Nadalʼs Best Year? Marco Di Nardo
At the beginning of the 2017 season, it
let’s compare this year to Rafa’s other
seemed utterly impossible to think that
year-end number one seasons to see
Rafael Nadal would ever be able to return
which was his best.
to the world number one ranking. Ever more absurd would have been the notion that he could return to the top spot with a
2008
quarter of the season still to play. Nadal
Year-end ranking: Number 1
had a terrible year in 2015, and 2016 was
Wins/Losses: 82/11 (88%)
mediocre at best for someone used to
Titles: 8
winning multiple Slams every year. But
Slam Titles: 2
after a bright start at the Australian Open,
Masters Titles: 3
where he reached the final, Nadal gained
Wins/Losses in Slams: 24/2
more and more confidence each week, which ultimately culminated in him winning
In 2008, Nadal reached the world number
the French Open as well as the US Open,
one ranking for the first time, surpassing
among many other titles.
Roger Federer on August 17, 2008. The Swiss had been at the top of the world
Now, with the ATP World Tour Finals just
rankings for 237 consecutive weeks up to
around the corner, Nadal is firmly in
that point, by far the longest stretch in the
control as the world number one, and in
history of men’s tennis. The start of the
pole position to end the year on top for the
2008 season was actually a relatively slow
fourth time (his previous year-end number
one for Nadal, who did not win his first title
ones came in 2008, 2010 and 2013). With
until April in Monte-Carlo, though he did
Federer not playing at all on the clay this
play well on the American hard courts
year, he has almost certainly put himself
before that. From there, however, Nadal
out of contention for the year-end number
would become virtually unbeatable,
one. So, with the title almost in the bag,
winning 43 matches and losing only one
(to Juan Carlos Ferrero in Rome). This
only thing missing from this year is a Masters
stretch included victories at both Roland
1000 trophy on a hard court. He finished the
Garros and Wimbledon, as well as
year by losing to Roger Federer in the ATP
Barcelona, Hamburg, Queen's Club and
World Tour Finals.
Toronto. He even won a gold medal at the Olympics that year, beating Fernando Gonzalez in the gold medal match in Beijing.
2013
Unfortunately, all that tennis took its toll on
Year-end ranking: Number 1
Nadal’s body, and he could not play in the
Wins/Losses: 75/7 (91%)
ATP World Tour Finals. 2008 was the only
Titles: 10
year in which the Spaniard reached the semi-
Slam Titles: 2
finals in all four Slams.
Masters Titles: 5 Wins/Losses in Slams: 14/1
2010
Having shut down his season shortly after
Year-end ranking: Number 1
Wimbledon 2012, Nadal only returned to the
Wins/Losses: 71/10 (88%)
courts in February of the next year. But once
Titles: 7 Slam Titles: 3 Masters Titles: 3 Win/Losses in Slams: 25/1 From a Grand Slam perspective, this was undoubtedly Nadal’s best year. His only loss at a Major came at the Australian Open, where he was defeated by Andy Murray. He went on to win Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open, becoming the first player in history to win 3 Slams on 3 different surfaces in the same year. Rafa also realized the "Clay Slam," winning the three clay Masters 1000 titles (Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid) as well as the French Open. The
he hit those clay courts, he immediately
Masters 1000 titles in a year (5), as well as
rediscovered his best form. He reached the
most Masters 1000 semi-finals in a year (8).
finals in Chile and SĂŁo Paulo, while also winning the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and playing in the final in Monte Carlo. Four
2017
more titles followed in Barcelona, Madrid,
Ranking on 09/10/2017: Number 1
Rome and Roland Garros. In his first 9
Wins/Losses: 62/9
tournaments back on the Tour, Nadal never
Titles: 6
failed to reach the final. A tough loss came at
Slam Titles: 2
Wimbledon at the hands of Steve Darcis, but
Masters Titles: 2
this only stopped the Spaniard’s momentum
Wins/Losses in Slams: 23/2
momentarily. He went on to win in Montreal and Cincinnati, as well as Flushing
Despite starting the season strongly,
Meadows. Even though he did not play at the
reaching the finals in Melbourne, Acapulco
Australian Open or Miami, Nadal still
and Miami, Nadal could not secure a
managed to end the year as world number
tournament victory until Monte Carlo. But
one. He also earned the record for most
once he started winning, he barely ever
stopped. The victory in Monte Carlo was quickly followed by wins Barcelona and Madrid, and he went into the French Open as the hot favorite. At Roland Garros he won his tenth title without losing a set. It was his first Slam victory since 2014, a very long drought indeed. Nadal’s woes at Wimbledon continued, however, as he lost to Gilles Muller in five sets early on. He carried this slight slump into the American summer, but he managed to rediscover his best tennis when it mattered most, winning the US Open for the third time. Another win in Beijing, after saving two match points in the first round, meant that Nadal’s lead at number one was all but unassailable. But which of these years was Nadal’s best? From a pure tennis perspective, it would be either 2008 or 2010, when Nadal was physically still at his peak. Though he was no longer as physically overwhelming as he had been, his results from 2010 and 2013 make an argument for either of those years to be his best. Perhaps
2010, with its overlap of physical dominance and excellent results, was his best season after all. As for 2017, while it has undoubtedly been an incredible year, it’s probably not the Spaniard’s best. That being said, if he does manage to win the ATP World Tour Finals, a tournament he has never won, it will give the year a completely different perspective. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter which year was actually his “best.” All that matters is that 9 years after first becoming world number one, Nadal is once again the king of the tennis world. There appears to be no end to Nadal’s mental strength and capacity to adapt to a constantly evolving tennis landscape. Indeed, it would not be surprising if he is still world number one a year from now.
A New Look For London Marco Di Nardo
With the ATP World Tour
of Novak Djokovic and Andy
Shanghai is finished, and
Finals just around the
Murray, both of whom
with Paris-Bercy the only big
corner, it’s pretty obvious
essentially fell off a cliff this
tournament left to play, it is
that the 2017 season has
year.
time to look at the general
turned out very differently
situation, and see who is
than expected. Rafael Nadal
For these and other
likely to be heading to
and Roger Federer, who
reasons, the Race To
London in a few weeks’
returned to the top two spots
London rankings, which
time.
in the world rankings for this
track the points players have
first time in many years,
accumulated this season
Let's start with those players
have already been
(and ignores 2016’s points,
who will definitely not
discussed in this magazine
unlike the normal rankings),
participate in the ATP World
several times. We have also
are very different indeed
Tour Finals. Novak Djokovic
talked about the many crises
from a year ago. Now that
and Stan Wawrinka have
both already called an end to
each, the Swiss and
single year since Juan
their 2017 seasons, so they
Spaniard were guaranteed a
Carlos Ferrero in 2003.
are definitely out. As it
spot at the year-end event
Thiem also had a very good
stands, Wawrinka will
quite a while ago. More
year, reaching the semi-
probably still qualify for
surprising are the early
finals at Roland Garros and
London, even though he can’t
inclusions of youngsters
the final of the Masters 1000
play, but Djokovic would
Alexander Zverev and
in Madrid.
probably not make the cut
Dominic Thiem. The
Also already qualified are
anyway (he is number 10 in
German, who is also first in
Marin Cilic and Grigor
the race at present).
the Race to Milan, won two
Dimitrov, both of whom had
Wawrinka is still riding high in
Masters 1000 events (Rome
solid, consistent seasons.
the race because of his
and Montreal) in 2017. He is
Cilic, of course, reached the
excellent performances in the
the first player outside of the
final at Wimbledon, while
first half of the year: he
Fab 4 to win two such events
Dimitrov won the title in
reached the semi-final at the
on different surfaces within a
Cincinnati and reached the
Australian Open and the final at Roland Garros. So even though he hasn’t played in quite some time, his quick start to the year means he might still technically qualify. Murray has not officially called an end to his season, but since he is at number 13 in the Race and unlikely to suddenly return and win in Bercy, it’s unlikely that he will make the grade. On the other end of the spectrum, several players have already qualified, and this group is led by Federer and Nadal. With two Slams
semi-finals at the Australian
qualify for London. Finally,
Open.
Goffin has been the most consistent of all the players
So, six of the eight spots are
who have yet to qualify,
already accounted for. Vying
being in or just outside of the
for the final two is a
Top 10 for most of the year.
relatively large group of
Despite not having any high-
players, including the likes
profile tournament wins, he
of David Goffin (currently
made it to the latter end of
number 8), Pablo Carreno
events often enough to
Busta (9), Sam Querrey (11)
hoard a massive amount of
and Kevin Anderson (12). As
points.
it stands now, Goffin and Carreno Busta would be the
Regardless of who makes
last two in, but the point
up the final spots of the
margins are slim and things
London roster, one thing is
could change rapidly in the final weeks of the season. For the Spaniard, qualifying in London would be an incredible achievement, having started the year barely inside the Top 30. But semi-final appearances at Indian Wells and the US Open, combined with a quarter-final showing at Roland Garros, have propelled Carreno Busta to near the top of the men’s game. Anderson also looked like an unlikely candidate to qualify for the ATP World
Tour Finals at the start of the year. Poor form and injuries plagued him at times in 2017, but a strong finish to the year, including a final appearance at the US Open, have boosted the South African’s fortunes considerably. Querrey has enjoyed a solid season as well, with good results at Acapulco and Wimbledon. It was his performance at SW19 in particular that impressed people and bagged him enough points to nearly
certain: this year’s tournament will look very different from the one played in 2016. That is both a good and bad thing for tennis. Good because it means fans are exposed to new talent, but bad because some fan favorited are absent. In any case, it should still be an incredible event, and will almost certainly have implications for the year-end number one ranking.
season started with Justin Henin holding the top spot before Maria Sharapova, Ana lvanovic, Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic occupied it in succession. This year, after Angelique Kerber lost it having not won a title in more than 13 months since the 2016 Us
WTA: a 5 stars season. What's next
Alessandro Mastroluca “It is no exception to the law (of the diminishing marginal utility) that the more good music a man hears, the stronger is his taste for it likely to become�. Alfred Marshall wasn't thinking to demand of tennis when he expressed his law in the Principles of Economics in
1890. But, according to it, fans acquire desire and competences match after match, and accumulating experiences they starts to appreciate subtleties and tacitcal complexities much more comfortably than casual viewers. Such a distinction could help to find an answer to a question that cyclically returns in women's tennis during transitional seasons like 2017 when for the second time since the computer rankings was introduced in 1975, five different players interchanged as the World No.1 in 12 months. It had happened only in 2008, a
Open, Serena Williams took it briefly before her celebrated maternity leave. Then Karolina Pliskova reached it after Wimbledon, despite a second round exit, with no Grand Slam titles to offer, and lost the privilege after the Us Open. Garbine Muguruza gave Spain the chance to express simultaneously the ATP and WTA No.1s for the first time in history and went to Beijing to test her conditions and other reasons that money just can buy. Finally, Simona Halep became the 25th No.1 in the computer-rankings era. The question can't have anything to do with the ranking system: the best 16 principle can't be good only
when it helps Serena Williams to reach the top stop and something to change when Pliskova or Halep, one of the most consistent player this season, reach the top spot not having won a major title yet. The core of the matters rely on viewers' attitudes, tastes and needs. Demand of sports can be articulated into three main areas: -sports aspects, dealing with athletic, physical, and in certain ways aesthetic characteristics of the players, that every viewer can appreciate; -technical aspects have to do with spectacular groundstrokes, tweeners, delicate volleys, lethal dropshots and could divide between superficial viewers from passionate fans who know how to distinguish a futile solution from a strategic winner; -tactical aspects, who satisfy only the expert fans, able to evaluate different startegies and styles, shades of personality that players reveal through their game
like a chess enthusiast can interpret the evolving scenario during a match. Combined together, these aspects intensify their effects on consumers' behaviour. A passionate viewers benefit from the sports, technical and tactical details as a gestaltic whole, that's different from focusing on each single aspect. But, there wouldn't be any positive or lasting effect if the spectator isn't mentally disposed to be moved during the match. That's the hardest obstacle in a season like this in the WTA Tour. Simona Halep embracing that big No.1 covered in red
roses and dreaming new goals like winning that constantly evading first Grand Slam title, testifies a history of will, resilience, ambition. “It was the most beautiful and the hardest season in my life� she said to the Wta Insider. Her redemption came as a result of three logical steps: she decided to recall after Miami Darren Cahill, the Australian coach that brought three players to the top spot in the rankings (Agassi and Hewitt before the Romanian), to work with a mental coach and finally to add former pro Andrej Pavel in her team.
1.4 and 2.0 million, down 8% in viewership from last year's title match and 17% from Serena-Muguruza in 2015. In Great Britain, the quarterfinal between Johanna Konta and Simona Halep at 7.4m viewers became the most watched Wimbledon Ladies’ match on BBC record, while the final peaked at 4.7m. But that was not enough to be loved. According to Sports Media Watch, in the Usa the French Open women's final had a 0.7 ratings and 1.1 million viewers, the lowest for any Roland Garros title-match since 1996, “down 36% in ratings and 28% in viewership from Garbine Muguruza–Serena Williams last year (1.1, 1.5M) and down 50% and 46% respectively from WilliamsLucie Safarova in 2015 (1.4, 2.0M)”.
The first all-American Us Open women's semifinals since 1981 and Sloane Stephens' cinderella run to glory predictably increased the viewership of the Open final in the United States. That seemed, however, the casual effect of patriotic pride that moved and
involved casual viewers. Otherwise, passionate fans devoted to women's tennis agreed with Johanna Konta. ”More credit needs to be given” to women's tennis, she said to the Reuters news agency. “There is so much talk that the women’s draw is so open. But it’s open in the sense of there are so many amazing players. We have the depth.”
Despite Venus Williams contesting the title to Muguruza at her 20th Wimbledon, the
It's incredible, the Brit No.1 stated, “what is happening this year, because it’s very different from the previous year where maybe one or two players are dominating. We feel like every week
Championships final pulled a
there is the best players,
more attracted to superstars or compatriots. So, the music is good but only deoted fans's taste is likely to become stronger.
that we’re very close, a lot of diversity�. Diversity combined with an undeniably increasing competitive balance. Only two big events, the Australian Open and the Premier 5 in Doha, and just 14 tournaments during the season have been won by one of the first two seeds. Depth and competitive balance are crucial factors to influence the demand of tennis on tv. They're a source of positive motivations for fans already involved and passionate about the sport, but they're not enough to create a tie that binds casual viewers
A Long Time Coming Simona Halep’s epic journey to world number one Federico Mariani After losing to Jelena Ostapenko in the French Open final, Simona Halep could
time and again she came back to try once more. Her failures were particularly
be forgiven for thinking she would never be world number one. But four months
annoying because it seemed as if she was destined to become world number one.
later, she beat the same woman who denied her at Roland Garros to claim the WTA’s top spot.
Serena Williams was out of action due to her pregnancy, and nobody else on the Tour had the experience or consistency to rise to the now vacant top spot. At least, that was the theory. In a tumultuous year, 2017 would see five different world number ones (Serena, Kerber, Pliskova, Muguruza and Halep), a record equaled only in 2008. But being the last of this group carries no shame. In fact, it makes the accomplishment even more impressive.
Fate has been cruel to Simona Halep. Many times it has delivered her to the door of the world number one ranking, only to yank away the prize at the very last moment. But fate, as so often is the case, decided to give the Romanian a second chance at mortality. Or fourth, in this instance. Three times in the recent past Halep played a match that, if she won, would guarantee her the world number one ranking. Three times she failed. For a great many players, missing so many of these opportunities would be a fatal psychological blow. She was so close, so often, that she almost seemed cursed. But Halep is no quitter. Indeed, behind her slim frame and friendly personality is a player capable of withstanding the most enormous of setbacks. Time and again she failed, and
When considering her failed attempts to claim the top ranking, one is struck at how public each setback was. At Wimbledon, for example, Halep was just a few points away from the top ranking against Johanna Konta, but she could not close out the second set tie-break and wilted in the third. It was one of this year’s mostwatched Wimbledon matches, and could not have been a more acute failure in a brighter spotlight. In Cincinnati, another prestigious event, she again had a chance to claim the WTA crown but was
overcome by nerves in a one-sided loss to Garbine Muguruza.
particularly glamorous – the semi-finals in Beijing – but the moment most certainly
The most painful loss came at the French
was. Halep’s four-month journey of introspection and doubt had come to a
Open, which was not only her first opportunity to become world number one,
merciful and triumphant end. Halep is not the strongest player in the
but also an opportunity to win her first Slam. She went into the match as an
world, nor is she the most powerful or the most talented. She has not even had the
overwhelming favorite, as her opponent,
best year of all the players on the Tour.
Ostapenko, had never even won any kind of Tour-level event before. Halep looked
After all, she never won a Slam. But in a season of such ups and downs, where
in full control at 6-4, 3-0, but was ultimately undone by her nerves and her opponent’s refusal to give up.
nothing seemed certain and everything was in flux, there was always one constant: Simona Halep’s excellent play. She did not always win every tournament, but she almost always did well wherever she went. And that steadfast consistency ultimately won her the day, and the world number one.
But, as we already mentioned, Halep never backs down, and when a fourth shot at the number one ranking came up against her old nemesis Ostapenko, she was finally ready. The setting was not
Women’s tennis provides tons of eye candy for millions of men not only for the love of the sport and exquisite groundstrokes rallied across the court, but also for the chances to see their favorite players who are nothing less than the top models. In fact, when hot and gorgeous players battle out matches on the court, there is a certain aura that gives a sense of being in a packed room where stunning models in their finest designer wardrobe walk down the ramp amidst the glittering lights and clicking photographs. Of course, tennis players do not don extravagant outfits, at least while on court, but with top rated designers in the industry
Glamour Girls in Tennis Akshay creating unique sporting attires, these talented athletes too succeed in grabbing attention of the viewers with their sex-appeal and personality. Over the years, ever since the original glam girl Chris Evert of the seventies influenced millions of women across the globe with her hair style and fashionable trends, tennis divas continue to have a faithful fan base who, in some cases, continue to worship their players more for their sensational beauties rather than spectacular on-court achievements. Sitting on the top of a limited number of
attractive and trend-setting divas is the ever beautiful and gorgeous Anna Kournikova. The Russian who has been dating singer Enrique Iglesias for more than ten years had not much to show off in her tennis career but the blonde beauty has a pious fan-following that idolizes her stunning features and striking body. Following close on the reels of Kournikova’s popularity is the Serb Ana Ivanovic. The ravishing beauty who was once nominated as the “best looking women tennis player in history� by an Australian newspaper- The Age- has also enjoys a part time career in modeling and has appeared in highly popular magazines such as Vogue, Cosmopolitan and Vanity Fair.
Without a shade of arrogance and goodnatured to the core, Ivanovic was inspired to take up the racquet at the age of five after watching Monica Seles on TV. Though many have seen this diva splashed on the pages of different magazines and various website, there is another side of her which remains relatively hidden from the knowledge of her thousand of fans- the beauty queen has numerous superstitious beliefs which includes avoiding stepping on the lines of the court. The list can be lengthy but one cannot afford to miss Polish beauty Agnieszka Radwanska when it comes to a countdown of sizzling hotties of tennis. Another beauty who the world loves to adore and watch is Daniela
Hantuchova. The Slovak put on a bikini so as to appear in the 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition in a pictorial entitled “Volley of the Dolls� with Maria Kirilenko and Tatiana Golovin. A trained pianist who could speak three languages (English, German and Slovak), the leggy blonde had qualified in a Slovak University but deferred it to pursue on her sporting career that has capitulated her into the status she currently is. But no list can be complete without speaking about Maria Sharapova. This tall and elegant Russian entered the tennis circuit at a young age of 17 with a bang, defeating top seed Serena Williams to win her first Major title at Wimbledon 2004. The sizzling hottie with her chiseled face has parlayed with exclusive global brands like Nike, Canon and Prince for lucrative endorsements. Fortunately, and unlike some of her fellow players, this 6 feet 1 inch girl has been successful in maintaining a fine balance between her profession and passion, concentrating more on the game that has given her fame and money knowing fully that without enough credentials on the court, her millions of dollars worth endorsements and modeling stint could easily disappear into thin air.
Tennis Players – Entrepreneurs: A perfect match! Akshay
Tennis is one the most glamorous sport in the world and the exposure, recognition and attention the players receive help them in starting an alternate career. Most of them use their superstar status to make a push for a particular brand or launch an apparel line or in Maria Sharapova's case start-off a candy business. Taking cue from the likes of Rene Lacoste and
Bjorn Borg, everyone from Serena Williams to Roger Federer to Caroline Wozniacki all are trying their hands at becoming the next generation innovators off the court. Here are the most flourishing businesses of the men and women that fascinate the world with their every move. Roger Federer's “RF� Monogram
The RF emblem is the single most powerful trademark that has created an identity of sorts and is worn by millions of fans of the Swiss maestro. Under an agreement with his clothing sponsor Nike the legend markets a number of products that includes shoes, caps, Tshirts, bandannas and jackets and with that has already began his career off the court.
Moreover, the 36-year old is often seen with Editor-in-Chief of iconic fashion magazine Vogue Anna Wintour and with that has always remained high on the guest list of the fashion aficionados. Lleyton Hewittʼs Apparel Brand "C'Mon' The last Australian man to win a Grand Slam Hewitt had announced the commencement of his range of outfits by the name of "C'Mon'" during the 2013 Australian Open. The collection includes sublimated training shirts, hats, polos and tanks. Its name was conceived by Hewittʼs rendition of fist pumps and his loud screams of ‘Come Onʼ on a tennis court. The people loved his indomitable character and all those little outbursts of emotions made the buffs associate with him. Serena Williamsʼ Signature Statement of Womenʼs Accessories The winner of 15 Majors Serena runs her own label of ultra-luxurious clothing
and ancillary items called the Signature Style. The range features everything from nail polish to handbags. While on the jewelry front it includes stocky metallic cuffs, coated bangles, dangle earrings and rings. Whatʼs more all these accessories are available at a reasonable price that ranges in between 29.95 to 100 dollars. Maria Sharapovaʼs Candy Product Sugarpova Reigning French Open
champion Maria Sharapova contrary to her peers has delved into a different zone altogether - the Russian diva has introduced a candy line known as Sugarpova and ever since the product was made available across retail stores the response to it has been overwhelming. The 25 year earns a profit of 1.10 dollars on every bag of candies which is priced at 5.99 dollars. The lollies come in twelve flavors and varied shapes - purses, tennis balls and high
heels and according to her it is a resemblance of her own personality and has especially been created after taking into account the swinging moods of girls. Caroline Wozniackiʼs Lingerie Line “This is Me” Former world no.1 Caroline Wozniacki took the appeal of a tennis star to another level as she struck a chord with her large male following by launching a very private and intimate range of underwear. The Caroline Wozniacki underwear collection tagged as "This is Me"
has been manufactured in association with Denmark's celebrated underwear brand JBS and has offerings in two versions - cotton and in a microfiber design. The anthology is a result of Wozniacki's ambitions and reflects her likes and her preferred point of ease. Andy Murrayʼs Five Star Hotel Venture Without doubt, the Scot has an eye on what he would do once he hangs up his racquet as the Scot recently acquired the Cromlix House Hotel that is just a couple of minutes
drive away from his hometown of Dunblane. The hotel at present has 14 bedroom suites, a chapel, reception hall, two drawing rooms, conservatory, dining room, library and meeting rooms. Rafael Nadalʼs Rafa Nadal Academy The World No.1 started his own academy some time back and was inaugurated by none other than Roger Federer himself. Beautiful property with a number of courts, Nadalʼs uncle Toni is actively involved in the academy and is in search of the next big star. Players from all across the globe go there to play and learn the sport from the best of the best. Nadal recently spoke about his ambitions of coaching and we might end up seeing the Spaniard on the coaching times in some time to come.
Best Serve and Volley players in the last decade Akshay The serve and volley is a long lost art in the modern tennis. The evolution of racquets along with the increasing physical strength in tennis led to the dawn of the counterpunching era. Players were becoming quicker and the returns that were once just a defensive
shot were now being fired back, making the task of coming quickly to the net a daunting one. However, there still are players who come at the net much more often than others and find this game style comfortable. We have a look at players who inculcated the serve and volley game style often in the last decade.
Americans usually are good from the front part of the court and Dent with made the most of it his monstrous serves. He wasn’t only reliable on his first serve with his high kick serves usually bouncing near the shoulders, giving him an easy volley to finish.
Taylor Dent: Unusual for a contemporary tennis player, Dent favored a pure serve-and-volley style of play with his fastest serve recorded at an astounding 243 km/h. A really strong serve usually meant an easy return for Dent as he dented
Radek Stepanek The Czech is one of the prominent serve and volley player left at present with his unconventional style working extremely well for him. His anticipation skill along with his ability to not let an opponent hit an easy winner makes him a very effect serve and volley player.
a number of his opponents.
Well placed serves with an
exquisite feel at the net, this Czech has troubled some high quality opponents and has defeated them. His skills helped him lift the Australian Open doubles title and he also played a vital role in Czech Republic’s Davis Cup win. Ivo Karlovic The tallest player to have ever played the sport yet, Karlovic belongs to the land of tall players and big servers, Croatia. With the typical ‘Croat’ service action, Karlovic supports a 6’10” frame, suggesting how intimidating his serve is. He makes the most of his wingspan, making it almost improbable for the returner
to pass him. He holds the record for the second fastest serve in tennis history at 251 km/h, stating it’s not just the height but the pace of the serve too that makes it really hard to return. Not broken that often, Karlovic holds the most impressive record amongst the ones mentioned in this article.
A free flowing service motion, he packed a punch on his serve and then with his swift volleys wrapped the point at the net without any problems. Short on temper, the Brit used all his aggression while serving and constructing the point the at the net.
Greg Rusedski The southpaw from Great Britain held the record for fastest serve at 240 km/h until Andy Roddick broke it. With blistering serves and quick movement at the net, the Brit was very successful in using the slider out wide
Tim Henman The Former Brit No.1 was a classic serve and volley player, very stylish and elegant on court who was at his best on the fast grass of Wimbledon. Very athletic and nimble on his feet, Henman was a player who believed more in precision than power.
from the Ad side.
Henman probably was the
With not much venom in his ground strokes, Ivanisevic was forced to go forward most of the times and holding serve was not an option but a necessity for him, which he did superbly well. Patrick Rafter One of the most gifted and natural volley players of all
last true serve and volley player we ever got to saw all thanks to the slower surfaces. His chip and charge strategy on the returns helped him become a complete serve and volley player as this sort of playing style can only be executed by players with soft hands. Henman was ranked as high as No.4 in the World. Goran Ivanisevic The South paw from Croatia won the lone Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2001. His blasting serves found the range most of the times and that helped him play the 1-2 strategy extremely well. With a good reach at the net, Ivanisevic was not the best serve and volleyer but surely an effective one.
time, the former World No.1 did not have a big serve. But with superbly placed serves and his smooth volleys, the Australian was known for his monumental kick serve. He was also not shy of jumping around the court, something very important for a serve and volley player. Courtesy his expertise at the net, Rafter went on two
become a two time Grand Slam champion. Pete Sampras The most prominent serve and volley player of the recent times, Pistol Pete is the name that comes to one’s mind when it comes to serve and volley. With a serve that not many people could read, Sampras’ serve had the sting to unsettle anyone and everyone most of times. His strength – one toss many angles, with serves being hit out wide and down the middle with the same toss, Sampras made things worse for the returner as he came in after the serve to finish the point in a flash.
The Women’s singles of the 2017 US Open ended in remarkable fashion as Sloane Stephens trounced compatriot Madison Keys in the first all-American US Open final since 2002. Stephens who was ranked 83rd coming into the tournament is the second unseeded Grand Slam winner this year after Jelena Ostapenko at the French Open. With respect to that, let’s take a look at the other instances of unseeded players to win Grand Slam Titles in this century Goran Ivanisevic, 2001 Wimbledon One of the finest left-handed players during
Unseeded Players to have won Grand Slams since 2000 Akshay the 1990s, Goran Ivanisevic tried his luck at Wimbledon glory three times in 1992, 1994, and 1998 but lost on all three occasions in the final. By the time the 2001 Wimbledon Championships were around the corner, the Croat was out of the top 100 of the ATP rankings and could not earn an automatic berth in the main draw. However, he was awarded a wildcard to the tournament due to his past performances. The 4th time turned out to be lucky for the Croat as he was in the final once again after defeating players like Carlos Moya, Marat Safin, Andy Roddick and Tim Henman in early rounds. Up against the runner-up of Wimbledon
2000 Patrick Rafter in the final, both players were equally tested as the match went to a deciding set and a sudden death when Ivanisevic finally captured the victory and became the only wildcard male player to win a Grand Slam. Gaston Gaudio, 2004 French Open Ranked No.44 on the ATP Charts, Gaston Gaudio sailed across to the final, after sealing victories against Guillermo Canas, Jiri Novak, Thomas Enqvist, Gustavo Kuerten and David Nalbandian, to set up the one and only (till date) all-Argentine Grand Slam final against Guillermo Coria. Coria thrashed Gaudio in the first two sets 6-0, 6-3 and was looking to finally conquer his French Open title but Gaudio fought back and won the next three sets to win the match but not before saving match points. This win brought Gaudio into the Top 10 of the ATP rankings. Serena Williams, 2007 Australian Open After battling with severe injuries and depression in 2006, which resulted in falling out of the WTA Top 100 rankings, Serena Williams started her campaign at the Australian Open ranked No.81 in the World. Cruising through her previous round matches, Serena faced a familiar foe in the finals when Russian Maria Sharapova was on the other side of the net. This match was way too one-sided as Serena dropped only three games in demolishing the Russian 6-1, 6-2 to win her third Australian Open and eighth Grand Slam title.
Kim Clijsters, 2009 US Open Following her announcement to make a
would crown her the WTA World No.1. Halep won the first set but Ostapenko was
comeback from her retirement, Kim Clijsters was awarded a wildcard which landed her
resilient and fought back hard to win the next two sets and stun Halep to become the first
straight in the main draw of the US Open 2009.
ever Latvian to win a Grand Slam.
A very controversial match against Serena
Sloane Stephens, 2017 US Open
Williams in the Semi-finals saw the Belgian reach the finals where she faced Dane
Once considered to be a future star when she reached the semi-finals of the 2013
Caroline Wozniacki. Clijsters defeated Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3 to
Australian Open, Sloane Stephens’ form suffered a dip in form due to inconsistencies
become the first female wildcard winner of a Grand Slam and only the second player to do so after Goran Ivanisevic at the 2001 Wimbledon Championships.
and injuries. She returned to the Top 100 of the WTA rankings, having been ranked 957th in July, by reaching the semi-finals of the Cincinnati
Jelena Ostapenko, 2017 French Open Latvian Jelena Ostapenko became the player from her nation to reach a Grand Slam final when she defeated Timea Bacsinszky in a clash of the birthday girls in her semifinal match at Roland Garros. The 20-year old’s opponent in the final was Simona Halep who was in her second French Open and Grand Slam final and a win
Masters. Defeating some seasoned campaigners en route to the title including the likes of Venus Williams, Roberta Vinci and Dominika Cibulkova, Stephens beat her close friend and 15th seed Madison Keys and lost only three games to clinch her maiden Grand Slam title.
The Mosquito – Juan Carlos Ferrero Akshay Nicknamed El Mosquito because of to his speed and small build, Ferrero zipped behind the baseline and hit with deceptive power. His style of play has inspired a generation of Spanish players, the heart and the passion with which every ball was chased was just extraordinary.
time just before Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer hijacked the spot for years.
The right-hander had a sublime backhand down the line, which was a huge factor in him climbing to the
After turning pro in 1998, Ferrero took no time in becoming one of the premier clay court players. In 2000, El Mosquito reached the semifinal of Roland Garros, this was incidentally his first appearance in the main draw of the event. The subsequent year, the then 21-year-old equalled that feat losing to eventual
top of the mountain in 2003, when he became World No. 1 for the first time. It was a
champion Gustavo Kuerten in straight sets. In 2002, Ferrero came in as favourite
to lift his first title, in the final however, Ferrero had a rare off day as he was squished by fellow Spaniard Albert Costa. Ferrero had beaten Andre Agassi and Marat Safin en route to that final. The moment that would define Ferrero’s career however came in 2003. The Spaniard finally won that Grand Slam title, something he had been aching for four years now. He avenged his defeat to Albert Costa in the semis and in the final he beat Dutchman Martin Verkerk in straight sets to
take the title. The year would continue to
Open. Losing in the second round at the event meant
Madrid in 2003. He also was a member of Davis
be a special one for the Spaniard as he proved his
that something was seriously wrong with the
Cup-winning Spanish squads in 2000, 2004 and
prowess on other surfaces and conditions too. At the
Spaniard.
2009.
US Open in September that
As he got older, he got
Ferrero is still involved in
year, Ferrero reached the final by beating Andre
wiser too. In 2008, Ferrero dealt Nadal a rare clay
the sport at the academy level, as well as through
Agassi in the semis and despite being outplayed
court defeat winning the match 7-5,6-1, in a
the tournament in Valencia and his foundation, La
Andy Roddick in that final, Ferrero became the 21stman to reach that spot. The then 23 year-old would stay on that perch for eight weeks before he would be unseated
tournament that Nadal has literally owned - the Rome Masters. Ferrero also won four Masters Series titles, winning on clay in Rome in 2001, and Monte Carlo in
Fundaciรณn de la Comunidad Valenciana Juan Carlos Ferrero, which promotes sports for youth in and around Valencia.
by the American again.
2002 and 2003, as well as on the indoor hardcourts of
In what was supposed to be a where he would continue to realise his dreams, turned out to be a nightmare for the Spaniard. After a decent start to the year, where he reached the semis of the Aussie Open, Ferrero fell prey to chicken pox in March, when it started to fall apart for him. After a first round loss in April at MonteCarlo, Ferrero needed another month of rest and recuperation. At a practise session, Ferrero fell and injured his right wrist along with his ribs which meant that an under-prepared Ferrero entered the French
Mental Tennis: Tricks of the trade Mark Gellard
Contrary to popular belief professional tennis players suffers from many of the
‘top down’ approach. When experiencing difficult periods during a match focusing
same mental struggles as the regular club or recreational player. Mental toughness
on simple concepts such as a ‘low to high’ swing or the ‘bounce-hit’ of the ball will
is arguably the most important skill set required in order to fulfill your potential and so being aware of some simple yet highly effective ‘tricks of the trade’ will
elicit a clear thought process devoid of unnecessary distractions. After all tennis is simply a matter of putting the ball over the net and in the court one more time
provide you with an unshakeable confidence and perhaps even more importantly, a plan of action when in the heat of battle.
that your opponent. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Modern day tennis has become a complex conundrum involving an expansive range of factors for players to comprehend and master including movement patterns, strategical awareness, statistical tendencies and biomechanical recommendations. The spectacular shots we see from the professional players are undoubtedly awe inspiring but it is ultimately their mastery of the basic principles of the game that separates them from the ‘average Joe’. With so much information readily available through modern technology and coaching, it can often be easy to forget the fundamentals and mistakenly evaluate the game with a
Tennis is unique in comparison with other sports in so much as it is a predominantly internal battle rather than an external one. Statistics from the professional tour indicating the average number of unforced errors to winners highlights how so much of what ‘we do’ rather than what the opponent ‘does to us’ effects the outcome of a match and so understanding the importance of being your ‘own coach’ on the match court is of paramount importance. Setting performance based goals during a match such as ’I want to hit spin on both my 1st and 2nd serve’ rather than result based ones ‘I have to make over 70% of my first serves’ allows you to remain objective in your analysis while providing the added benefit of alleviating
scoreboard pressure. Former ATP player Brad Gilbert summed up tennis with one very simple concept “you have to figure out who is doing what to whom” and so paying attention to the journey rather than the destination will provide significant benefits. Far too often players primary concern during preliminary matches relates to how well they perceive themselves to be ‘hitting the ball’ when ultimately their focus should be on survival. You cannot win a tournament on the first day but you can certainly lose it. Breathing is a useful tool and an important technique to master when playing sports as it provides us with a suitable distraction/focal point in addition to providing an internal metronome creating rhythm, relaxation and efficiency. Simply by grunting, exaggerating the exhale at contact or saying something as you hit will narrow your focus and elicit a feeling of relaxation that will naturally facilitate your finest play. After all merely recognizing that the polar opposite of ‘breathing’ is ‘choking’ will in itself help prevent the latter from occurring. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have provided an intriguing rivalry for more than a decade that has captivated audiences all over the world, but there is a striking difference in their level of perceived intensity court. Through years of deliberate practice both men have been able to discover their optimal level of activation which could be envisioned as a sliding scale of 1-10 with 10 being the most intense and 1 being the least intense. Being able to maintain a high level of intensity while simultaneously remaining relaxed may be one of the most
demanding skills to master and so taking time to understand what your optimum level of activation is will be crucial for key moments. Whether you are someone who needs a heightened level of activation such as Rafael Nadal or you are someone who requires a calmer persona like Roger Federer is inconsequential but being familiar with this critical idiosyncrasy will undoubtedly yield dividends. When experiencing the dreaded ‘bad day’ tennis players are all too often caught asking themselves the wrong questions “why is my backhand so bad today?” or “how can I miss that shot?”, when in actuality their energy would be far better spent asking questions about their opponent such as, “what are their strengths and weaknesses, “what do I need to do to get through this match?” The best players in the world spend more time focusing on the other side of the court and what needs to be done to beat their opponent rather than the narcissistic ‘I’ mentality that choses to focus only on themselves and neglects to account for the opponent down the opposite side who is trying their hardest to counter your attacks. There is no requirement in tennis that you play your best to win, no courtside judges or points for style, what really matters is that you engage in the strategical battle of finding a matchup that allows you to utilize your strengths against your opponent’s weaknesses. If you encounter an opponent that is having a particularly good day then submitting them to unconventional circumstances such as a change in your court positioning or a decrease in time between points can disrupt their timing, and
so with a subtle change you can coerce them in to becoming the one having to ask the questions. Essentially there are two thought processes at play, either raise the level of your own game or bring down the level of your opponents game. Failure to pay attention to what is happening down the other side of the court will decidedly impair your levels of success, after all most of us would agree we would rather win ugly than lose pretty. ‘It’s not how you start the match, it’s how you end’. While this popular statement certainly holds water it does not account for how the beginning of a match can have considerable effects on its end. From the commencement of the on-court warmup try to imagine yourself as a computer rapidly gathering information and data on your opponents strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes
nuances and tendencies, creating a profile as you progress that can be accessed at any time. Information that you collected in the first game of the match about their serving
people who experience a fear of flying have been advised by pilots to write their name over and over with their non- dominant hand during severe turbulence as having a specific
tendencies to a particular side or their disdain for a particular shot you have could be the deciding factor in determining the outcome of a third set tiebreak. Putting your opponent in their least comfortable situations at the most important times will yield significant results. Keep It Simple Stupid was the slogan of the U.S. Navy in 1960 used to highlight the importance of understanding that most systems work best if they are kept simple rather than complicated. Such a statement
task to perform while under duress, in addition to the cross over motor activity required in the brain acts as an excellent distraction. The next time you experience nervous energy before or during a match finding a simple distraction such as singing a song to yourself or revisiting some basic principles of your game may just be the only factor separating success from failure. When observing professional players who are covered in medical tape or appear in constant conversation with their ‘team’ during matches these idiosyncrasies more than
may provide the most prolific advice you will ever receive, especially when pertaining to a tennis court. A poignant example of simplicity is illustrated in the airline industry whereby
likely serve the primary purpose of providing a mental diversion that elicits a more relaxed frame of mind. Just as tightrope walkers are warned not to look down, tennis players may
benefit from similar advice. ‘Don’t look within’. By Mark Gellard A PTR Professional, USPTA Elite Professional, and NSCA-CSCS certified strength and conditioning coach Mark has worked with players, such as Martina Hingis, Nadia Petrova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Danka Kovinic. Former Head Female Development Coach for the Kazakhstan Tennis Federation and currently working for China’s prestigious Star River team. Mark played Division 1 college tennis for the University of South Alabama and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Mark’ welcomes you to visit his website -www.firststriketennis.us
Heads or Tails Francesca Amidei
We are about to hit the ball and the time stops. Someone has paused our game, our lives. A mysterious event has made a fraction of a second eternal, and we are sucked into a turbine of indecision. All of our tactical knowledge has vanished, and we have no idea what the right choice is, what the right shot is.
free, and your impulse will ultimately push
But soon, we will have to hit the ball and send it back across the net. Time will return to normal.
you to make a decision. So as we run to the ball we already have a shot in mind, but fear, mixed with tension,
We are anxious to find out whether our choice was the right one, whether it will win or lose the point.
blurs our minds and stiffens our arms at the moment of execution. Then we close our eyes and let the ball hit the racket in the hope that our nervous system, before going
“That choice which can be determined by pure reason is called free choice. That which can be determined only by inclination (sensible impulse) would be animal choice. Human choice, however, is a choice that can indeed be affected but not determined by impulses.� According to Kant, your choice is always
to standby, sent the right signals to the arm and that that the ball will go where we want it to. At the moment we flip the coin, we realize that we have already chosen, but can no longer stop or control its rotation. We can just wait and watch to see if it lands in our favor.
Can perception… improve your tennis? Federico Coppini
It is fundamental to understand the coming ball’s characteristics right when it
DIRECTION The ball’s direction indicates if you have to
leaves your opponent’s racquet. Less expert players often get these
get ready for a forehand or a backhand, (after the bounce or a volley, depending
characteristics only when the ball has already passed the net and bounced. At that moment it will be too late and technical and tactic decisions will be
on your position on the court). By getting the ball’s direction as soon as possible you can prepare in a more efficient way.
affected by the little time available to get ready for the ball’s execution (stiffness, loss of balance and of the ball…). Remember that when you play from the baseline there are two ball’s movements: one goes from your opponent’s racquet to the bounce and another one that goes from the bounce to your racquet. Both offer you some crucial clues on how to prepare for the next shot. In order to better understand the ball, consider its five characteristics that can give you an immediate help.
DEPTH It is very hard to precisely determine where the ball will end and this is often the characteristic that gets understood at the last moment. The ability to move backwards (in case the ball is deep) or forwards (in case it is short) is important and can become a key element in the preparation of the following shot.
HEIGHT This is one of the first ball’s aspects you should perceive as soon as it gets hit by your opponent. Use the net as a benchmark in order to measure the ball’s height.
SPEED The ball’s speed determines the time available to get ready and hit. It is fundamental that your preparation reflects the ball’s speed. For example, hit with a quick and simple backswing after a fast first serve (or other fast shots) and with a longer and sharper one after an opponent’s shot that is slower and bounces higher.
ROTATION More expert players hit with different rotations (especially after a bounce and when serving), giving the ball a movement that is difficult to understand (see Nadal). A ball hit with topspin will go higher than a regular bounce, while a backspin will stay lower and will tend to run away after the bounce. You can anticipate the ball’s type of rotation based on the technique used by the opponent in order to hit it.