March - issue 24
TENNIS WORLD American Revolution
Federer - Dubai Gazing into tennis season’s crystal ball Nishikori - interview When Talent Is Not Enough Nick Kyrgios A Closing Window
Gazing into tennis season’s crystal ball by Chiara Gambuzza Gazing into tennis season’s crystal ball
Whenever a tournament ends, it is natural to try analyze each and every player’s performance and make wider extrapolations for the remainder of the season. This is especially true after Grand Slam events, and even more so after the year’s first Slam. This year is no exception, and many events from Melbourne are being interpreted as projections for where 2015 is heading. Novak Djokovic won the men’s tournament, and his victory will have long-lasting consequences for the men’s Tour. He further entrenched his position of world number one, and played at an incredibly high level. These factors seem to point to another very successful year for the Serb, and he is chasing many milestones at exactly the right time.
he biggest of these is Roland Garros, the only Slam missing from his trophy cabinet. With his level being where it is, and Nadal’s uncertain form after returning from injury, the timing is perfect for him to get over this longstanding hurdle. Even more ambitiously, he might be looking at the calendar Grand Slam as an actual possibility. He seems to be a cut above the competition right now, and might very well set his sights that high. The 2014 season was a very successful one for Roger Federer, which saw him reach another Wimbledon final and win several tournaments. The Davis Cup victory was the biggest of all, and many thought he would use that a springboard for an even bigger 2015.
Time will reveal all, but the future is murky for three of the Fab Four. Only Djokovic seems confident and in good form heading into the American hard court season. That made his early loss to Andreas Seppi in Melbourne all the more surprising. He looked fatigued and a step slow in his game, and could not take advantage of his less talented opponent. Federer has now won only one of the past 20 Grand Slams. It is still too early to say Federer will not make an impact this year, but once again it seems as if his most likely chance for a Slam will come at Wimbledon. Even more questions surround Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard arrived in Melbourne in seemingly good physical condition, but his form was nowhere near good enough to trouble Tomas Berdych. Nadal had utterly dominated the Czech over the past decade, but seemed like an amateur in the face of Berdych’s power and accuracy. Nadal could do nothing but stand by as the Czech walked all over him.
That being said, the hard courts of the Australian Open have never been overly friendly to Nadal, and he will likely be looking to the clay season to build up some form ahead of the French Open. He may very well win Roland Garros again, but he shouldn’t be considered the favorite at the moment. Time will tell how he deals with the challenges of coming back from injury once again. The inner circle of the Fab Four ends with Andy Murray. The Scot reached the final at Melbourne Park but, again, did not convince with his play during the championship match. Yes, Djokovic was the better player, but Murray let several chances slip by that might very well have turned the match in his favor. It is an open question whether his improved play in Melbourne is a sign of things to come, or a fluke in what has been an unsuccessful 18 months for the Scot.
Beyond The Front Page by Giorgio Giannaccini
There were quite a few names at this year’s event that have not been present at big tournaments for a while.
Enough has been said about the performances of the big players at the Australian Open, so let us focus for a while on some of the lessor-known ones. In particular there were quite a few names at this year’s event that have not been present at big tournaments for a while. In this category we can start with two Italians, Paolo Lorenzi and Andreas Seppi. Lorenzi has not had a good time of it in recent years, though he has been a solid veteran for a very long time. He played very well against a bruised and battered Dolgopolov, pulling off the upset after some competitive tennis. But he could have done better against Vasek Pospisil, against whom he lost 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-4. There was certainly an opportunity there for him to advance even further, but he will take solace in the fact that he made positive strides in Melbourne. Andreas Seppi will be even happier than his countryman, having finally beaten Roger Federer for the first time – and at a Grand Slam no less.
The 6-4, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5) victory did not feature the most spectacular tennis, with Federer in particular making many errors, but it was still dramatic and entertaining. Unfortunately, Seppi could not follow up the victory with another against the Australian Kyrgios, even though the Italian was up in a big way for most of the match. At least the quality of the tennis was better, as Kyrgios has become a great player, and the youngster certainly proved he has the mental and physical strength to compete at a very high level. The 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 8-6 loss must have hurt for the Italian, but overall there were more positives than negatives for him in Melbourne, and he will be looking to use that performance as a stepping stone to bigger things in 2015. Looking further afield, it was good to see some old faces in Gilles Muller and Marcos Baghdatis, both of whom performed well. And seeing Donald Young play some good tennis was also heartening. Muller, a former world number one junior, is of course no stranger to success at Slams, having reached the quarter-finals at the US Open in 2008 and the third round at Wimbledon in 2005 and 2011. His game is a fun one to watch, with his strong serve and propensity for coming to the net.
He also appeared more solid from the back of the court than he has in some time, and this newfound defensive capability helped him during the event. He reached the fourth round, beating strong players like Roberto Bautista-Agut and John Isner, and it took eventual champion Novak Djokovic to finally put a stop to his run with a 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 victory. Marcos Baghdatis was one of the biggest surprises of the tournament. A former finalist Down Under, Baghdatis also reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon when he was in his prime. Though he has suffered mightily from injuries in recent years, he played some very good tennis in Melbourne, beating Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-2, 6-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and David Goffin 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
In the third round he came up against the promising youngster Grigor Dimitrov, and ultimately fell 4-6, 63, 3-6 6-3, 6-3. Dimitrov struggled to impose himself on the Cypriot, however, as Baghdatis showcased some of his trademark resilience. We end our discussion with a controversial figure: Donald Young. Long ago heralded as the future of American tennis, Young has not been able to make a smooth transition to the pro circuit. His lack of mental strength has been one of the major reasons for his struggles, along with the fact that he has no major weapons to speak of. His showing at the Australian Open is all the more remarkable then, since he seems to have made some major adjustments to his game. His first serve, which had long been a liability, now has significant pop. He might have just made it to the second round, but he did put up a good fight against Milos Raonic, the world number eight, and lost with the respectable scoreline of 6-4 7-6(3) 6-3. His forehand has also improved markedly, and it produces a number of winners during the event while also cutting down on unforced errors. His backhand was similarly improved. These technical advancements, along with the good tactical intelligence he displayed at the net, seem to indicate that Donald Young might actually live up to his potential. His physical maturation will also help him in becoming more of a force on the Tour, as he is able to impart much more power on his shots, as well as survive long matches.
Borna Coric by Princy Jones
The Face of the Future
The big question -- After Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, who? -- has been pestering our minds for quite some time; besides, our decade-long wait for a teen iconoclast, is making an answer to that question seem even harder. Perhaps not anymore, for we have Borna Coric, an 18-year-old lad from Croatia. He is gifted, resourceful and endowed with gumption bordering on audacity to an extent where he calls himself the best; then again, he is just a teen, and it is not surprising that he has such high regards about himself. Coric made headlines last year when he toppled Rafael Nadal at the Swiss Indoors, Basel, during the quarterfinals, thereby becoming the second ever player born in the 90s, after Nick Kyrgios, to defeat Nadal in a tournament.
The win also put Coric in the top 100, making him the youngest player since Nadal in 2003 to break into ATP top 100. That remarkable performance earned Coric the ‘ATP Star of Tomorrow’ award in 2014. Whether it was the after-effects of the sudden fame or just a misinterpreted statement, Coric found himself in the middle of a controversy earlier this year when he allegedly remarked, “I’m the best of my generation”, while drawing an analogy between his game and that of Djokovic’s. The comment has drawn flak from fellow players like Kyrgios, who laughed at Coric’s remark adding that such notions could affect the player’s future as he has a long way to go to reach the level of Djokovic.
He has already set his goals high, and although it isn’t easy, he can do it with firm resolute and focus Soon, Coric issued a clarification by posting a status on his facebook page, citing that his words have been misconstrued. But in a way, Coric had the last laugh when Djokovic was full of praise for him after a couple of practise sessions with the young Croatian. Much to Coric’s delight, the World No: 1 said that playing against the young gun felt like playing against himself. Coric once again proved his talent at the Dubai Open recently when he outwitted World No:5 and Australian Open runner-up this year, Andy Murray, with great ease in straight sets. Against Murray, Coric showed no signs of nerves, made little errors and had control of the game throughout. Although his dream run came to a halt at the hands of veteran Federer, Coric was able to make a loud and clear statement at Dubai with his racket -- that youngsters are catching up fast.
We are witnessing one of the best eras of tennis with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic dominating the game like no other. Federer is 33; Nadal is 28; Djokovic is 27; even though it’s our wish to experience their spectacular showdown forever, they can’t unfortunately, however much they enthrall us. The dearth of a consistent young player has been haunting us for quite long, but players like Borna Coric keeps our hopes alive. He has already set his goals high, and although it isn’t easy, he can do it with firm resolute and focus.
American Revolution by Marco Avena
American tennis is looking good.
American tennis is looking good. Well, at least on the women’s side. Men’s tennis in the States is not looking good at all, with John Isner and Steve Johnson representing the country’s best efforts by reaching the third round of the Australian Open. But the women did quite a bit better than that, starting with the winner of the event, Serena Williams. It was her 19th Slam, and she reached the final by beating another American, Madison Keys. Keys had in turn beaten Venus Williams in the previous round. Ironically, both of the Williams sisters had been her heroes growing up. Keys also beat yet another compatriot, Madison Brengle, in the fourth round, while Brengle had to beat two Americans to reach that point – Coco Vandeweghe and Irina Falconi.
Varvara Lepchenko and Bethanie Mattek-Sands also had very good tournaments. In short, American women were everywhere in Melbourne, and they all played well. In fact, America did better than any other country at the Australian Open, something that the USTA will be utterly thrilled about. Their system, it seems, still works for young and old, as evidenced by the fact that Venus reached her first quarter-final at the event in five years. Yet this is a state of affairs that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago. After a pathetic showing at the US Open, in which only Serena Williams advanced past the second round, Nick Bollettieri declared that US tennis is all but dead.
But it is undeniable the Australian Open was a boon for tennis in America
Bollettieri’s pronouncement might have been premature, but so is any claim that US tennis is alive and healthy going into the rest of the season. Time will tell if Melbourne was just a fluke or the start of a trend. But it is undeniable the Australian Open was a boon for tennis in America. Just a few decades ago the United States was seen as the premier tennis destination for youngsters thanks to its good university system. Players would use the NCAA Championships as a springboard into professionalism, and it often worked very well. But tennis has radically changed since then. Jennifer Capriati went pro at 13 years and 11 months, and that has become all too common in the modern game. Youngsters now scoff at the idea of playing tennis at university rather than going pro. Madison Keys, for example, turned pro at 14 years and 84 days. Chris Evert seems to think Keys can become world number one, and Keys apparently thought that she needed to hit the pro circuit as early as possible to make that happen. She certainly has the talent to make that happen, as her groundstrokes and serve are as solid as any weapons that top players have. All she needs is time, and thanks to her early start that is the one is the one thing she has in abundance.
Stranger Than Fiction by Giovanni Larosa
Women’s tennis in American might not seem to be on the verge of a revolution, but appearances can be deceiving.
February 2005. Lindsay Davenport is the world number one, followed by Amelie Mauresmo and Serena Williams. American tennis is experiencing a period of excellent health, with Venus Williams and Jennifer Capriati also present in the Top 10. These women won a collective 12 titles the preceding season, and this American quartet is the strongest that any country can field. Russian stars Myskina, Dementieva, Sharapova and Kuznetsova are a distant second. February 2015. A decade later, the situation is drastically different. The only consistency is the fact that an American is number one in the world. This time it is Serena Williams who, despite the passing of the years, is still able to take on all challengers and win. Behind her, though, there are no other Americans in the Top 10.
Only Venus, who has found some form again in recent months, comes close, as she is currently ranked 11th. But these two players are in the twilight of their careers, and will soon be gone. It would seem as if things are rather dire for the future of American tennis. This situation has already played out in the men’s game, with nobody even coming close to competing for a Top 10 spot, let along the number one ranking. Ten years ago, American men like Andy Roddick, James Blake and Mardy Fish did American tennis proud. Today, however, no American man seriously competes for major events. But for the women, things are not as grim as they appear. It is true that ten years ago Americans were dominating the WTA Tour, but there was very little talent behind them. If one scrolls down the rankings list from 2005, one sees very little potential. Yes, there were other Americans in the Top 100, but they were either old and on their way out, or had very little hope of ever making it to the top. Names like Jill Craybas, Shenay Perry, Jamea Jackson and Ashley Harkleroad were not to become internationally known, and this fact was clear even then.
Today, the situation is very different. There might not be anyone in the Top 10 besides Serena, but there are a lot of young women lower down in the rankings who are a moving up very quickly. Today, with the exception of Varvara Lepchenko, who is 28, there are 10 American tennis players in the Top 100, all under 24 years of age. This figure is huge, and it rises to 18 if we consider the Top 200. The USTA argues that this wave of young talent is an indication of a very strong and growing tennis culture in the United States, and it is hard to disagree with that assessment. To put it in perspective, in 2005 there were only three American players in the Top 100 under 24, and they were all ranked under 70. Even more impressive than the sheer quantity of American talent is the quality. Madison Keys, currently number 20 in the world and a semi-finalist at the Australian Open, is proof that these youngsters mean business. Keys herself has huge potential, and may very well be the heir of Serena’s empire.
There is certainly still work to be done on her game, but with Lindsay Davenport helping her with those holes, she might very well become a Top 10 player within the next 12 months. Looking further afield we find Sloane Stephens, who at the tender age of 21 already conducts herself like a true veteran of the Tour. A semi-finalist in Melbourne in 2013, she has suffered some injury setbacks since then, dropping out of the Top 40, but there is every indication that this year will be much better for the youngster. Her physical strength and superb technique will ultimately not let her down, and as soon as she regains her confidence she will climb the rankings once again.
Keys and Stephens are the two players who are most likely to make a run at the top ranking, but there are several other players who are building very solid careers, even if they don’t have the talent to one day make it to the top of the game. Alison Riske, Christina McHale, Lauren Davis and Coco Vandeweghe are all examples of players who are making the most of their talents. They have many years of good tennis ahead of them, and will surely win many titles between them, even if those titles are not Grand Slams. Taylor Townsend and Catherine Bellis may not be as established as the players already mentioned, but many people have high hopes for these two.
The future is much brighter than they think
Townsend is perhaps best remembered for the ugly controversy she was involved with in 2012, when the USTA refused to pay her expenses at the US Open juniors because they deemed her too fat. She was understandably furious, and used that as motivation to become better. And she has indeed become better. A lot better. Her incredible power is able to blow way any opponent, and her increasing tactical awareness is helping her cobble together a complete game. If she can keep this up she will become a force to be reckoned with in years to come. Catherine Bellis is extremely young but very exciting to watch. At the US Open last year, at the age 15, she won a match in the main draw, beating a seasoned player in Dominika Cibulkova in the first round.
She lost her next match, but still took Zarina Diyas to three sets). Now 16 years old, she is already in the Top 250 and climbing the rankings every week. Though she still has work to do as far as her technique is concerned, her tenacity and mental strength has already carried her to great heights. So when American tennis fans look back at the “good old days� of a decade ago, they might want to open their eyes and look ahead. The future is much brighter than they think.
Madison Brengle by Marco Avena
Back From The Brink And Better Than Ever
Madison Brengle has been playing on the WTA Tour for a long time, but until the Australian Open she had not been on most people’s radar. For nearly a decade she has plugged away in minor events, rarely gracing the bigger stages of the sport but making a living nonetheless. Then in September of last year she noticed a strange stain on her leg. After consulting doctors it was discovered that she had skin cancer. Luckily, they had caught it at an early stage and was able to completely remove the affected skin, leaving Brengle cancer-free but shaken up after the incident. It is no coincidence that after the scare the 24-year old Brengle has been playing the best tennis of her life. After a five-week layoff to recover, she returned to training with a newfound enthusiasm for the sport, and the results have been rather spectacular. She raced through qualifying in Brisbane and reached the final, losing only to a determined Heather Watson. Carrying that momentum into the Australian Open, she beat 13th seed Andrea Petkovic in the first round before recording victories against Irina Falconi and Coco Vandeweghe.
She ultimately lost to Madison Keys in the fourth round. After her success, everybody wants to know Keys’ story. In many ways it is a fairly typical one. She grew up in one of the many tennis academies that have sprung up across the United States. Her parents were not particularly sporty, and Madison got introduced to tennis alongside her brother David. She grew up with a book in one hand (her mother was a teacher) and a tennis racket in the other, and slowly became more serious about the sport as she grew older. After playing a number of junior tournaments in America, she started testing her mettle in ITF tournaments in 2005. She won her first tournament as a pro in Baltimore at the young age of 15. An important moment also came in 2007, when she reached the final of the Australian Open juniors, losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. In the same year she won her first WTA Tour match by beating Flavia Pennetta 6-1, 6-3 in Los Angeles. Since then she has won six other ITF tournaments, but never really managed to make an impression on her Tour-level opponents. That is, until 2015. She is now in the Top 50 and playing the best tennis of her life. It wouldn’t surprise us is by the end of this year she is one of the most-improved players in tennis, and regularly competing for WTA Tour titles.
The Other Williams Sister by Alessandro Varassi Venus Williams hopes that 2015 can be a year of rebirth for her, as she emerges from years of struggle with injury and illness.
Speaking of a rebirth when a person is on the verge of 35 seems ridiculous. But these days in tennis, especially on the ATP Tour, players are still performing at a high level way past the traditional prime of their peers from yesteryear. Judging by the start of the 2015 season, the trend might well carry over into the WTA. Venus Williams, born in 1980, has amazed pundits and fans alike with her start to the season, winning 11 of her first 12 matches. She won the title in Auckland, the 46th of her career, and reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in five years. Venus has suffered seemingly every available setback in recent years, starting in 2010 when she was diagnosed with Sjogren's syndrome.
It’s a disease that leads to muscle atrophy and dryness of the eyes and lips, something which had a huge effect on her as a professional athlete. Having already won seven Grand Slam titles in singles and 13 in doubles (plus another two titles in mixed doubles) along with four Olympic golds, Venus is certainly used to performing at a very high level. Yet the disease has forced her to accept her new physical limitations and work around them. Her appearances on the court in recent years have been sporadic and inconsistent as she tried to battle the disease and keep up a professional sporting career. But while her on-court career languished, Venus threw herself into her other interests, such as fashion.
Perhaps when they do finally meet it will be on an even bigger stage, with even bigger stakes‌ She has always been known for her unique style, and she has turned that fashion sense into a flourishing second career. Indeed, it likely helped her mentally to be able to focus on other things when her disease was keeping her off the court. In 2014 she improved steadily, winning the title in Dubai, but the start to 2015 has been her best to a season in many years. In fact, her showing at the Australian Open was her best since the 2010 US Open. When asked about her plans for the future, Venus has always been elusive, but she made no secret of her desire to keep playing. With her younger sister playing so well for so long, Venus certainly has the motivation to keep going. Indeed, if she keeps up her current form she might actually prove to once again be a rival for her younger sibling.
The current crop of contenders have no answer for Serena Williams. Sharapova, Halep and co. are good players, but simply cannot solve the puzzle of the world number one. Perhaps Venus soon will be able to. She came within one victory of meeting her sister in the semis in Australia, which would have been a great match. Perhaps when they do finally meet it will be on an even bigger stage, with even bigger stakes‌
A Closing Window by Adriano S
The Fab Four, their legacy and their successors’ small window for success
Not all champions are equal. This might seem like a controversial statement, but really it is just a simple fact. Quite often, especially in tennis, when one era of dominance by a particular player ends, there is a period of transition before the next one comes along. During this “middle period,” tournaments still require winners, and it provides a wonderful opportunity for players who could not compete before to do so then. At the end of the 1990s, for example, Pete Sampras’ domination was coming to an end. While the veteran Agassi was a layover from the previous generation, and still competed at a high level, younger players like Hewitt, Moya, Ferrero, Kuerten, Roddick and Safin stepped in to fill in the void. The early 2000s were, in some respects, the time of the “placeholder champions.”
Indeed, when Federer finally started his period of dominance, one of the criticisms he faced was that his competition – these champions of the previous few years – was so weak. These criticisms faded once the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Murray started playing at a high level. Soon enough, the tennis world found that it had not just found one player capable of dominating the Tour, but four. Many pundits are calling it the Golden Era of tennis, and they may be right. The Big Four have dominated tennis in a fashion that is almost impossible to put into words. Their missteps have been vanishingly rare, and truly wonderful players like Davydenko, Soderling, Del Potro, Wawrinka, Ferrer, Tsonga, Cilic and Berdych have had to be content with the scraps left to them by the Fab Four. The new generation of players, born between 1989 and 1992, like Dimitrov, Nishikori, Raonic and Janowicz are finding the same problems as Berdych & Co, which is that they simply can’t play at the same level as Federer and his friends. Looking at the situation from a statistical point of view, one can conclude that the optimal age for winning Slams is usually between 23 and 25.
The next group of players who will compete with the Fab Four out of contention will then be Kyrgios, Coric and Zverev. Given that Djokovic and Murray will still be around for at least a few years, players like Nishikori might miss their window completely. The next group of players who will compete with the Fab Four out of contention will then be Kyrgios, Coric and Zverev. They are strong, competitive players whose potential vastly outweighs the likes of Tomic, Sock or Thiem. And most importantly of all, time seems to be on their side. Four Masters 1000 finals, one Slam final and four Slam semi-finals are all that the middle generation (Nishikori, etc.) have to show for their efforts. If they don’t raise their game significantly, they might not have much more than that to their names when the door Slams shut on them in a few years’ time.
Nick Kyrgios interview by David Cox
“I can play with the best in the world”
“The top guys are unbelievable athletes,” Nick Kyrgios marvels as he reflects on an Australian Open campaign which saw him whip the nation into the kind of frenzy not seen since Lleyton Hewitt made the Melbourne final back in 2005. “They're just at another level physically. That's what stands out most” Kyrgios' run ended at the quarter-final stage last month with a straight-sets defeat to eventual finalist Andy Murray. But the teenager from Canberra showed everyone that he has the game to go even further, and within a couple of years, he may be contending for the title. Compared to Murray – himself also a prodigious junior who won the US Open boy's title in 2004 – at the same age, Kyrgios is already a step or two ahead. Murray did not manage to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final until the age of 21. Kyrgios has two to his name before his 20th birthday, and a win over 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal. But as Murray told the Rod Laver Arena crowd in a post-match interview, Kyrgios needs time and there's still a little way to go before he moves into slam contender territory.
As for the man himself, life still feels like a bit of a whirlwind, just two years after he claimed the Australian Open junior title with victory over good friend Thanasi Kokkinakis. “It's all happened incredibly fast since then,” he says. “That match really doesn't seem that long ago. It only seems like a couple of weeks since I was playing Australian Open main draw for the first time. Me and Thanasi can't believe what's happened since then.” Over the past twelve months, Kyrgios has gone from 162 in the world to 35 and become one of the most recognisable faces of Australian sport, the man at the head of a string of highly talented juniors who many hope will revive the golden days of Australian tennis. Just weeks before he beat Nadal on Centre Court at Wimbledon, to propel himself onto the back pages around the world, he was playing low-key challenger tournaments in front of a mere smattering of spectators. Feeling a few twinges in his body in the lead up to Wimbledon, he had even briefly contemplated pulling out. “A few weeks before, I was contemplating going home,” he reveals. “I had a meeting with my coaches. They said the best thing for me was to stay and play qualifying week for this challenger in Nottingham. Ended up winning that tournament and had the best few weeks of my life.”
Such massive pendulum swings ultimately characterized Kyrgios' 2014. World-beater one minute, laid low by crippling back spasms the next, his exertions taking their toll on a still-fragile body.” “It was a fun, entertaining year,” he says. “Lot of ups and downs. Just a rollercoaster.” At 6’4”, with one of the biggest serves in the men's game, Kyrgios appears a physically imposing specimen at first glance. His naturally muscular build has seen him transition from juniors to seniors with apparent ease, at an age when many of his peers are struggling to find their feet against seasoned pros who can be more than a decade older. However, the level of physicality demanded by the ATP Tour is a different world from juniors and even challengers.
This is a stage where sports science rules and the very best invest hours into strength, recovery, flexibility and power to gain every possible edge over their competitors. While Kyrgios' tennis can be good enough to match some of the world's leading players, he knows his off-court regime has a long way to go. “Physicality is obviously a massive part of my game I need to improve,” he says. “At Wimbledon I played a five setter and I was struggling a lot in that fifth set. But in Australia I played two five setters and pulled up really well from both of them and being able to do that at 19 gives me a lot of confidence. And these matches were on hard courts so there were more rallies. There's a lot of positives I can take. I'm still growing into my body. I've still got time on my side.” Kyrgios has been wide-eyed observing the top ten at work in the gym and on the practice court. “Just watching players like Tomas Berdych, seeing what they do off the court, in the gym, I learned heaps from them. I wasn't picking their brains. I was observing what they did before matches, after matches. He put in so much work. He was doing up to two gym sessions a day, plus on-court work. And when you play Murray, it's incredible how many balls he gets back into play. There were points I'd be winning five times over, he'd be making me play an extra ball.” But as Murray and many others would tell Kyrgios, with growing prominence also comes growing criticism.
“My goal is to stay healthy, stay out on the court and compete"
During the Australian Open, the 19 year-old found himself subject to a barrage of criticism from various quarters for his exuberant on-court antics and occasional verbal outbursts. Pat Rafter was quoted as saying Kyrgios can be too emotional but the man himself says that's part of his natural personality. “I'm obviously not going to be a person that is going to be a robot out there, not show any emotion,” he said. “But I think the older I get, the more mature I'll get. I'll find out what helps me most on the court. I think I play my best tennis when I'm finding that fine line between staying really positive and staying calm. I've got a good team around me that helps me through all that sort of stuff. I'm still growing up, so I don't really know what's the best thing to do.” As for his aims for the rest of 2015, he insists he's not getting carried away. “My goal is to stay healthy, stay out on the court and compete. I think my level is definitely there. I can play with some of the best in the world. I just need to be able to stay out on the court and obviously do what I do best. I think I definitely can get into the Top 30.” Top 30, may prove to be something of an understatement.
The Strange Case Of Nick Kyrgios by Valerio Carriero The Australian is climbing the rankings quickly, but is earning his living almost solely from big performances in Grand Slams.
The life of a young professional tennis player is not very glamorous for the most part. It requires a great deal of sacrifice, involving extensive travel in uncomfortable conditions and long stays in bad hotels. Even when things go well, the prize money is often laughably small. All of that just for the chance to improve their ranking enough to compete in the big events. That, at least, is what happens to most youngsters. Every now and again, a player will go from nothing to a superstar overnight, as has been the case with Nick Kyrgios. At nearly 2 meters tall, Kyrgios almost pursued a career in basketball, but ultimately chose tennis instead. The decision was a wise one, as his meteoric rise has been nothing short of astounding. His mixture of competitive fury and youthful arrogance has both delighted and horrified tennis fans the world over, especially at the sport’s most prestigious events: the Grand Slams.
Indeed, the Slams have so far proven to be the young Australian’s hunting ground of choice, with the bestof-five sets showcase allowing him to make up for some of his inexperience in that extra time. Signs of the youngster’s potential were already on display at Roland Garros in 2013. There he ousted the wily veteran Radek Stepanek in straight sets, which was quite an upset. Then in 2014, he reached the second round in Melbourne before three successful Challenger events in the spring earned him a wild card for Wimbledon. At just 19 years of age, Kyrgios reached the quarter-finals by defeating the likes of Richard Gasquet (against whom he saved nine match points) and of course Rafael Nadal. In the latter match he hit 37 aces and showed no signs of intimidation. A few months later in New York he reached the third round. He started 2015 by reaching yet another Slam quarter-final, this time at his home Major. Yet despite all his success at Slams, Kyrgios has won only one match at a Masters 1000 event. Kyrgios is alone among youngsters on the ATP Tour to make a splash at the Slams, but on the WTA Tour it has become quite common. Sloane Stephens, for example, shocked the world in 2013 by reaching the semi-finals in Melbourne and the fourth round at Wimbledon.
If these young players can do that, they may very well turn out to be the superstars of tomorrow.
She also made the second week in Paris and Flushing Meadows. But the American has fallen short of expectations in other tournaments, winning only 20 matches outside of the Slams. As a result, her ranking has remained relatively low for such a high profile young star. Eugenie Bouchard is a similar story. After having authored a dream run at Roland Garros to the final, she reached two further semis and another fourth round in Slams last year, but failed to replicate that success on the smaller stages of the Tour. Following Melbourne, she won only nine matches until May, when she won her first WTA title in Nuremberg. In the months after the Wimbledon final she had an ugly hard court season in preparation for the US Open. For Bouchard, 2015 looks like the year of confirmation: she must prevent a collapse like that of Sloane Stephens and defend her points in the Slams. For ambitious youngster with very high expectations, the Grand Slams are the ideal proving ground. They ache to showcase their enormous potential and bask in the glory of being a darling in an international event. But to be a true champion, the everyday grind of the Tour must also be mastered, and smaller events conquered in the same way Slams are. If these young players can do that, they may very well turn out to be the superstars of tomorrow.
Calendar Slam In Sight? by Adriano s
Achieving a calendar Grand Slam is the Holy Grail of men’s tennis.
Achieving a calendar Grand Slam is the Holy Grail of men’s tennis. Even with all the legendary names that have graced the sport over the years, only Rod Laver has ever managed to win all the Slams in a single season. And that was many decades ago indeed. Several have come close to the feat, with the most recent examples being Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, but they all fell short in the end. Usually long before the end, in fact. It is now up to Novak Djokovic to accept the challenge, and this year he might very well have a better chance than his rivals ever had in their best years. Having just won his eighth Slam in Melbourne, Djokovic has joined the likes of Andre Agassi, Ivan Lendl, Fred Perry and Jimmy Connors.
Only seven players have won more Majors than him at this point. It’s hard to imagine that he won’t eventually win that elusive Roland Garros trophy, which will mean he joins Laver, Emerson, Perry, Agassi, Nadal and Federer on the exclusive list of players to have completed career Grand Slams. But the bigger goal, of course, is to win all four tournaments in the same year. One thing that Djokovic has in his favor is the fact that he is so competitive on all surfaces. Though Nadal and Federer certainly dominated when they were playing their best, they generally were playing better on a particular surface from year to year.
The new generation is still light years away and Murray, though he played well in Melbourne, is far from his best. Djokovic is in a phase of his career where he is playing well everywhere, and he will likely be the favorite at every upcoming Slam in 2015. Another boon for the Serb is the fact that his competition is not as strong as it once was. Federer had to suffer at Nadal’s hands on clay, and Nadal struggled against Federer on grass. Djokovic eventually came along to give them both issues on hard courts. But Nole has no real rivals at the moment, especially on hard courts. The new generation is still light years away and Murray, though he played well in Melbourne, is far from his best. Federer is not the player he once was and Nadal is coming off an injury, making it the perfect time for Djokovic to make a run at the calendar Slam.
It is also worth noting that Nole is only missing the Masters 1000 trophy in Cincinnati, and he might very well become the first player to own all of the Masters 1000 trophies. If he could add the calendar Slam to that achievement, the GOAT debate might take a very interesting turn in the years to come‌
When Talent Is Not Enough by Giovanni Larosa
The court is an unpredictable place.
The court is an unpredictable place. There are so many components that go into making a player perform well and win matches. It is not enough simply to have good technique or powerful shots. A massive serve or incredible athleticism is also not enough to guarantee a Grand Slam victory or huge climb in the rankings. Most players have basically the same baseline game, yet perform very differently. Why is this? It’s all in the mind. Mental strength is one of the most important, yet also the most overlooked, aspect that sets players apart. Pressure can do terrible things to a person, and you need huge mental strength to overcome such pressures and become a champion. However, few players are capable of managing expectations in a positive way, and most end up being devoured by pressure and fear.
While being untalented can be frustrating, losing when you are talented can be truly mortifying. In such situations, can talent be a problem? Many people argue that, in most cases, women have the biggest problems in managing psychological pressure. However, in reality men are just as susceptible to pressure, and every week we see players with enormous talent fail spectacularly on the court. When you think about talent, the name that will come to most people’s minds is Roger Federer. There is no doubt that Federer is supremely talented, but when I think of the concept the first name that comes to my mind is Richard Gasquet. He is the perfect specimen for what I want to talk about. Gasquet was a child prodigy who has never managed to turn into a true champion. He was meant to dominate the ATP Tour when he grew up, but has utterly failed in that respect. Understanding the reason for his "failure" is difficult. I must emphasize that he has won seven titles and reached number 7 in the world rankings. Gasquet is a fantastic tennis player, but not as good as he should be. In this respect, he is a “failure.”
Gasquet grew up in the limelight, and was hailed as the hope of French tennis, the inheritor of Yannick Noah’s legacy. L'Equipe ran articles about him when he was barely ten years old, and the media phenomenon that was built around him seems insane in retrospect. Yet his early results seemed to fulfill the promise of all the magazine articles. In Monte Carlo in 2005 he upset world number one Roger Federer, a result that many took as a sign of Gasquet’s future success. Unfortunately for Gasquet, and for France, crowning him the king at that time was premature. His career has been one of occasional brilliance and consistent mediocrity
He has even been involved in a few scandals (just think back to the infamous cocaine kiss). The feeling among most observers is that his biggest problem is his lack of mental strength. Gasquet does not have the grit, tenacity or hunger that all the top players seem to have. A similar tale, though no less complicated, is that of Ernests Gulbis. It is strange to see a player with such incredible talent and versatility, who is so much fun to watch, fail to break through. Entering into the mind of this young man, however, would likely challenge Freud himself. Gulbis has genius and recklessness in equal measure, and has love for many things in life that are not related to tennis. His constant partying, outrageous comments and flamboyant exploits on the court have earned him many fans, but few titles. He reminds me in many ways of Marat Safin, but Safin managed to tame his wilder side for long enough to win two Grand Slam titles. He famously said that there are players in the Top 100 that he has never heard of, and that some of them cannot even play tennis. Unfortunately for him those players beat him all too often, regardless of his opinions about them. While he has improved his technique over the past few years, and seems more dedicated to tennis than he was when he was younger, he still seems unable to get further than the Top 20.
Losing the first five matches of 2015 certainly does not help his case in trying to turn around his career. Another player worth considering is Alexander Dolgopolov. On a good day he is able to play incredible tennis and beat just about anyone in the world. His combination of pace and touch can be devastating, and his tactical awareness is quite advanced. The problem for him is one of continuity. He goes from awesome the one day to horrible the next, which means he often makes early exists from tournaments he should be winning. He has won two ATP titles and gone as high as 13 in the world, but his talent has been let down by his mental strength, which does not allow him to play at a consistent level for long periods of time.
et Fognini has an incredible amount of talent, and his technique is almost flawless. His biggest problem is between his ears. You never know what you are going to get in a match with him. If his switch is on, he can beat anyone, even Rafael Nadal on clay. But if he is off or uninterested in proceedings, he can play shots that even the worst club player would be ashamed of. His talent has carried him to the verge of the Top 10, but his attitude and mental strength are keeping him from crossing the threshold. His self-sabotage is something that cannot be seen anywhere else on the Tour, and such destructive behavior can never lead to a person becoming a top player.
The last player we will look at is perhaps the most controversial figure in men’s tennis today: Fabio Fognini. The Italian number one is a constant source of material for tabloids, given that he cannot walk on a court without getting into some sort of scandal. He is equally reckless off the court, and leads a rather colorful personal life.
Fognini does not seem capable of accepting his own weaknesses, and as soon as he thinks he has done something unworthy on the court he will selfdestruct in the most spectacular fashion. These bouts of sulking can last for weeks and months, when he will struggle to even win a single match. Then he will suddenly snap out of it and go on a tear. It seems unlikely that he will ever outgrow this behavior, which is a shame since he has the makings of a true champion. Gasquet, Gulbis, Dolgopolov and Fognini. Four very different players who are all suffering from the same problem.
Working on the psychological aspect of tennis is extremely important, and failing to do so can turn even the most talented player into a mediocre hacker. Regardless of the type of issues they have, whether it is a lack of mental strength, lack of motivation or inability to manage their emotions, the remedy is the same in each case: to work on it. They must start by accepting their own limitations and work to improve the things that are holding them back. Just like a player can practice a shot, he can also train his brain. Working on the psychological aspect of tennis is extremely important, and failing to do so can turn even the most talented player into a mediocre hacker.
Kei Nishikori by David Cox
“I don’t need to respect Roger and Rafa anymore”
One of the most compelling aspects of sport is the window it provides into the human psyche. Tennis with its intense, gladiatorial nature is rivalled by few other pursuits in its ability to dissect a person’s character over the course of a contest. The leading players not only probe for weaknesses in a player’s technique, but in their personality, chinks hidden away which only emerge deep in a fifth set or at 5-5 in a tiebreak. And to reach the top, it’s often necessary to reinvent yourself, to try and make that vulnerability a little harder to find. Kei Nishikori understands all about reinvention. As we discuss his journey to become the first Japanese player ever to reach a Grand Slam final, he explains it was a question of changing the way he saw himself.
“When I was a junior I just played. I didn’t think too much so I could play good tennis with anyone. But once I turned pro I had too much respect for everybody, especially the top players. It was a big problem. You need to be really mentally strong against them and the first time I played Roger [Federer], I could barely play as I respected him too much. I wasn’t even going for the win, I was just playing against my idol.” From a shy, introverted 20 year old just happy to be on the tour, Nishikori has discovered something of a strut, as a 25 year old with ambitions of emulating Li Na, Asia’s first double Grand Slam champion. Body language on court carries a surprising amount of weight especially against Novak Djokovic and
"Michael helps me stay focused and not get too frustrated.”
Rafael Nadal, players who latch onto the merest hint of uncertainty. “Now he walks like he owns the court,” says Dante Bottini, Nishikori’s long-time coach. “He’s pumping himself up more. All of that comes with confidence and being on top.” It also comes with being relatively injury free, a rare experience for Nishikori whose slim, almost fragile physique has buckled all too regularly to the rigours of the tour. In his eyes it’s simply been a question of working harder. “It’s about the time I’ve invested in the gym, in the rehab, in practise, all the little things,” he says. “Even when I’m playing tournaments I’m still working in the gym. Perhaps that’s helping. I’ve still had a couple of injuries which cost me some important matches but at the US Open I played seven matches and went five sets in several of them. My body’s been getting really strong.” Bottini’s slightly shrewder perspective is that Nishikori is learning the limits of his body, what it can and cannot take. In his mind he’s not so afraid of breaking down anymore and so he’s pushing himself harder. Part of that has come from the sage words of Michael Chang, the former French Open champion who has added a touch of Zen Master to the Nishikori camp. “I love how he thinks,” Nishikori enthuses. “When we talk to each other I try to get into his mindset. He knows how I should play. We’re very similar in build. Now I’m a little more aggressive than before, more solid from the baseline. I feel that anything I hit is going for a winner, forehand and backhand. Before I got injured I was really excited about the way I was playing on clay last year. And I concentrate better.
Taking Nishikori into the world’s top five has been more about increasing his belief than overhauling his game. Michael helps me stay focused and not get too frustrated.” Like Chang, Nishikori’s slick wrists and quick reflexes help him more than hold his own against the game’s many giants. But his opponents have also come to respect the lethal power he can generate. “I’ve always liked his backhand because he hits it so easily and so smooth but his forehand has always been the weapon,” Bottini says. “That was the shot with which he’d always finish the point or try to get the other guy in trouble, ever since we started. And this year he’s been hitting it really, really well.” While Chang has made a few technical tweaks, particularly on the serve which has gone from being simply a means of starting the point, to a real weapon; taking Nishikori into the world’s top five
has been more about increasing his belief than overhauling his game. Bottini pinpoints a couple of moments in 2014 where he really noticed a sudden change in Nishikori’s mind – his fourth round Australian Open loss to Rafael Nadal (‘Obviously he was upset that he lost but he totally believed that he could beat him. He was very very close in all of the sets.’) and his semifinal run at the Miami Masters beating Grigor Dimitrov, David Ferrer and Roger Federer along the way. Interestingly neither Bottini or Nishikori mention the US Open (where he beat Milos Raonic, Stanislas Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic to reach the final). It may have been a momentous achievement but neither felt he played his best tennis, even when defeating Djokovic in five sets.
“They (Rafael, Roger, Novak) maybe respect me more now but that means they also research me more." “I look more at his mentality and his determination in that match than the quality of his game,” Bottini says. Nishikori reveals that even before the US Open, he had lost the fear he once felt when facing tennis’ iconic names on the big stages. “I used to feel that, definitely a couple of years ago and even in 2013, but not anymore. They’ve been there for a long time, doing many things better than the rest of us. But things are changing. I don’t have to respect them so much. I’m much calmer and I have things in my game, they don’t have.” And in turn does he think his rivals have developed an increased fear when they see his name in their section of the draw? “They maybe respect me more now but that means they also research me more. And that means I need to keep working to stay where I am.”
Federer’s Finest Moments in Dubai by Roberto Marchesani Roger Federer has done many incredible things in his career, but his exploits in Dubai have seen some of his most fantastic moments.
Roger Federer has done many incredible things in his career, but his exploits in Dubai have seen some of his most fantastic moments. He has won the trophy seven times and has failed to reached the final only three times when playing in the event: on his first visit in 2002, in 2008 when a very unlucky draw put him up against Andy Murray in the second round, and in 2013 when he had three match points but ultimately lost to Tomas Berdych. In recognition of his recent achievements in Dubai, we’ve compiled a list of Federer’s Top 8 moments at the prestigious event: 8. The tweener lob (2014, 1st round against Benjamin Becker) After a torrid 2013, many people had given up on Roger Federer. He was 32 and had posted almost a full year of poor results.
Yet 2014 saw the Swiss come back with a vengeance, and it was in Dubai that he truly showed that he is still capable of beating the best players on big stages. Federer had just played a good Australian Open (semi-finals, beaten by Nadal) and the fresh collaboration between himself and Stefan Edberg was already producing results. The new racket, now finally broken in, seemed to breathe new life into his game. A wonderful expression of his newfound form came against Benjamin Becker in the 6th game of the second set, when Federer hit a lob tweener against his German opponent. Becker was so confused by the shot’s nature and accuracy that he barely managed to put the ball back into play, and Federer easily put the weak reply away for a winner. 7. The tweener pass (2007, 2nd round against Daniele Bracciali) Go back seven years and we find Federer at the very height of his powers, the undisputed king of the Tour. When he arrived in Dubai he was riding a 36match winning streak. In the 2nd round, Federer was up against the feisty Daniele Bracciali, who was more than holding his own. When Federer was up 7-5, 4-2 and 40-0 he came up with a moment of pure genius.
After approaching the net off a slice approach, the Swiss was forced to run backward after a perfect lob from the Italian. It did not seem as if anyone on earth would get that ball, but Federer somehow chased it down, and with an air of nonchalance rifled the ball down the line for a winner. Even today it hardly seems possible that he pulled off such a spectacular shot. 6. Murray gets taken to school (2012, final) The 31 year-old Federer was contesting the final against the 25 year-old Murray. Murray was playing very well and was tagged as the favorite by most pundits. And while Murray certainly did not play poorly, he was simply overwhelmed by Federer’s power and accuracy. Indeed, the fury of the Swiss’ shots were reminiscent of his 2004-2005 self, when he was in his physical prime. The final score of 7-5 6-4 does not reflect the one-sided nature of the encounter. There was never really any chance of Federer losing. Murray would suffer another painful loss to Federer a few months later on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. 5. Comeback from 0-5 in the tiebreaker against Del Potro (2012, semi-final) In the match before he faced Murray, Federer had to overcome Juan Martin Del Potro in a very tight match. It was a point-bypoint struggle, and each shot was contested. The second set tiebreak was an absolute thriller, with Federer falling behind 5-0 and the prospect of a third set looming large. He won the next two points but not the third, putting the score at 2-6.
He won the next two points on his own serve and held his nerve as a nervous Del Potro failed to take advantage of his set points. At 6-6, they played a 28shot rally that Federer ultimately won. The Swiss closed out the contest on his first match point, concluding a series of events which saw Del Potro lose six straight points. It was perhaps a little revenge for the US Open loss he had suffered to the Argentine just a few years before. It turned out to be a crucial match in helping Federer regain the world number one ranking on 8 July of that year. 4. A magical shot against Agassi (2005, semifinal) It's been exactly 10 years since this memorable point, in my opinion one of the most amazing shots Federer ever hit.
Just days before they had taken that memorable image on top of a skyscraper in Dubai, and their match on court was just as incredible as the photo. Things were already going Federer’s way, and he was up by 6-3 and 2-0 over Agassi. He had a break point at 30-40 in the next game to put the match completely beyond the American’s reach. Agassi seemingly played the perfect point, moving Federer around the court and eventually coming in off a monster forehand and hitting a wonderful drop volley. Federer somehow got to the ball and made Agassi play one more shot, which seemed like a clear winner into the open court. Watching it now, it’s still unbelievable how Federer got back to the ball to hit the winning lob. He couldn’t even get turned around in time to hit the ball, and made a half-backwards crazy stab at the ball that ended up being the perfect shot. Agassi slumped in his chair without a word, knowing that he could do no better than that. 3. A series of 20 consecutive points against Verdasco (2015, 2nd round) In their match during the 2015 event, Fernando Verdasco got off to an incredible start, going up 4-1 on the back of an endless stream of winners. Then, without warning, he lost his touch, and Federer went on to win an unbelievable 20 points in a row. Even though Verdasco has not been playing his best tennis over the past few years, the feat is still incredible, and unlikely to ever be repeated by Federer (or even anyone else for that matter).
2. Getting out of trouble against Djokovic (2015, final) Federer had his hands full against the world number on in the 2015 final. Djokovic was coming off an Australian Open victory, and was deemed the favorite by most pundits. And Nole had many chances to take control of the match, earning seven break points in total. Unfortunately for him, Federer was in no mood to be broken that day. He saved all seven break points, but the most impressive saves came at 3-4 and then 4-5 in the second set, where he was serving to save the set. He hit four unreturned serves (including two aces) at one point, and in the second instance hit a wonderful volley winner followed by two aces.
1. The perfect match against Nole (2014, semi-final) The perfect match, the most beautiful of 2014, was played between Federer and Djokovic in Dubai. It was short but of great beauty, with the two men playing at their very highest level. The first set saw Djokovic play some incredible tennis, and even Federer at his best could do nothing to stop him. But Federer somehow upped his game even more, ultimately winning by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Tennis Leads The Way by Nicolò Inches Tennis is arguably one of the most liberal sports in the world.
Tennis is arguably one of the most liberal sports in the world. Women and men are treated as equals, and indeed earn the same in the sport’s showcase events. Controversial statements regarding gender relations or homosexuality never emerge from the locker rooms or press conferences. Unlike other sports, such as soccer, where players often utter statements for which they inevitably have to apologize for, tennis players on the whole are a circumspect lot who exercise discretion in such matters. Much of this might have to do that tennis is an individual sport. Whereas in soccer the players are all working towards a team goal which can lead to a sort of group mentality, tennis is a solitary endeavor in which the player ultimately has total control about his own game and how he projects himself to the world. Tennis differs from others individual sports as well, because players are often financially dependent on their tennis federations, who provide money and coaching support for their careers.
The story of two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na comes to mind, as she was wholly beholden to her federation for much of her career, and only truly started to flourish once she broke away from that relationship. Knowing that their federations can cause trouble for them, tennis players tend to be very diplomatic in their behavior. Another factor sets tennis apart from other sports: travel. Tennis players are globetrotters by profession, and even lower-ranked players must travel all over the world in order to play in the various events they qualify for. Players travel from country to country and continent to continent for 11 months of each year, inevitably giving most players the sense of being a “citizen of the world.” There is also a close sense of community among players, especially during the Davis Cup and Fed Cup. There are notable exceptions, such as Novak Djokovic’s boundless Serbian patriotism or the Tunisian Malek Jaiziri’s refusal to play against Israeli players. But for the most part tennis players embrace a sort of cultural relativism. Sexuality is, of course, one of the areas where conservative and liberal ideologies clash the most fiercely, even after all the progress that has been made in the 21st century. In this arena, tennis in particular has forged a brave path to acceptance.
While tennis is not unique in embracing members of the LGBT community – swimmers such as Ian Thorpe and Tom Daley come to mind as other brave individuals to have come out while still competing in their sport – tennis has a long tradition of accepting people of every culture, creed and orientation. It all began with the American Billie Jean King, who won 12 Grand Slam titles during the 1960s and 1970s. She revealed her homosexuality at a time when it was not as widely accepted as it is today, and her championing of equality has made her a hero among the LGBT community. She has also been embraced by society at large, and was the US representative at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi.
This was a particularly strong statement given the laws that were passed against homosexuality in Russia just before the Games. Martina Navratilova, another legend who won 18 Majors and 167 overall tournaments, openly declared her homosexuality in 1981 after taking American citizenship (she was a native of the then pro-Soviet Czechoslovakia). She decision cost her a lot of sponsorship money, but it made her an international icon of freedom. At the end of 2014, Martina married her partner Julia Lemigova, and she is currently coaching Agnieszka Radwanska. It was a brave move from Radwanska, who was expelled from the Catholic "Youth Crusade" movement in 2013 for posing naked in ESPN magazine’s "Body Issue." Her new choice of coach cannot be going down well with the people who had a problem with that incident… Amelie Mauresmo was the most recent high profile player to reveal her homosexuality. At the Australian Open in 1999, she revealed that she had a girlfriend. She beat the likes of Lindsay Davenport at that tournament en route to the final, where she lost to Martina Hingis. Hingis was caught in some controversy when she said that Mauresmo was “half a man.” Mauresmo eventually married her partner in 2013.
When Mauresmo was hired as Andy Murray’s coach there were also comments about how she could not coach a man. Even though tennis has long been bastion of tolerance in the sports world, there are still some exceptions. When Gala Leon, a former Top 30 WTA player, was nominated as the Spanish Davis Cup captain above the likes of Carlos Moya, there were a lot of nasty comments. Even Toni Nadal jumped into the fray, saying "It does not seem appropriate that there is a woman in the locker room." When Mauresmo was hired as Andy Murray’s coach there were also comments about how she could not coach a man. But these are challenges tennis deals with better than any other sport, and the fact that such incidents are the exception rather than the rule says a lot.
When Sport Divides by Federico Mariani
Sport is one of the highest expressions of the human soul.
Sport is one of the highest expressions of the human soul. Throughout history, sport has been able to break down racial and cultural barriers, uniting where there was separation, forging love where there was hate and bringing peace where there was war. Sport has often lead quiet rebellions. Sadly, however, sport has not always been able to defeat bigotry, ignorance and intolerance. Sometimes, sport has even assist in dividing people. Such is the case of Malek Jaziri, a Tunisian Top 100 tennis player who has repeatedly refused to play against Israeli opponents. At the ATP 250 event in Montpellier, for example, where Jaziri was playing Denis Istomin in the first round, the Tunisian retired after easily winning the first set 6-3. The reason given was a forearm injury, but many pundits have pointed out that he would have had to play Dudi Sela in the second round. Sela is Israeli. Tunisia, which has close ties to the Palestinian cause, does not recognize Israel in any arena, including both the political and sports worlds.
It is not the first time that Jaziri has found himself under fire for such an incident. In 2013, during a Challenger in Tashkent in Uzbekistan, he did not show up for his match against Amir Weintraub, another Israeli tennis player. It was reported that the Tunisian tennis federation and indeed the sports minister himself had lobbied for the match to not be played. In the case of Montpellier both the player and his federation escaped without any fines or suspensions due to the fact that he had an injury. Or at least he claimed that he did. The next week he was to be found playing without any problems in Memphis. Many people have called for a suspension of Jaziri, with others even calling for his banishment from professional tennis. But is it really fair to rail against the player? It is very likely that he is but a pawn in these proceedings, caught in the politics of his tennis federation and wider government. He may have very little choice in the matter, since he probably depends fairly heavily on federation support for his career. And if he defied their wishes he would surely see his funding cut off. Things are even more complicated for Jaziri, since he is a popular figure back home, and would certainly suffer a backlash if he was portrayed as some sort of traitor in the national media.
Sport, unlike politics, is pure and everyone should have the same opportunities to fight. He cannot easily be surrendering these rankings points and prize money, and would much rather be competing in these matches instead of forfeiting. Tennis, along with many other sports, has been able in the past to convey unity and peace by breaking down cultural and racial barriers. There are many positive examples, from the positive exchanges between the Serbian Djokovic and Croatian Ljubicic to the successful partnership of the Indo-Pak Express, featuring Bopanna (India) and Qureshi (Pakistan). As far as relations between Tunisia and Israel are concerned, however, tennis has not helped the situation at all. For Jaziri, having an Israeli player in the draw makes his chances of fairly competing very slim. This terrible injustice must be stopped. Sport can and must overcome politics considerations.
Sport, unlike politics, is pure and everyone should have the same opportunities to fight. For a tennis player to be refused the right to play means he is being refused the right to work, and this must not be allowed to continue.