ending conversation in tennis circles. As far as Wilczynski is concerned, college tennis has been the perfect place for him to prepare for a career on tour. “The fact that I have 11 other guys at my skill level that I can play with day in and day out, and a coach that’s been a professional and knows what it’s like -it’s the best preparation I can get,” Wilczynski admits. He also reiterates that playing against tough competitors has shown him “what the next level is going to be like.” Current Stanford men’s tennis coach Paul Goldstein, an accomplished former top 60
player, believes college tennis is perfect for someone like Wilczynski. “David has a lot of physical maturation to go through and it is important in college to hone your game and get stronger physically,” Goldstein states. “The game at the professional level is more physical than ever.”
COURTESY OF STANFORD MEN'S TENNIS (3)
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Stanford Team
David Wilczynski
Top 10 player John Isner is one of the best well-known players who used college tennis to develop physically. A tall and lanky adolescent, he entered the University of Georgia generally unheralded. But within four years, he transformed physically and became a contender on the ATP World Tour during his first summer as a pro. It’s important to note that Isner’s successful navigation from the top of the college game
to the top levels of the ATP Tour is the exception rather than the rule. Former college players such as Somdev Devvarman and Bobby Reynolds both had notable college careers. But their results didn’t translate to the Tour as neither stayed long among the top 100. The women’s side has been even more barren. University of Florida alumni Lisa Raymond, 41, plays exclusively doubles and is the most recent success story on the WTA Tour.
Outside of the sport, Wilczynski also values the education at Stanford and was one of the incentives for attending the school. Know that making it as a professional tennis player is not guaranteed, he believes there is significant value gained by attending all four years. “If you don’t make it and have a college degree, at least your life is a bit more organized.”
John Isner
Stanford Coach Paul Goldstein
“With a lot of top players, their peaks now come when they are in their later 20’s. in college, you are still maturing and play against players that can raise your level.” 18 U.S. OPEN 2015 | TENNISVIEWMAG.COM
- david Wilczynski
LIVING THE HIGH LIFE WORLD’S HIGHEST PAID
Tennis’ most popular stars are also among the world’s wealthiest sport personalities. See which 7 players made Forbes’ yearly list. Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather Jr. topped the list with total earnings of $300 million.
TENNIS STARS
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Roger Federer
Winnings: $9M Endorsements: $58M Total Earnings: $67M Agent: Tony Godsick Agency: TEAM8
n Up two spots from last year, Roger Federer is no stranger to making Forbes’ annual list. The 34-year-old father of four rebounded last year on the court and finished the year ranked second, and continues to be among the world’s best players 17 year after turning pro. He holds the record for most singles Slam titles and career prize money with just over $90 million, and was in an awe-inspiring 18 of 19 Slam finals between 2005 and 2010. His endorsement portfolio includes Nike, Rolex, and Credit Suisse, and he recently extended his lucrative Mercedes-Benz deal for another three years. His latest addition is a five-year agreement with Sunrise, the largest private telecommunications provider in Switzerland. Collectively, Federer earns more than $40 million annually from his sponsors.
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Novak Djokovic
Winnings: $17.2M Endorsements: $31M Total Earnings: $48.2M Agent: Edoardo Artaldi Agency: IMG
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Rafael Nadal
Winnings: $4.5M Endorsements: $28M Total Earnings: $32.5M Agent: Carlos Costa n Dropping
from No. 9 to No. 22, Rafael nadal still easily makes the list despite his recent drop in form on the court. Struggling with injuries after a colossally successful 2013 which saw him win 10 titles (including two Slams), the Spaniard dropped from $10 million to $4.5 million in prize money in the latest 12 months. More recently, the 29-year-old lost in the French Open semifinal after winning 66 of his previous 67 matches and nine titles at Roland Garros. Despite this, his name is still highly marketable and he picked up two new corporate partners in Tommy Hilfiger and Spanish communications giant Telefonica. Nadal’s $73 million in career prize money ranks third all-time behind Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
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n Up four spots from No. 17 last year, novak djokovic has been on an otherworldly level of play on the tennis court since his Grand Slam hat trick in 2011. Since then, the 28year-old has pocketed a cool $59 million in prize money and appeared in the finals of 13 of the last 18 Slams. In recent years, his endorsement portfolio has begun to expand thanks to his success and he recently picked up deals with ANZ, Peugeot, Seiko and Jacob’s Creek winery – the latter for a series of documentaries about the Serb’s life. Djokovic is also one of the few players on tour who commands $1 million fees per exhibition. After winning the Italian Open in May 2014, he donated the $750,000 winner’s check to relief efforts for flooding in his native Serbia.
n Up eight spots from last year, Maria sharapova still commands the highest pay of any female athlete in the world. Injured and playing only one match in the second half of 2013, the Russian rebounded in 2014 to win her second French Open title and fifth Slam overall. The title kicked in valuable bonuses from corporate sponsors Nike and Head, and her $6.7 million in prize money is almost triple what it was in the previous 12 months. Other endorsements include Samsung, Tag Heuer, Evian, Porsche and new partner Avon products. Her own Sugarpova candy line saw sales double in the past year to more than three million bags of candy.
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Maria Sharapova
Winnings: $6.7M Endorsements: $23M Total Earnings: $29.7M Agent: Max Eisenbud Agency: IMG
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Serena Williams
Winnings: $11.6M Endorsements: $13M Total Earnings: $24.6M Agent: Jill Smoller Agency: WWE
n Up eight spots from last year, serena Williams is as dominant as ever at 34, an age when most tennis players are already retired by. The American’s $72 million in career prize money is double that of Maria Sharapova’s, and while the Russian has the upper hand on Williams in endorsements, Williams has earned nearly twice as much on the court as her competitor. Williams added sponsor deals with Chase and watchmaker Audemars Piguet, and owns a small stake in the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. She also expanded her Gatorade relationship to include the sports drink’s parent PepsiCo, which is using Williams in the marketing and relaunch of the Pepsi challenge. C ON TIN UED
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Andy Murray
Winnings: $6.3M Endorsements: $16M Total Earnings: $22.3M Agent: Matt Gentry Agency: 77
92
# Kei Nishikori
Winnings: $4.5M Endorsements: $15M Total Earnings: $19.5M Agent: Olivier van Lindonk Agency: IMG n Also new to the list, Kei nishikori is quickly continuing the path Li Na opened for the Asian tennis market. The 25-year-old entered the top five for the first time in November, reached a career-high ranking of No. 4 three months later, and is the only Japanese tennis player to ever be ranked among the top 10. His endorsement portfolio has 14 sponsors total and is loaded with clothing maker Uniqlo, Wilson, Nissin, Adidas, Delta Airlines, Jaguar and Tag Heuer.
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CHAZ NIELL
n New to the list this year, andy Murray now also ranks fifth in career prize money with $38 million. He made history in 2013 by winning Wimbledon, and cashed in this past January when he left Adidas for a fouryear deal with Under Armour. The endorsement will garner the Scot $6 million per year if he stays ranked among the top 4 players in the world. His other deals include Standard Life, Head and Rado.
FAST FACTS Residence: Monte
CHAZ NIELL
Carlo, Monaco Date of Birth: 31 July 1989 Birthplace: Minsk, Belarus Height: 6' (1.83 m) Plays: Right-handed (two-handed backhand) Status: Pro (2003) Coach: Wim Fissette Singles Titles: 17 Slams: 2 Career Prize Money: $24,737,209
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Rising like a
Phoenix AS SHE CONTINUES IN HER ATTEMPTS TO RALLY BACK TO THE TOP OF THE SPORT, VICTORIA AZARENKA TALKS TO TENNIS VIEW MAGAZINE ABOUT COMEBACKS, GROWING UP AND GOING BACK HOME TO BELARUS BY TUMAINI CARAYOL
fter an injury-filled 2013, followed by five months of full leave, Victoria Azarenka returned to the soap opera of tennis as a new character. Where her combative personality and sound effects had previously left the audience cold to Azarenka, her more recent struggles and trials have transformed her into a sympathetic figure. Crowds cheer instead of imitating her grunts, and there is a genuine interest to see the former world No. 1 prosper and return to her previous heights.
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Rising like a
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take a look at that as a positive thing. When I wasn't able to perform on the court, there was a lot of things that I got to learn off the court, but it definitely makes you feel good when you're able to play again
As world No. 1, Victoria Azarenka won bronze in women’s singles and gold in mixed doubles for her home country of Belarus at the 2012 London Olympics.
because I love tennis. It's my first love. It really gave me a little bit of outlook [to] step back to see how much I enjoyed that.” Throughout her career, Azarenka has been on the receiving end of constant criticism. One of the many
question marks was her perceived snubbing of the press. After matches, she was abrupt and short, her eyes spent much of their time rolling to the back of her head in response to even the most uncontroversial of questions. It was
CHAZ NIELL
But goodwill can only contribute so much. In the year since her return in June 2014, Azarenka has yet to re-enter the top 20. Her health continues to threaten her hopes and hard work; injury forced her to cut short the final stretch of 2014, and niggles are still present this year. All the while, many draws have been unkind, with the 26year-old finding top players early in most events so far this year. When she has transcended the difficulty of these meetings, she has failed to properly put her opponents away and claim their scalps. During the spring clay season Azarenka had two such chances to defeat Serena Williams. In Madrid, she rallied to an impressive 7-6, 3-6, 6-5, 40-0 lead over the world No. 1, only to instantly combust two points later – double-faulting three times in a row from match point and eventually losing the tiebreak. A couple of weeks later at Roland Garros she once again had Williams on the ropes, leading 6-3 4-2 and looking like the formidable Azarenka of old. Less than an hour later, Williams completed her comeback by gliding through the final set. Azarenka appears to be at one of the lower points in her career, where everything that could have possibly gone wrong for her oncourt has gone wrong. Yet, sitting before Azarenka late at night in a dim and vacant player lounge, the young Belarusian’s woes are impossible to detect from her words and attitude alone. “I think the career of a tennis player always has some ups and downs and it's very difficult to play over 15 to 20 years without any setbacks,” she suggested thoughtfully. “So I just
apparently an issue that even she and her team recognized as she sought out a journalist to instruct her on how to carry herself before the media. The results then were unconvincing, yet after some time away and a natural phase of maturity, there is a palpable difference. It's easy to forget the unique lives tennis players lead. For the top players, it is a privileged existence, but even then it can be an intense, suffocating life. Many players grow into adults with only stringent schedules, controlled diets, hefty training hours and countless sacrifices to draw upon as life experience. It's no surprise then that such a break – despite all the negatives it has caused – has allowed Azarenka to grow personally, a sentiment she
VICTORIA AZARENKA
suggests is a product of the adversity she has faced as well as her injury break. “When you're just coming up, there's no pressure,” she sighed. “There's nothing, really, that much to think about. You're just going up, and everything is so great. But once you have that bump in the road, you really need to take some responsibilities, grow up and go out of your comfort zone a little bit.” The injury layoff did indeed force Azarenka out of her comfort zone, leading her to truthfully evaluate her future in the game and whether she was prepared for the long haul. The response was resounding. “[During a setback] you really re-assess yourself and [how] you make your goals. It's tough to make a recovery. Is that really what I want to do or, when you step back, are you happy with what you achieved? I could easily pack my racquets and be good with my life. But I love playing tennis and there's so much more ambition for me to fulfill.” The crowded life of a tennis player has also left Azarenka with few opportunities to return home. It was in 2011 that the 25 year old somewhat famously claimed that a return to Belarus and some stern talk from her beloved grandmother laid the gravel on her road to greatness. But Azarenka's
“I think the career of a tennis player always has some ups and downs and it's very difficult to play over 15 to 20 years without any setbacks.”
struggles seemingly helped her decide to take a trip to her motherland earlier this year, a visit memorable for her shock of discovering sleek indoor clay court facilities she had never known existed. “I'm just so proud of how much more comfortable it gets, as a tennis player to come [to Belarus],” she beamed. “We have more facilities, and I see tennis growing there. So, for me, this is one of the amazing things; coming back from when I started, when there was nothing. And now you come back and there are academies, you have indoor facilities, you have clay facilities. It's really good to see the progress.” This was just a tiny hint at the impact Azarenka's success has had back home, and a rare one. While players like Novak Djokovic or even Caroline Wozniacki are almost seen as public representatives of their countries, it's interesting how little Azarenka – who won two of Belarus' 12 medals in London 2012 – is spoken about in relation to her homeland despite being one of the few major sporting personalities independent Belarus has ever had. Partly, it's perhaps due to the American twang in her accent after moving to the US and spending much of her time there since. But, even moreso, Azarenka is proud of her universal traits. “I think I'm very international,” she smiled. “But I'll never forget where I came from - I love my country and I love coming back. If there is a side of me that is Belarusian? I don't know. I think we are honest and straightforward personalities and I'm probably one of them.” There is, however, nothing straightforward about the road that lies ahead for the former world No. 1. Not everyone rises from a fall. Some see their level fall away forever, while others lose the mental edge they once possessed. But Victoria Azarenka appears as positive and invested as ever, and she will surely rise again.
“VIKA AND I ARE REALLY CLOSE … WE TALKED ABOUT [OUR FRIENDSHIP] A LONG TIME AGO. WE SAID, WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE EVERYTHING ON THE COURT, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE 500% AND WHEN WE'RE OFF THE COURT, WE'LL BE REALLY COOL. I LOVE THAT RELATIONSHIP, BECAUSE SHE'S A REALLY FUN GIRL. IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT WITH SOMEONE IN THIS SPORT … IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE A GRAND SLAM CHAMPION LIKE HER PLAYING SO WELL. I'M ALWAYS ROOTING FOR VICTORIA WHEN SHE PLAYS.” – SERENA WILLIAMS
TENNISVIEWMAG.COM | U.S. OPEN 2015 29
BY DAVID COX
Shaping Serena
and
Venus
How Richard Williams approached parenting his daughters to achieve confidence and greatness
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Richard Williams
ON HOW SERENA AND VENUS BECAME SO MENTALLY TOUGH:
"Exactly the same way as they became human tough. Running for their lives. When you live in the ghetto, you learn to be able to run for your life."
ichard Williams may be the world’s most famous tennis Dad, but the father of Venus and Serena is quick to dispel any illusions that his decision to immerse his daughters in the sport from a young age had anything to do with a deeprooted love for the game. “I remember watching this match on television and the commentators said that this girl had won $40,000 for her week so far,” Williams chuckles. “I couldn’t believe it. I said, ‘Is this a joke? I’ve worked my whole life and someone’s earning $40,000 in four days.” The girl in question was Romania’s Virginia Ruzici, the 1978 French Open champion. Had she not caught Williams’ eye that day, it’s unlikely that Venus and Serena would ever have laid hands on a tennis racquet at all, never mind go on to claim 28 Grand Slam singles titles between them. Williams’ driving goal was not so much to see his daughters go down in the hall of tennis legends, but for them to become millionaires. Financial wealth was a means of escaping the Californian ghetto they grew up in, and perhaps a statement that Williams himself had overcome the racially driven abuse which had punctuated much of his life since his early childhood. The latter was why he insisted his daughters take their education seriously, even as their
R
ON RACISM IN AMERICA:
I’m happy that I’ve been able to hopefully overcome the racism to myself and my family and to show other blacks that they can overcome it too. - RICHARD WILLIAMS
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LESLIE BILLMAN
Shaping Serena and Venus
Williams has
famously had no
formal tennis
education himself, the only training
he ever received
came from a man
named Old Whiskey,
who he paid in
alcohol in
exchange for les-
sons after hearing
of Ruzici’s
earnings.
careers began to blossom, determined they would have the opportunity to gain the qualifications he never had. “Many people told me they didn’t need education, they’d just play pro tennis and travelling was an education,” he laughs. “I challenged them to show me someone who was being paid half a million dollars a year just to travel. There ain’t no jobs like that. And so my daughters are professional students, they’ve been so since 4 years old. I made sure their education was twice as good as their tennis ability and they ain’t bad at tennis.”
One of the common perceptions is that Williams specifically selected tennis as the sport where his daughters would make their mark as it had been predominantly a game played by white people. He begs to differ. “I think the reason why people have this view of me and my family is because we have always been very, Oracene very outspoken,” he says. Price “But I actually thought Venus was better at track growing up. By 12, she’d never lost a track meet. I wanted her to quit tennis and concentrate on that. But she just loved playing. Both Venus and Serena did. It wasn’t a case of me forcing the racket on them as having to pull it out of their hands.” While Williams himself saw tennis largely as a means for his daughters to achieve a better life, he still managed to instil an enjoyment of the game in them, something which is often forgotten. Steffi Graf may well have won more than 22 Grand Slams had she not retired at 30. But Graf never had the same love for tennis which drives Serena to continue training and winning Grand Slams at the age of 33, while Venus competes at 35 despite battling an incurable autoimmune disorder. Serena is now just a handful of slams away from Margaret Court’s record of 24, a haul which once looked insurmountable, especially in the modern era. “I never thought she would achieve as much as she has,” Williams muses. “But I always expected both her and Venus to become the No.1 players
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COMPARING AMERICA IN THE 1960S TO THE 2000S:
America has been the same for black people since
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they’ve been on this Earth. The only difference between when I was 20 compared to when Serena was 20 is that our
people were prepared to say ‘No, this isn't right’ and protested against it far more. - RICHARD WILLIAMS
t
Shaping Serena and Venus
ON PARENTING:
Williams says the
worst thing he
often sees in
tennis parents is
that they take
responsibility
away from their
children, and when
it comes to cru-
cial times both in
The greatest thing a parent can do with their kid, is teach their kid to believe in themselves more than anything else on earth apart from God. And listen to them and learn from them. The worst thing that a parent can do is to take the responsibility away from the child because if you do that they will never make great decisions.
tennis and life,
they make bad
decisions and take
the wrong path.
‘You need to allow
them to be responsible,’ he says.
34 U.S. OPEN 2015 | TENNISVIEWMAG.COM
in the world, as I predicted before they were born. And they’ve both done exactly that.” Williams’ conviction in his daughters was once the source of amusement and ridicule in the tennis world. Now people question how he could know. Even Serena recently asked him how he came to believe in himself and them so much. Williams says he reminded her of the life lessons his mother would preach to her five children while living in a three-bedroom shack in Shreveport, Louisiana’s third largest city. “There’s a saying she would always repeat to us,” he says. “‘A man, through a man thinketh, so is he.’ It means that whatever you think you are, that is exactly what you are. She taught us that if you work harder than anyone else, believe harder than anyone else, you can make more than any human being in the world. And so Venus and Serena were taught to believe they would be the best, and they yet believe it to this day.” It is perhaps this deep sense of belief which gives Serena her legendary mental toughness, something she also attributes to being the youngest of five children, but Williams himself actually sees Venus’ exploits these days as the most shining example of his philosophy. “It’s amazing with the small amount of tournaments that she plays that her ranking is top 20 in the world.”
Williams has famously had no formal tennis education himself, the only training he ever received came from a man named Old Whiskey, who he paid in alcohol in exchange for lessons after hearing of Ruzici’s earnings. But he says he always realized tennis was at heart a mental game and he instilled toughness in his daughters by encouraging responsibility from a young age. He relates a story from Venus’ first ever tournament. As they were preparing to leave he asked her if she’d remembered her tennis dress. “It was all, ’Oh yeah Daddy,’ ‘Let’s go Daddy,’” he smiles. “And I asked her again, ‘Are you sure?’ I knew it was still hanging in her room but I said nothing. And she was warming up, 45 minutes before the match. She comes to the net. ‘I forgot my dress!’ she tells me. ‘I know’, I say and she gets really angry, ‘You seen my dress and you just say nothing!’ But I told her, ‘That dress was not my responsibility.’ And let me tell you, she learned from that and to this day, she'll always make a note of everything she needs and she checks it off.” Williams says the worst thing he often sees in tennis parents is that they take responsibility away from their children, and when it comes to crucial times both in tennis and life, they make bad decisions and take the wrong path. ‘You need to allow them to be responsible,’ he says. Now 73, Williams is already planning the life lessons he has in store for the latest addition to his family. Three years ago, he had a son Dylan with his third wife Lakeisha Graham, 38 years his junior. But it appears there is little chance Dylan Williams will provide America with its next great men’s singles champion. Williams is determined he will make billions as an entrepreneur selling gold to the Chinese. He aims for Dylan to be fluent in English, Spanish and Mandarin. “With what I know now, Venus and Serena would never have played tennis,” he says. “You can’t make billions that way. Once he’s had a few big sales, he can hit as many tennis balls as he likes.”
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TENNISVIEWMAG.COM | U.S. OPEN 2015 39
[A New Dawn in American Tennis]
Viewers of the
leading hard-court tournaments this summer could be forgiven for switching on their TV sets and feeling that there’s just a mere trickle of talent on display with only six players in the top 100 and just John Isner in the top 30. But at long last, there’s a slow tsunami of potential gradually rising through the junior ranks. Many tennis fans feel it’s about time. Despite the $200 million spent every year by the USTA, American prospects in the men’s game have dipped alarmingly since Andy Roddick’s 2003 US Open triumph. 2013 was a particularly humiliating year with no Americans in the third round of Wimbledon for the first time since 1912 and none in the last sixteen of the US Open for the first time in the tournament’s history. So low are expectations now for America’s
men that Jack Sock’s fourth round showing at this year’s French Open was greeted with something akin to jubilation. Two decades ago it would have barely registered. But while Sock was enjoying the plaudits, something perhaps more revolutionary was taking place in the boy’s event where the semifinal berths were filled by no less than three Americans. “I think things are about to start changing in the pros,” says 18 year old Tommy Paul who turned professional in June after winning the French Open junior singles title and making the doubles final with fellow American William Blumberg. “I have no clue of the reasons for why there’s now so many leading American juniors. We just have a whole bunch of guys that work really hard, have a lot of talent and really, really want to be professional tennis players.”
A lanky 6’1, Paul’s uncanny ability to neutralize the big hitters and turn defence into attack brings to mind a young Andy Murray. Very different from the stereotypical, big-serve, big-forehand American player, Paul has grown up on clay, listing it as his best surface. And impressively for a teenager, it’s his point construction and mental toughness which stand out. He picked up two singles titles in the professional ranks back in May against opponents sometimes more than a decade older. “The Americans have this reputation of being bad on clay but that’s disappearing fast,” Paul says. “I come from Greenville, North Carolina and there were only clay courts there so I’ve liked it my whole life. I’ve built my game around this surface and when I come to Europe and play the circuit I feel comfortable. It’s what I’m used to.”
ONES TO WATCH Frances Tiafoe, 17, 6’1” Born: College Park, Maryland ATP No. 187 Youngest American to compete in French Open [2015] main draw since Michael Chang Tommy Paul, 18, 6’1” Born: Voorhees, New Jersey ATP No. 337 2015 French Open boys champion Stefan Kozlov, 17, 6’0” Born: Skopje, Republic of Macedonia ATP No. 433 2014 Australian Open and Wimbledon boy's runnerup Taylor Fritz, 17, 6’4” Born: San Diego, Calif. ATP No. 546 Beat world No. 67 Pablo Carreno Busta at 2015 Nottingham Noah Rubin, 19, 5’9” Born: Rockville Centre, New York ATP No. 638 2014 Wimbledon boy's champion Michael Mmoh, 17, 6’1” Born: Saudi Arabia ATP No. 840 2015 French Open boy's semi-finalist
Andy Roddick 2003 U.S. Open Champ
Tommy Paul
“Very different from the stereotypical, big-serve, big-forehand American player, Paul has grown up on clay, listing it as his best surface.” 40 U.S. OPEN 2015 | TENNISVIEWMAG.COM
Reilly Opelka, 17, 6’10” Born: St. Joseph, MI ATP No. 1071 2015 Wimbledon boy’s singles champion William Blumberg, 17, 6’1” Born: New York 2012 B14s Easter Bowl singles and doubles champ
Noah Rubin and Stefan Kozlov Wimbledon Boys Final 2014
Paul’s ATP ranking has increased by over 1000 places in the past year to take him into the top 500 but there’s still a long way to go. Seasoned American
“...world junior No. 1 Taylor Fritz, a 6’4” 17 year old from San Diego with a monstrous serve and an action modelled on Pete Sampras.”
tennis fans have grown cynical to the hyperbole and lofty comparisons which inevitably surround a new prospect, having seen numerous false dawns in the past decade. But the difference this time is that Paul is far from alone.
In the Paris final, Paul came up against close friend and world junior No. 1 Taylor Fritz, a 6’4” 17 year old from San Diego with a monstrous serve and an action modelled on Pete Sampras. Like the young Sampras, Fritz is quieter and more introverted in interviews than some of his contemporaries, toying with his phone and answering most questions with various grunts of ‘Uh huh.’ As well as his exploits at Roland Garros, Fritz already boasts a top 100 win to his name, stunning world No. 67 Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-4 on the grass of Nottingham before falling to Feliciano
Lopez in round two. “It was really exciting to get a taste of what being a pro’s like,” says Fritz, expanding more on the experience. “I don’t know if the ATP pros necessarily hit that much harder than top juniors, maybe a little bit, but there’s just no weaknesses in any of their games and their strengths are just at another level. Lopez’s serve was way too good. I just couldn’t return it, and even if I got it back, I couldn’t do so well enough to stay in the point.” Fritz feels that achieving success in the pro ranks is largely about making sure your game has as few holes in it as possible, noting the remorseless ability of the game’s elite to pull apart any perceived weaknesses. He knows he needs to improve his own transition game to complement the imposing weapons he already possesses off the serve and forehand, but time is on his side. Fritz’s rise has been more remarkable than any other American teen as he’s only started to take the game seriously in the past two years, having previously dabbled across four other sports. “I was always pretty good for a Southern California junior and not bad for a national player but I didn’t focus too much on tennis, I was kind of just doing it,” he says. “And then in my freshman year of high school I got a letter from the C ONT INUED
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[A New Dawn in American Tennis]
Frances Tiafoe at French Open
“Fritz says he’s worked ferociously hard ever since he realized what it would take to give himself a chance.”
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USTA inviting me to a camp in Florida for the 16 best players in the country. I barely made the cut and when I got there I was the worst player without any doubt. I kinda just realised, ‘Wow, these guys are all my age and they’re so much better.’ I’d always said I wanted to be a pro but that made me realise I was way off. It felt like I shouldn’t even be on the same court as them.” Of those sixteen players, two have been already making such waves in the professional ranks that they have long since quit the juniors. 17 year old Stefan Kozlov grew up in Macedonia with a tennis-mad father who named his children after Grand Slam champions (Kozlov was named after Stefan Edberg). After immigrating to Florida, Kozlov Senior set up an academy where he drilled his son ruthlessly day in, day out. “My dad’s a hard guy,” Kozlov smiles. “He used to be very tough on me, long workouts and not letting me leave the court until I’d really myself right to the limit. But I appreciate it now.” It paid off. By 15 Kozlov was already the best junior in the world and a series of encouraging performances from Mexico to Delray Beach have seen him crack the world’s top 400 over the past few months.
The hard working immigrant mentality is something of a theme in America’s new generation of potential stars. Michael Mmoh, who reached the semi-finals alongside Paul and Fritz at Roland Garros, grew up in Saudi Arabia before his family moved to the US, frustrated with the lack of training opportunities to support their son’s talent. But it doesn’t always require ferociously driven parents to enable a young talent to blossom. 17 year old Frances Tiafoe is currently the highest ranked American teenager, making his Grand Slam debut as a main draw wildcard at the French Open in May. Tiafoe’s father escaped from war-torn Sierra Leone in the late 1990s before gaining a job as a handyman and court sweeper at a small academy near the University of Maryland. At the age of 6, Tiafoe and his twin brother decided to pick up a racquet to alleviate the boredom. It soon turned into an obsession. “I played for hours,” he says. “Hitting serves, hitting against a wall. I couldn’t get enough of it.” Tiafoe’s inherent athleticism was spotted by a coach at the academy called Misha Kouznetsov who decided to make the youngster his personal project. Eleven years later, his protégée has signed
for Jay-Z’s agency Roc-Nation, even gaining an introduction to the rapper himself. With power, touch and an inspirational back story, he’s regarded as a player who could transcend the game in years to come. However, Tiafoe, Kozlov and Paul have all been astonished by the meteoric rise of Fritz since that training camp two summers ago. Blessed with good genetics [his mother Kathy May is a former world No. 10 who reached the US Open final in 1978 and his father, Guy, is a former touring pro who currently instructs], Fritz says he’s worked ferociously hard ever since he realized what it would take to give himself a chance. “I had to get physically stronger. I was extremely weak and slow. I also improved a lot of things like my backhand. Before I used to just try and hit winners off everything which came to that wing, there was no real reason behind any shot I hit. And after that camp I started playing a little smarter and with more purpose. I quit high school for online school, fixed up a lot of weaknesses in my game and it’s all come together.” Such is the strength in depth in this crop of juniors that 2014 Wimbledon boy’s champion Noah Rubin barely warrants of a mention. Rubin has elected to follow a slightly different path to his contemporaries, going for the college route which had served Isner so well. He feels that one of the major factors which makes this generation of players so exciting is not just their talent but their mental fortitude, the X factor which is so hard to teach. “All of us have shown we can handle the situation of being on the big stage,” Rubin says. “Being calm under pressure and when you walk on court for those matches is either something you have or you don’t have. There isn’t really a way to acquire it.”
COVER STORY
Beyond Serena: American Hopefuls Aim to Make a Mark in New York
P / 45
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CHAZ NIELL
COVER STORY
Queen of New York
The reins of American tennis have been firmly held by Serena Williams, the top-ranked woman and the favorite to win a fourth straight US Open this fall. Well into her 30s, Serena continues to surge from triumph to triumph at a rate as breathless as ever. With her serve and competitive willpower undimmed, the world No. 1 is competing more with history than with any of her contemporaries.
But Serena’s quest to equal and then break Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 major titles should not completely overshadow her compatriots. While no other American can be compared to her, a series of encouraging trends during the first half of 2015 suggests that she may not be the only player from the US worth watching in New York.
Madison Brengle
Varvara Lepchenko
Ranking: 44 Age: 25 Best result at majors: Fourth round (Australian Open 2015) Last year’s US Open result: Second round
Ranking: 45 Age: 29 Best result at majors: Fourth round (Roland Garros 2012) Last year’s US Open result: Third round
WTA Serena Williams
Venus Williams
Madison Keys
Ranking: 1 Age: 33 Best result at majors: Champion (21 times) Last year’s US Open result: Champion
Ranking: 15 Age: 35 Best result at majors: Champion (seven times) Last year’s US Open result: Third round
Ranking: 18 Age: 20 Best result at majors: Semifinal (Australian Open 2015) Last year’s US Open result: Second round
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Coco Vandeweghe
Ranking: 32 Age: 23 Best result at majors: Quarterfinal (Wimbledon 2015) Last year’s US Open result: Second round
CHAZ NIELL
BEYOND SERENA: AMERICAN HOPEFULS AIM TO MAKE A MARK IN NEW YORK
Keys to Success
At the age of 20, Madison Keys already has invited parallels to Serena with her overpowering serve and forehand combinations. Fans will most likely not be able to take the full measure of Keys for at least two or three more years as her game continues to develop. Still, she opened the eyes of many with a semifinal run at
the Australian Open, which included victories over former Grand Slam champions Petra Kvitova and Venus Williams. After ending Keys’ fairytale fortnight, Serena acknowledged that she will be a talent to watch moving forward. In a Tour where so many women struggle to hold serve, the young American’s advantage in that area could set her apart from other contemporary talents. The fast courts at the US Open should allow Keys to shorten rallies with her explosive first strikes, and a finals appearance at Charleston in the spring suggested that she might thrive on home soil. Already in the top 20, Keys might be within range of a top16 seed with a solid US Open Series. That would give her useful breathing room to play her way into a tournament where she has won just one main-draw match in her career. Injuries prevented her from building momentum in the second half of last season, when she won more than one match at only one tournament. With very few points to defend as a result, a second-week run at the US Open could launch Keys toward a top-10 ranking by the end of 2015. C ONT INUED
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Sloane Stephens
Alison Riske
Lauren Davis
Christina McHale
Irina Falconi
Shelby Rogers
Ranking: 34 Age: 22 Best result at majors: Semifinal (Australian Open 2013) Last year’s US Open result: Second round
Ranking: 58 Age: 25 Best result at majors: Fourth round (US Open 2013) Last year’s US Open result: First round
Ranking: 83 Age: 21 Best result at majors: Third round (twice) Last year’s US Open result: First round
Ranking: 60 Age: 23 Best result at majors: Third round (five times) Last year’s US Open result: Second round
Ranking: 75 Age: 25 Best result at majors: Third round (twice) Last year’s US Open result: Qualifying second round
Ranking: 118 Age: 22 Best result at majors: Second round (twice) Last year’s US Open result: Second round
TENNISVIEWMAG.COM | U.S. OPEN 2015 47
COVER STORY
Finding Her Footing
Cast into the shadow of her younger countrywoman Keys at the moment, Sloane Stephens has enjoyed greater success at the home major. A trip to the second week in 2013 punctuated a breakthrough season in which she reached that stage at every major. Two years older than Keys, Stephens has accumulated more experience at the highest level and more victories over notable opponents. She has defeated both Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova on hard courts, using a more balanced albeit less explosive game than Keys. A semifinal run of her own at the Australian Open showed that Stephens can rise to the occasion when the lights shine brightest, even though her lack of a finals appearances at any tournament has caused many to question the 22-year-old’s focus and motivation. After struggling through a sophomore slump for much of 2014, Stephens seemed to right the ship on American soil this spring. Promising performances at Indian
Wells and Miami included a victory in her first meeting with Keys, which marked an intriguing start to what could become a rivalry of increasing relevance. Stephens also took the first set from Serena on two different surfaces at Indian Wells and Roland Garros before allowing the veteran champion to regroup. Those are the sorts of losses from which a young player can learn as she builds maturity.
“Stephens can rise to the occasion when the lights shine brightest, even though her lack of a finals appearances at any tournament has caused many to question the 22-year-old’s focus and motivation.”
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BEYOND SERENA: AMERICAN HOPEFULS AIM TO MAKE A MARK IN NEW YORK
CHAZ NIELL
Opportunity Awaits Like Stephens, fellow 22year-old Jack Sock sits on the bubble of earning a seeded position at the US Open. But Sock’s game more closely resembles the playing style of Keys, buttressed by a serve that can strike all four corners of the box and a forehand that echoes the heaviness of Rafael Nadal’s legendary weapon. Sock can create a staggering number of revolutions per minute with that shot, which he often runs around his backhand to hit. This type of forehand may prove to be more lethal on surfaces with a higher bounce than the courts at the US Open, where he reached the third round two years ago. Sock claimed his first career title on the red clay of Houston this spring, and his ensuing second-
week appearance at Roland Garros marked his best result at a major. Few would have foreseen those achievements following the grim offseason that the American endured. He underwent hip surgery at the end of 2014 and was forced to miss the Australian Open. During his recovery process, Sock’s brother Eric battled a respiratory condition known as Lemierre’s syndrome that kept him on a ventilator for a week. The rising ATP talent noted in his return at Indian Wells that this experience had given him a broader perspective on tennis, and it showed in his results. Sock also could be a threat in the doubles draw, where he can be expected to partner with Vasek Pospisil in pursuit of another major title.
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ATP John Isner
Jack Sock
Sam Querrey
Steve Johnson
Donald Young
Tim Smyczek
Ranking: 19 Age: 30 Best result at majors: Quarterfinal (US Open 2011) Last year’s US Open result: Third round
Ranking: 35 Age: 22 Best result at majors: Fourth round (Roland Garros 2015) Last year’s US Open result: First round (retired)
Ranking: 30 Age: 27 Best result at majors: Fourth round (three times) Last year’s US Open result: Third round
Ranking: 48 Age: 25 Best result at majors: Third round (three times) Last year’s US Open result: First round (retired)
Ranking: 54 Age: 26 Best result at majors: Fourth round (US Open 2011) Last year’s US Open result: First round
Ranking: 75 Age: 27 Best result at majors: Third round (US Open 2013) Last year’s US Open result: Second round
TENNISVIEWMAG.COM | U.S. OPEN 2015 49
COVER STORY
Return to Relevance
While Sock still has most of his career ahead of him, the same might not be said of top-ranked American man John Isner. Shortly before he turned 30 in April, he was mired in one of his worst slumps since turning pro, which included losses to Gilles Muller, Marinko Matosevic, and James Ward. The last of those setbacks, which came in Davis Cup, seemed to galvanize Isner. His return to relevance came
“The impressive Miami performance also reminded us that Isner tends to gain inspiration from playing on American soil.�
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at the Masters 1000 tournament in Miami with three straight top-12 wins over Grigor Dimitrov, Milos Raonic, and Kei Nishikori. Isner did not lose his serve at that event until his semifinal loss to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, reminding observers how far that one titanic stroke can take him. It could prove even more dangerous on the faster surface in New York, where the former Georgia Bulldog reached his only major quarterfinal to date in 2011. The impressive Miami performance also reminded us that Isner tends to gain inspiration from playing on American soil. Seven of his nine career titles have come in the United States, as well as finals appearances at the elite events in Indian Wells and Cincinnati. The torrid summer heat may have less effect on someone who plays so many short points than on the physically grinding competitors of the ATP. Isner’s last three trips to the US Open since that 2011 quarterfinal result have been eerie replicas of one another, though. He has lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round each time. Isner may well be crossing his fingers during the draw ceremony in the hope that all things come only in threes.
BEYOND SERENA: AMERICAN HOPEFULS AIM TO MAKE A MARK IN NEW YORK
LLOYD CLAYTON
Flipping the Script
As Isner represents the SEC in the ATP, another former college star brings a Pac-12 background to the pros. USC alum Steve Johnson became known over the last few years for losing grueling heartbreakers in the first week of majors, where he tested higher-ranked opponents more sternly than they might have expected. At last year’s US Open, Johnson retired in the opening round due to cramping after leading by two sets to one. He will be eager to flip that script this year, which is primed to be his first on the ATP with a winning record. Johnson does not wield the mighty power of Isner or Sock, but the polished balance of his game leaves opponents with few holes to exploit. At age 25, he is just entering the prime of his career and is committed to making the most of his potential with the type of rigorous work ethic that won him an NCAA title. C O NT INUED
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“Johnson does not wield the mighty power of Isner or Sock, but the polished balance of his game leaves opponents with few holes to exploit.”
TENNISVIEWMAG.COM | U.S. OPEN 2015 51
The Rest of the Field
BEYOND SERENA: AMERICAN HOPEFULS AIM TO MAKE A MARK IN NEW YORK
The US Open usually ends by showcasing the most storied champions in the sport, but it often begins by giving fans a glimpse of what their nation’s tennis future might hold. This trend persisted in 2014 when dazzled in her US Open debut. A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, the 16-year-old Bellis stunned top-15 opponent Dominika Cibulkova, who had reached the final of the Australian Open earlier last year. This upset made her the youngest player to win a maindraw match at the US Open since 1996 and the youngest American since 1986. Still outside the top 100, Bellis has focused on Challenger events since that time and played sparingly due to her age. She likely can expect to receive a main-draw wildcard after last year’s exploits, however. Bellis has shown that she is ready to Catherine (Cici) Bellis
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make the most of any opportunities that she earns. Her only WTA appearance since last year’s US Open came in Miami, where she notched a top-50 win over the opponent who ended her Cinderella run in New York. Having played their first US Open before Bellis was born, the evergreen duo of Bob and Mike Bryan will be seeking their sixth title in New York this fall. The brothers have shattered virtually every doubles record imaginable but have not lost their appetite for competition. When most of the Americans fade from the singles events at majors, Bob and Mike regularly give fans a chance to cheer for the US late in the second week. A modest start to 2015 by their standards may send them to New York with a point to prove. While they may be better suited to somewhat slower surfaces at this stage in their careers, the twins relish performing before their compatriots. As shown when they helped Team USA capture the 2007 Davis Cup title, their national pride makes their bites out of the Big Apple taste even sweeter. In short, only Serena may be a serious threat to win a singles title for the US at its home major this year, but there should be plenty of other stories for American tennis fans to follow. Despite the impatience to find a new homegrown champion, the time may not have come to extend the border northward to annex Canada’s Milos Raonic and Eugenie Bouchard.
LLOYD CLAYTON
COVER STORY
“Function is obviously the priority. But if it’s cute or has cute cutouts, straps or colors, then I’m not opposed to that at all …”
BY ROMANA CVITKOVIC
FASHION FORWARD WITH
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GENIE BOUCHARD
STAYING YOUNG
Genie’s mantra for every day dressing is to “Stay young,” because she knows she won’t be able to wear miniskirts forever. Her usual ensembles consist of Rag & Bone jeans, slouchy Nike tees, and a camo-print onesie for travel.
NAMED AS THE NO. 1 MOST MARKETABLE ATHLETE FOR 2015 BY SPORTSPRO, 21-YEAR-OLD GENIE BOUCHARD HAS TAKEN THE FAST TRACK TO SUPER STARDOM. LIKE ANY OTHER FASHION FORWARD THINKER, THE CANADIAN ENJOYS HER TIME ON COURT AS MUCH AS DABBLING ON THE FASHION SIDE OF THE SPORT.
C ONT INUED
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TENNISVIEWMAG.COM | U.S. OPEN 2015 55
STYLE G ENIE B O U C HA R D
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ON-COURT: FASHION OR FUNCTION?
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ne of only three players on tour to wear the coveted Maria Sharapova designed Nike line, Genie believes that the court is a stage to express personal style. “Function is obviously the priority. But if it’s cute or has cute cutouts, straps or colors, then I’m not opposed to that at all … We are females, and we can play the sport and be tough on the court but have a girly side and care about fashion and all these things. I think it’s great that we can be more than just tennis players.”
STRIKE A POSE In addition to her lucrative tennis contract, Genie signed with IMG Models to expand her presence in the fashion industry. She has since posed in numerous spreads including Vogue, Hello! and Flare magazines.
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PAY DAY 56 U.S. OPEN 2015 | TENNISVIEWMAG.COM
Genie’s first fashion splurges? A Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag and nude Christian Louboutin heels. “I know those are predictable,” she said. “But for my first big purchases, I wanted beautiful pieces that I could re-wear.”
So Fresh “
I prefer male body wash to female body wash,” Genie has admitted. “I feel like it cleans better. Female [body wash] has way too much scent and it smells like flowers. I am a bit of a tomboy so I don’t want to smell like that. Even if I smell a little manly, it’s okay.
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Off-Court Energy
OFF THE COURT, GENIE LOVES TO PLAY BOARD GAMES WITH HER COMPETITIVE SIBLINGS, GOES TO THE MALL WITH FRIENDS AND ENJOYS BAKING. FOR HIGHENERGY BREAKFASTS, SHE EATS GREEK YOGURT WITH FRUIT, OATMEAL WITH ALMONDS AND AN EGG WHITE OMELETTE. Genie at Cushnie Et Ochs Fashion Show with twin sister Beatrice TENNISVIEWMAG.COM | U.S. OPEN 2015 57
GEAR STYLE FALL SHOPPING LIST
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Speed Star K III W AG
u After more than 65 years of actively playing tennis, the owner of Tennis Boutique combined his passion for jewelry with the love of the game and created affordable, specialty tennis jewelry. Each individually crafted work of art can be ordered with precious and semi-precious stones in 14K and 18K white and/or yellow Gold, as well as some designs in Sterling Silver. Visit tennisboutique.com
Star K VI AG
Diadora Tennis Shoe u Pay attention all-court players who have an aggressive style, the womens Speed Star K III W AG and mens Speed Star K VI AG tennis shoe are constructed with Kangaroo leather and features a toe cap with rubber abrasion-resistance, lining with special anti-bacteria treatment, and wearproof rubber outsole, all backed with a 6 month durability guarantee. Ideal for both hard court and clay. MSRP $139 diadora.com
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TRAVEL
Travel Watch: US Open EXPLORE NEW YORK CITY LIKE GRIGOR DIMITROV
In town for the US Open and looking for adventure as well as trendy places to eat and explore? Grigor Dimitrov recently told World Tennis Day his favorite gems in the bustling concrete jungle of New York City.
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A NEW YORK CITY MUST-DO Go to Eataly NYC. It is a must! I always try and make one trip there while I am in New York.
ON THE NEW YORK CROWDS The energy is insane. The New York crowds make you feel like a rockstar!
FAVORITE RESTAURANT Koi. I like the crispy rice with avocado on top to start with and black cod for my main course. I stayed very close to the restaurant last year at the US Open and it was very convenient.
BEST THING ABOUT NEW YORK CITY I have little spots in Soho that I like for shopping. Hotoveli is one of my favorite stores in New York. I also love walking around central park during the summer.
FUTURE NEW YORK ADVENTURES I have heard great things about the highline path. I would also love to take a boat out to see the Statue of Liberty. The trouble is I just never have the time when I am here for the US Open!
TENNISVIEWMAG.COM | U.S. OPEN 2015 61
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62 U.S. OPEN 2015 | TENNISVIEWMAG.COM
PARTING WORDS
TV: Jelena Jankovic recently talked about your Bolletieri Tennis Academy junior days. She joked that you used to cheat with your linecalls. MS: That's Jelena telling you that? Who do you believe? TV: Since I'm a good journalist, I want your side of the story. Also, what are your recollections from the days with Jelena Jankovic? MS: Oh, gosh. I remember setting up our first e-mail accounts together. I think she even knows my password! [Laughter] I think I still have the same password on my email account. So, I really did grow up with juniors. We spent an enormous amount of time in the juniors together so we got to know each other really well. But, that's really nice of her to mention that. TV: So, was she wrong? MS: I don’t remember what I was like at 12, but if there were no line judges, I think I would have favoured my self many times. No doubt about it. TV: What do you think makes a good definitive fist pump: the quiet steely determination or full on adrenaline spinyour-arms around? MS: [Laughter.] I think I have a few different versions.
Maria Sharapova Q&A: On Junior Days, Steely Fistpumps and Her Intimidation Factor BY TUMAINI CARAYOL
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Tennis View: Top players can sometimes intimidate lower players with their presence. Do you feel that when you stride into a room and everyone is looking at you? Do you feel that you're intimidating? Maria Sharapova: Just because I'm tall maybe, but not because of anything else. I'm actually usually one of the few that's very shy in the room. I've worked really hard to gain a position of where people know I'll be that player that will never give up. I think that sometimes is intimidating because they know they have to work extremely hard to finish the match. I always feel that's a good position to be in, but it doesn't make me on any higher podium than anyone else in the room.
TV: You seem steely determined most of the time. MS: I give a good fist pump when I really feel like I deserve one. Usually it's pretty understated, I would say. But it's such as emotional game. So many crazy things go on in your mind in a match. Sometimes you don't know half the things that you're doing. You see yourself doing it and you're like, “Oh, my goodness.” I guess the emotions always get the better part of you.
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