Tennis World - issue 16

N째16 - 2014

Tennis World

Rafael Nadal After a record-breaking 2013, this season is starting to become very challenging for Rafa Nadal

Ana Ivanovic Trending upward

Vuoi vincere?

You will not be happy when you win, but you will win when you are happy

An interview with Eugenie Bouchard

by David Cox

Her Time To Shine

Over the past few years, women’s tennis has found itself lagging behind the men’s game, lacking the same big name rivalries to captivate the public. Part of this has been down to the sheer dominance of Serena Williams and the retirements of players like Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters. But apart from Williams and Maria Sharapova, no player has really stepped forward and thrust themselves into global stardom for many years.

That could be about to change, with the rise of a young Canadian called Eugenie Bouchard, who’s enjoyed an astonishing rise over the past year.

The tall blonde has a ferocious game and high expectations, powering herself into the semifinals of January’s Australian Open and earning plenty of adoring fans along the way.

It was reminiscent of Sharapova’s sudden surge into the spotlight a decade ago and Bouchard is equally ambitious. While many of her peers are happy to sit back and develop their games

without being too concerned about results just yet, Bouchard sees no reason why she shouldn’t be achieving big things.

“The game is for sure a little bit older, with Serena, and Li Na, for example, doing so well in their 30s,” she said. “But to me, I'm playing here and now. I want to do the best I can right away.

There's no point for me to just kind of be relaxed about it. Of course, winning every single match isn’t going to be possible, but I want to try to do the best I can as soon as I can, and I want to have 10 successful years and not five slow ones and then five good ones.”

Self-confidence has clearly never been a problem, something which was evident throughout 2013 as she notched up wins over Sam Stosur, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Sloane Stephens.

“I think that ever since a young age I've always been confident in myself and everything I do,” she said. “And I’m always learning through my coach, through practices, through matches, trying to gain confidence, and not being surprised if you do well. That’s really key, to kind of expect it from yourself.”

For a moment she looks like an excitable teenager planning her first inter-railing adventure as she describes her European itinerary for the next month 12 months ago, Bouchard was already regarded as a big talent by those in the know, but with a ranking outside the world’s Top 100, she still had much to prove. It’s been quite a year, and she laughs as she remembers how she was having to battle through the qualifying rounds of most of the big events.

“Yeah, like in Charleston (where she just made the semi-finals) I couldn't even get into the main draw last year. It’s exciting, this is what I've been working to achieve, to play in these big tournaments.”

For a moment she looks like an excitable teenager planning her first inter-railing adventure as she describes her European itinerary for the next month, tournaments

which she’s only been able to watch on TV in the past.

“I’m starting on the red clay in Portugal, and then there are some tournaments I've never played before, like Madrid and Rome, which I hear are really cool. I'm so excited to finally have the ranking to play these big tournaments, and I'm just going to enjoy it so much. They're warm-up tournaments for Roland Garros, but they're also big tournaments themselves, and I always want to do well at every tournament I play at.”

Bouchard will be a significant dark horse at the French Open. Last year she lost to Sharapova in the second round, but far bigger things will be expected of her this time round and while hard

“Generally I like being an aggressive player, so I don't want to change my game too much going from surface to surface" courts are certainly her preferred surface, she feels that she has the tools to do some damage on the clay.

“Generally I like being an aggressive player, so I don't want to change my game too much going from surface to surface,” she said. “But I can still hang in the points and I’m working on my defence and I think that will help me a lot on the clay. I think I did that well in Charleston (where she beat Venus Williams), staying in points and kind of just grinding it out.”

“I enjoy the different surfaces and changing it up. I’ll just change a few little things, but I keep my general game of being aggressive, because that still works on clay.”

Serena Needs A Rest

by Alessandro Varassi Her defeat against Jana Cepelova in Charleston has pushed the world number one to take a few weeks of rest

Those who watched her in Charleston could not help but notice that the American was tired.

Very tired. She had just triumphed in Miami, and many wondered if she would be able to successfully defend her title at the Family Circle Cup after such a grueling fortnight in Florida.

Their doubts were well founded, as Serena was a shadow of herself on the court. Serena gave full credit to Cepelova, who had been able to move her around the court with relative ease. But in her press conference she did admit that she was fatigued.

"I'm tired, I need a few weeks of detachment, where I do not have to think about tennis. I need to recharge,� she said.

She could certainly use a break. Every time she enters a tournament, she is automatically the favorite to win. Everyone expects her to always be perfect, and that can take a toll on a person.

"I'm taking some vacation time, I have to unplug, take a deep breath, I did not have

enough time even in the off-season. I immediately started training, I rested very little in the last 2-3 seasons. I need it, especially for the clay season."

She is defending massive amounts of ranking points at Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros. Not an easy feat for anyone, especially someone who is traditionally not very fond of clay.

Since she returned to the court in 2011, after nearly walking away from the sport due to injury, Serena has played far more than she did as a youngster. In these past two seasons, Williams has returned to number one in the world, won two gold medals at the Olympics (singles and doubles) and four Slams. What did she miss? Probably just rest. Her admittance of a need for rest should not alarm her fans, as it is not necessarily a sign of decline. Instead, it is a sign that she is thinking in the long term, and has intentions of dominating the circuit for a long time to come.

At the beginning of May, in the splendid setting of the Caja Magica in Madrid, we'll see if rest was enough to re-energize Serena, or if she is in bigger trouble than she thinks.

Double Delight

by Franca Angelini Jelena Jankovic and Alisa Kleybanova will be one of the doubles pairs to watch this season.

Little in common Looking at them from the outside there does not seem to be a lot in common between the two.

The Serb can be described as a bit of a drama queen at times, and she always wants to be noticed. "JJ," as her friends and fans call her, is a perfectionist. “I'm never satisfied with my game,” she says. “ When I leave the court I always feel I could do much better. I think it is my nature. I never say I played well." The Russian, on the other hand, is of a quieter disposition.

She recently won the toughest match of her life

– against Hodgkin's lymphoma.

She returned to the court after nearly two years away to treat her condition. Now, however, she is back and feeling stronger than ever.

After reaching the quarter-finals in Stuttgart, where she beat Petra Kvitova, Alisa Kleybanova is back in the Top 100 (at number 87). Her ultimate aim is to reach the Top 20.

Chasing her dream “I feel that I'm getting faster, physically stronger, more durable,” she said recently. “I do not need to search for special reasons. For me, to take to the court each day is a dream

come true.

I just like the mere fact of being able to play every day, play tournaments.

I love this sport and always give 100%.

And I know that if I continue in good spirit, the results will come.

Even now they are gradually improving.

There will be bad days, but this happens. I try not to worry and that helps me."

At the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, the two friends competed in the singles.

Jankovic won the match, but the Serb, who generally likes to talk mainly about herself, showed great respect for her doubles partner.

"It's never easy to play against someone you know so well. Alisa is a wonderful person and a great player. It's never nice when we play against each other. But we are two professionals, I want to win, she wants to win. It is also weird because the next day we play on the same side of the court. No, it's never easy."

A team born by chance "In Doha, we trained together on the first day of the tournament, and Jelena had no one to play doubles with. She asked me, I accepted," the Russian said recently. Now they have decided to play together for the rest of the season.

"With Jelena, there has always been a great deal of respect. Playing next to her is fun, we laugh a lot on the court. Even when something goes wrong neither of us gets angry and we continue to play with a smile on our lips. For both of us it is clear that our goal is the singles, while the doubles is just for fun. The result of course is important, but without any stress."

"I have chosen a companion for double happiness."

Because, let's face it, who does not enjoy Jankovic?

Jankovic has always embraced her light-hearted nature.

“For me it's just fun. This is my way of being, even if there are cameras around. If you came with me to the restaurant or off the tennis court, I would know you a little better and you would see how I am. I'm bubbly and I like to talk...Sometimes without meaning."

"Having a good time, making people laugh, spreading good energy, that I think is the most important thing."

Andrea Petkovic, who Jankovic played twice in Charleston, confirms this notion: "The beauty of Jelena is that she is exactly as you see her. With her, there are no tricks or surprises."

The Russian is less extroverted than Jelena. That is perhaps a good thing, because having two such high energy personalities on a team would prove problematic.

“Usually I do not talk much with the other tennis players off the court,” Kleybanova says.

“After training sessions and matches we all have our commitments. But with Jelena often we train together, we joke a lot and we support each other. We would like to create a team spirit like

each other. We would like to create a team spirit like that between Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci."

Jankovic loses no opportunity to highlight the qualities of her friend.

"She showed how strong she is. And it is a source of inspiration for others, the fact that she was able to return after such an illness. It is even more remarkable that she is here to compete at such a high level, against all of us."

And then the words that you do not expect, but they are nice to hear, "I am very proud of her. I am a big fan of hers. I'm rooting for her every time he plays a match. I support her fully. She’s a lovely girl and a wonderful person."

An interview with Ana Ivanovic

by Stefano Semeraro

Trending upward

Even though Ana Ivanovic is many years removed from being world number one, she still manages to draw the eyes of photographers like few other players.

At a recent press conference for Rolex, one of her many sponsors, she also showed that she still has the ability to charm anyone at any time. "My relationship with the Rolex works because it is based on respect," she said with a smile.

"It is a fine brand, but they treat me like family.

These are the values ​in which I recognize myself."

Ana, you are the most beautiful tennis player in the world...

“Thanks, I’m flattered…”

You're welcome. Beauty can sometimes be a problem. It can distort people’s relationship with reality…

"Not for me. I like to focus on the court, because I try to give my best as a tennis player, and I think people appreciate it. It is true that people can be influenced, but I'm very genuine, easygoing."

"I also think a lot about what happens to me sometimes.

Sometimes it's better not to think and follow your instincts."

You have reached the semis at Rome before, in 2010‌ "It's a tournament that I love very much. I love Rome, the people, the atmosphere. Maybe that's why I put too much pressure on myself and don’t reach the end. I wonder if sooner or later I will get there."

You are very emotional...

"Yes, and sometimes it helps me, sometimes it harms me.

But I'm just like, I'm a very passionate person, and I cannot change."

You are also passionate about psychology. Is it difficult to analyze yourself?

"From the outside everything seems easier. It is true that I love psychology, and I read many books on the subject. I also think a lot about what happens to me sometimes. Sometimes it's better not to think and follow your instincts."

Are female tennis players more stressed than their male colleagues?

"Yes. People see only the glamorous side of our work, but it's a very hard job, and travelling creates so much stress. And girls often turn stress into conflict with each other."

I'm a big agonist, I hate to lose. And I get angry even if I play backgammon with my coach Off the court you look so sweet, but on the court you are ravenous…

"Always. I'm a big agonist, I hate to lose. And I get angry even if I play backgammon with my coach and cards with my brother."

Is women’s tennis in better shape than the men’s game today?

"There are so many players who can win, many quality rivalries at the top. We are not just glamor and skirts."

What must a man do to win your heart?

"Be sure of himself. Have fun, make me laugh. I do not like the blowhard who intimidates people. The important thing is to always be yourself: I am one who appreciates honesty."

How do you beat Serena Williams? In Australia, you managed to do so.

“She is powerful, you have to be aggressive, but not too much because if you make a lot of mistakes it is over. Easy, no?”

What weapons do you use to seduce?

"I never try to be what I’m not. Also because in the end the truth always comes to light."

You and Novak have done a lot for tennis in Serbia. Who will follow you?

"Tennis is now the most popular sport in Serbia, we are full of young talent, but lack the

Beautiful and fit, too. Tell us about your diet.

"I never eat either fried food or sweets..." facilities, and we risk losing them. But today's kids are tough."

Beautiful and fit, too. Tell us about your diet.

"I never eat either fried food or sweets..."

And? “Well, sometimes I give myself Nutella. I also like pizza or spaghetti if I treat myself."

This policy works?

"For heaven's sake, it's something that just does not interest me. My friend Djokovic on the other hand knows about these things."

What do you see in your future?

"Three or four children, when I retire. And a commitment to fashion."

In the present?

"I want to come back into the Top 8. Rome has given me momentum since 2008.

And I have already won two tournaments this year, and it’s only May.:

Ready For Primetime

by Stefania Grosheva

"It's about putting together all the pieces, but the puzzle is really complex"

"It's about putting together all the pieces, but the puzzle is really complex," says Tomas Berdych, as he considers the size and complexity of his ambition to enter the Top 4. Though he understands the challenge, he smiles, and talks positively about the future. "You have to be extremely professional," he adds thoughtfully.

"This is what I need to get the best out of my tennis.�

Berdych is just as quick to recognize the fierce drive of the major players in the world to stay where they are. He also draws some inspiration from Stanislas Wawrinka’s breakout season. The Czech lost to Wawrinka in four sets in the semifinals in Melbourne. "I was very close against Stan," he reflected in an interview with The Guardian. "There were three tie-breaks."

"Stan has given us all a new hope and new energy," Berdych said. "He has shown that it is possible. Since 2005, there have been very few players who have won a Grand Slam, apart

from the big four [in the eight and a half years that separate the 2005 French Open and the 2014 Australian Open only Juan Martin Del Potro, outside the Fab Four, has won a Slam]."

"But now it is absolutely fair to say that you have a chance, and that's why I do not feel tired after 12 years [on the Tour]. I have a new energy and am very close. I need to work harder and achieve greater results because I know that Andy Murray took a long time to win his first Grand Slam."

Murray, after numerous missed opportunities, won the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon.

Berdych stresses that working with Ivan Lendl "was really a big factor. I know Ivan well and he certainly had a great influence on Andy. Ivan did not teach him anything new technically, but psychologically he has done so much." Now that he and Lendl have separated, Murray has the difficult task of choosing his next coach.

"It does not matter if it's a big name or an ordinary guy," said Berdych. "Andy could choose someone very different. But they definitely need the right chemistry, psychologically." "Some people look at

Federer’s coach and wonder, ‘what can her learn from him?’ But it is very nice because when Roger was young, Stefan was his idol. This is an example of the strange chemistry that we need.

I’m not saying that Stefan cannot give him one or two pieces of advice, but really, what can you say to a guy who has won 17 Grand Slam? It's just chemistry."

Berdych has been coached by Tomas Krupa since 2009, another Czech. "He was a topranked player, 100 in doubles and 250 in singles, but he coached Radek Stepanek when he was in his prime, at number 8, and now he is with me. Many times I get asked if I am looking

for the names of coaches and yes, there is still a window for it. I'm open to that."

Berdych came agonizingly close to a Major victory in 2010, when he beat Federer and Djokovic at Wimbledon. "And then there's Rafa in the final," he says with a grim smile, remembering his disappointing loss to the Spaniard.

Wimbledon still offers the best hope of him becoming a champion.

"Yes, but I'm laughing so hard because I remember in my early years on the grass. Then my first Grand Slam final was Wimbledon! So anything is possible. But the grass has changed significantly and you can move much more easily. It suits my game at the moment. Last year I played Queen's for the first time and it went very well. So I'm happy to go again this year. I do not know if they want to hear this at Wimbledon, but the grass at Queen's is much better."

Speaking about the immediate future, he is optimistic.

"There is now more of a chance. It is extremely difficult, but if it becomes the reality that one day I will raise a big trophy, then it will be even more special."

Jiri Vesely Ready To Shine

by Vanni Gibertini Tennis is no longer a sport for teenagers.

Tennis is no longer a sport for teenagers.

This is something that Jiri Vesely, who was born in 1993, knows all too well. A promising junior, he won the 2011 Australian Open, and reached the final at the US Open. However, success has been much harder to come by on the ATP World Tour.

The Czech tasted his first real professional success in 2012, when he won five Futures titles. He had not yet won a Challenger event, but a growth spurt over the following year saw him add four inches to his already

tall frame, making him all the more formidable on court. Nearly two meters tall, he now boasts a massive serve that he has built the rest of his game around.

The extra height helped him to a career-best year in 2013, and he was honored as one of the ATP’s "Stars of Tomorrow" at the end of the season. He won two Futures trophies in January, followed by his first Challenger title in Turkey. In May he won another, which improved his ranking to 126 in the world – an incredible feat considering that he wasn’t even in the Top

It is telling of his maturity that he wants to use this loss as a building block for the future.

Vesely knows that he has a long way to go to be a top player, but he also understands that he is capable of it.

300 at the start of 2013. He qualified for the main draw at Roland Garros and won a third Challenger in Braunschweig, which saw him break into the Top 100 for the first time in his career.

In July, he won yet another Challenger title in Liberec in the Czech Republic, defeating Federico Delbonis in the final.

Delbonis had, of course, just come off a victory against Roger Federer in Hamburg.

The rest is recent history. He won his first Davis Cup match alongside veterans Berdych and Stepanek, and reached the 3rd round in Indian Wells before losing 6-4 in the third set to Andy Murray. It was a match that, had he been more experienced, he surely would have won.

"I think in the end it depended on my physical fatigue," he said after his match against the Wimbledon champion. "But the need to stay focused on every point in a match for so long is tough. I do not have much experience against the Top 10.

At the US Open last year when I trained with Andy I was so worried about making mistakes that I did not train very well.

This time, of course, I went on the court to win, but when I got a lead of 4-2 in the second and third set I stiffened and missed a great opportunity. I think it's better to take the good things I have been able to do in this match and look ahead."

An interview with Stanislas Wawrinka

by Federico Coppini

A new Stan in Town

So far this year, Stanislas Wawrinka has been on a quest to rewrite the record books. Just a few months in, he has made a pretty good start. After winning the first Grand Slam of his career in Australia, he followed it up with his first Masters 1000 title in Monte Carlo. Last year, before he started working with Magnus Norman, Stan seemed as if his career might stall for good.

Instead, he has the reinvented himself, and is now firmly planted in the Top 4.

Monte-Carlo was an important tournament for Switzerland, and also a final unlike any other. We saw two friends, two rivals competing for the trophy. Roger seemed happy to be able to congratulate you at the end of the

match...

"Yes, it was a special day for Switzerland. It is rare to see in the sport so much mutual respect.

Roger and I are friends, on and off the court, but when we play against each other is obvious that both try to win. We had lunch together before the match, and eventually in the locker room we talked and laughed together. That's what we always do, even in the Davis Cup. I do not deny, however, that for someone like me, with my character, it is always difficult to win against him."

Winning matches like this, they say, adds security and self-esteem. It must have been so for you, opening the clay season like this.

"I have worked very hard. I realized how I became stronger mentally and physically. I managed to play good tennis and I beat all opponents. For me it was important to do my best after the Davis Cup, I had to be ready to play the tough matches and fight with all my might. Monte-Carlo has given me the

opportunity."

After winning the Australian Open, did you expect to win your first Masters 1000 so soon?

"It does not seem real to me and I did not expect it. I'm really happy to have won a Masters 1000 so quickly after my first Grand Slam. When I arrived in Monte-Carlo, I said to myself that this tournament was a test for me, I knew I was playing good tennis but I had a tough draw and I did not think about it. On the court, however, I moved well and I played with great power."

After Australia, where you played so well, in the US it seemed like you struggled.

But in Davis Cup you seemed to find a spark again.

"After winning a Grand Slam is always difficult to confirm the results. In Indian Wells and Miami I didn’t play well and went out early.

Davis Cup is of great importance for me and my goal is to play it to the fullest. Playing at home alongside Roger, against Kazakhstan, it was hard for me, especially the first two days. Then I was happy with the victory which gave me that extra push to play well on the Tour again."

The season is only four months old and yet you have accomplished so much.

Today you are considered a champion and a winner. But before it was not like this. Can you tell us what has changed?

"The change in me came last year, when for the first time I reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, the final in Madrid and the semi-finals at the US Open. It was there that I realized I could beat all the other players. That's what I 'm trying to do this year and now I seem to get it right. I am amazed at where I arrived, but I'm not surprised, I have always had faith in my game."

How do you feel now that you are in the Top 4?

"I think the Fab Four will always be there: Rafa, Novak, Roger and Andy. They won all the major tournaments, and this cannot be changed.

Although today there is something different in the standings, the statistics speak for themselves: they have won everything and have done so for many years."

You has always been very modest, downto-earth. Where does this come from?

"I am a simple person, who grew up on a farm with two parents who worked in the office, dealing with people with disabilities. Knowing this really makes you realize what the important things in life are. I learned to have respect for everyone, it is especially crucial and I realized how lucky I am."

What important tips did Magnus Norman give you at the start of the clay season?

"The work began with Norman since last year, shortly before Estoril. We train a lot and hard, but much of the work is devoted to the maintenance of concentration."

You are not too far away from the number one spot. Have you thought about this?

"Of course, everyone likes to dream. At this time, however, I have to say no. I am too far away from this goal, Rafa is number one and to get there he had to win two Slams and five

Masters 1000 events in 2013. You almost have to play and win all the tournaments to get to number one. It's too early to think of such a thing."

In the semi-finals of the Davis Cup, Switzerland will face Italy‌ "I think the Cup competition is very important, I've always said, and it is obvious that we would love to go and beat Italy. You know how it is, we have only two players, although we are quite strong, while Italy has several good players. In any case, it is far away. We’ll see in due time."

Interview with Magnus Norman

by Jan Stanski

“Coach is like a doctor!”

At the moment we have about 40 players from different parts of Europe focused more on the Nordic and eastern parts. We have 10 full-time coaches traveling with the players and I’m pretty proud of our program. Our facilities are however not that great and we are currently planning to build a new tennis center with approximately 14 indoor courts and 10 outdoor courts, gym, accommodation and restaurant.

What do you think what is the state of Swedish tennis in the world? What is your prediction for next years?

I think Swedish Tennis has seen the low. We are on the way up again. More juniors starting to work hard and we have some decent results in the juniors. It’s not as good as a few years ago however.

Norman, Edberg, Enqvist. Great names on the court in the past. Now in the coaching box. Why is that?

I hope it’s not because we have nothing else to do..haha.. No, to be really honest I really don’t know. Swedes are in general very reliable and hardworking people and I think that are two important factors perhaps.

How the workout in your tennis academy "Good to Great" look like?

What are the plans for the future?

Do you have your own role model coach you like to follow or imitate in some way?

I imitate all the coaches at the academy. I learn a lot from them. We have a mix of ex-players and more academic coaches. Younger and older. It’s really fascinating. I also talk a lot to my good friend Thomas Johansson.

What are the goals for Stanislas Wawrinka you set up together for the future?

The goal is to be as well prepared for all events that he is playing as possible. He has won a Grand Slam, Masters 1000 and ATP 250 this year but I can really feel that he wants more.

Your player - Stanislas Wawrinka joined to the elite club of competitors having the title of Grand Slam and ATP Masters as well.

He beaten already the icons of tennis Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal. What is the main thing he changed in his game to have so great results in recent period of his career?

I think the main thing would have been his mental approach. He believes a little more in himself now I think. He has pushed his worse level up a bit and that’s because of his mental stability. We have also been able to prepare well for all events and he has been free from

A great physic that takes care of his body. Great fitness trainer whom I really admire and a great agent that thinks long term.

Did you have some funny story with Stan?

Many funny stories. But beeing a coach is a little bit like beeing a doctor. Your patients are your players. What is beeing said between you and your player stays there. It’s about trust. Stan is however a very humble man with a big perspective in life. He is a family man to we understands each other very well outside the court as I’m a father of 2 as well.

Alex Dolgopolov

by David Cox

Strong Enough To Compete

Few sights in world sport are as glorious as the backdrop to Centre Court at the Monte Carlo Country Club, the brick red dust contrasting sharply with the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean beyond.

It’s a setting fit for champions and as we discuss the shifting balance of power at the top of the men’s game, with this most panoramic of views in the background, Alexandr Dolgopolov tells me that he firmly believes he’s capable of joining the ranks of the elite in years to come.

Dolgopolov, known as “The Dog” by his team, grew up in his native Ukraine but since becoming a regular in the world’s Top 25, has moved to Monaco’s tax haven, along with regular practise partners Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troicki.

One of the most watchable players on the Tour, you never quite know what you’re getting from Dolgopolov.

Such is the rich variety of shots in his arsenal and the depth of his imagination.

But despite reaching a career high of 13 in the world two years ago, he feels that he’s underachieved thus far.

“Mentally, I think I’ve always been quite good,” he explains. “All the time I would come out and play my game against whoever was on the other side. I never thought about who it is even if I was playing Rafa or Novak. No, I think I haven’t always been physically strong or focused enough.”

Dolgopolov has been afflicted by the genetic disorder Gilbert’s syndrome since the age of 12, often resulting in him requiring to make sudden trips to the hospital without warning. As a teenager, he refused to accept there was anything wrong with him and now he refuses to accept that this has had much of an impact on his career.

“It only happens a few times a year and you have ten months to play, so it's been more my problems - not being there 100% throughout matches and all those little things which I think I've managed to get together better now.”

He’s currently ranked just outside the Top 20, but so far this season he believes that he’s finally starting to string performances together on a more regular basis. He beat Fabio Fognini and David Ferrer in straight sets on the clay of Rio De Janeiro en route to the final at the end of February, and he was even more impressive during the back-to-back Masters in Indian Wells and Miami.

He stunned Rafael Nadal, Fognini and Milos Raonic to make the semis in California, before beating Stanislas Wawrinka to make the quarterfinals in Miami. The differences between the Top 5 and the Top 20 are determined by the tiny fractions, and at his best Dolgopolov believes he can match the best in the world.

“I’ve improved my concentration and a few technical things and I’m now fully committed to tennis,” he said. “Getting stronger is helping me avoid injuries and it means I’m able to play tennis for a longer period of time and hang with the top guys in the longer rallies.”

After a rift earlier in his career, Dolgopolov is now back working with his father, the man who taught him the game as a youngster and who understands him better than anyone. “He's known me all my life so my game isn’t new for him,” he says. “He knows exactly what I need to do to become a better player.”

Wawrinka’s triumphs at the Australian Open and last month’s Monte Carlo Masters have inspired many of the players who previously held doubts over whether they were good enough to beat the likes of Djokovic and Nadal in the biggest tournaments. However, Dolgopolov says he’s never suffered from a lack of belief.

Dolgopolov feels that it could soon be his time, especially as his battle with Gilbert’s syndrome has enjoyed something of an upturn over the past eighteen months “I don't know,” he ponders.

“For me, I don't think Wawrinka winning has really changed anything. It's the same as it always was. Maybe some guys suddenly think they have a chance of winning. I don't think that.

Obviously the top four are good but that couldn't last forever. The time is coming for a new wave of upcoming players and that's normal. I don't think that has anything to do with Wawrinka.

It's normal that some new players will sooner or later come up.

The old generation can't last forever.”

Dolgopolov feels that it could soon be his time, especially as his battle with Gilbert’s syndrome has enjoyed something of an upturn over the past eighteen months

“I'm in touch with my doctor back home who helps me out with it and I know pretty much what I should or shouldn't do,” he says.

“It’s quite a new thing and normal doctors don’t really know what to do. But I haven’t had any problems for the past year or so and I’ve been told that sometimes it goes away as you become older and never affects you again. But this condition hasn't been researched too much and even the specialists on this don't have enough information to tell me whether I’m completely in the clear or not.

I'm just managing it and seeing how it goes.

Hopefully it doesn't come back.”

Jérémy Chardy

by Dario Torromeo

A Moment To Remember

This is the story of a cross-court forehand that kidnapped eleven thousand spectators on Central Court at the Foro Italico. It left them speechless, and then forced them to applaud, because you rarely see a shot so incredible that it brings Roger Federer to his knees. It is a shot Jérémy Chardy will tell his grandchildren about.

Defeating a myth Not all sportspeople are lucky enough to defeat a myth. Especially those like Jérémy Chardy, who have not had many peaks in their careers. He won a title in Stuttgart in 2009, and has put

together some decent results that kept him in the Top 50. However, he has never played well enough to really threaten entry into the Top 20.

But on May 14 of the year 2014, the handsome young man with a slight beard and a beautiful girlfriend, pulled off that winning shot. And those are the moments you do not forget.

I follow boxing with as much interest as I follow tennis. I have told you a thousand times of the night of October 9, 1964, when the future world middleweight champion, Carlos Monzon, closed the last chapter of his second life. Never fear, there would be two more.

Alone in the arena. One against all. Suddenly he pulled a rabbit out of his hat, the defensive cross-court forehand that landed perfectly inside the line. It brought him back from the dead, and laid the foundation for his eventual victory. A wonderful afternoon in Rome, indeed.

He lost to Alberto Massi, a young man of 24 years, who people called Pirincho. They had fought in Cordoba, and while Monzon was taller and more skilled, he had lost.

Alberto was at that time a waiter. He would later be a bricklayer and a stoker on a ship. He had won his first two matches as a professional.

Nothing special, as the record at the end of his career would have confirmed. He was young, inexperienced and without great potential. His victory against Massi would be the best memory of a career without much lightning. But it would be a great memory indeed.

Jérémy Chardy has a better record than that of Alberto Massi. But I think the magic of that moment will always be his greatest

achievement in tennis.

"It was the most beautiful shot of my career," he said after the win.

The Alchemist Jérémy Chardy’s tennis adventure starts with a book. It was a gift from his coach, Frederic Fontang, the day he entered the tennis academy.

It was "The Alchemist," by Paulo Coelho, the story of a young shepherd chasing his dreams in a foreign land only to discover that the treasure he was looking for was in his house all along.

The message of the gift was not subtle. It was an invitation to look within himself for the answer to his dreams.

Jeremy wanted to be an actor, he loved and loves the cinema. He simply postponed the project to the end of his career

With Jeremy, he did not need to insist so much. He had always chosen his family above all else as his top priority.

Traveling and touring the world to play tennis did not mean as much as heading home to the Aquitaine region of southeastern France.

His universe has few inhabitants. Mom, dad, brother, sister and grandfather.

A wealthy family of bankers. Jeremy wanted to be an actor, he loved and loves the cinema. He simply postponed the project to the end of his career.

He began playing tennis at age of six, and from four to fourteen played soccer in the youth leagues. But he eventually chose tennis, and became Junior champion at Wimbledon and reached the final of the US Open. In 2005 he was the number four junior in the world.

At that point his big jump to the pros seemed inevitable.

The French discovered this young man at Roland Garros in 2008.

Down two sets against world number seven, David Nalbandian, he recovered and won.

It was his first win against a Top 10 played, a coup for him, who was ranked 138 positions below Nalbandian when they stepped on the court.

Dealing with success And now, at age 28, he again finds himself living in the spotlight. He has lived in many cities in his life, but today resides in Liege. His coach is Magnus Tideman, and his girlfriend, Alizé Lim is a 23 year-old tennis pro, ranked around 150.

They played doubles together at Roland Garros in 2013, although those days are behind them now.

Maria Sharapova, the ice queen, posted the following on Twitter: "I have to watch more tennis at Roland Garros. Yesterday I had no idea who Paire was, now I do not know who Chardy is. I need to improve my knowledge of the sport."

Alizé Lim responded with a tweet of her own: "Looks like you should..." followed by a copy of the world rankings: "26 Benoit Paire, 27 Jérémy Chardy, 28 Grigor Dimitrov." Masha’s boyfriend was ranked two places behind Chardy.

A good tennis player, without spectacular results. That's who Jeremy Chardy is. Some recognize him in the restaurants of Paris, but many do not know who he is. Some fans applauded him, and some even ask for his socks once he has won a match. Fans do not always have normal requests. If he were to do well at Roland Garros, who knows what they might ask for…

Lucky to find Federer Before arriving in Rome, 2014 was not a lucky year for Chardy. In the last seven tournaments he had lost twice in the first round.

When he stepped on Center Court, the crowd only had eyes for Roger Federer. They even cheered when Chardy double faulted. But he did not let it bother him.

After twenty-eight games it came to a tie-break, and the Swiss was leading 6-5. Match point on serve, and it seemed over. Another good match, another opportunity thrown away. Who knows what was going on in the head of Jeremy Chardy. He did not even look for a second in the stands. He already knew what he would see.

Certainly not love, but faces that expressed the hope that he had finally given up.

Nadal On The Defense

by Marco Di Nardo After a record-breaking 2013, this season is starting to become very challenging for Rafa Nadal

The Race To London standings are more telling than the overall rankings. In the former, he is barely hanging on to a slender lead, while in the latter he seems to have a gigantic advantage. At the beginning of the 2014 season it seemed as if Nadal had many chances to widen his overall lead in the rankings, having not played at the Australian Open or Miami Masters a year ago.

However, he was unable to fully exploit those opportunities, largely due to inconsistent play from the Spaniard himself, as well as resurgent performances by the likes of Stanislas Wawrinka, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

Losing early in Monte Carlo, where he had dominated for basically a decade, and Barcelona, where he similarly dominated for many years, did not help his case. Fans could not truly have expected that Nadal could repeat his incredible 2013 season, which saw him win two Slams and five Masters 1000 titles. But a good start to the season would have at least

allowed him to play with more confidence in this part of the calendar, where has so many points to defend. The only place Nadal can hope to pick up some points is Wimbledon, where he suffered an early exit last year. Apart from that, from Barcelona to the US Open, he has 8500 points to defend.

The situation for Nadal is therefore quite complicated, because Djokovic is only about 2000 points away, and Federer and Wawrinka have fewer points to defend than the Spaniard.

What is most worrying for Nadal’s fans, however, has been his lack of victories at the bigger tournaments.

He has not been able to impose himself at Masters 1000 level as he has been able to do in the past. At the Australian Open, for example, Rafa had the chance to become the first player in the Open Era to win every Slam at least twice, but was defeated in the final by his back injury and Stanislas Wawrinka.

In Indian Wells, where he was defending champion, he lost in the third round to Dolgopolov, and in Miami he lost in the final.

Finally, in Monte Carlo, he suffered his most

His mediocre results so far this year has put him on the back foot, and the fact that he has so many points to defend until the end of the Asian hard court swing means there is little opportunity for him to further separate himself from the pack

surprising loss of the season, falling to compatriot David Ferrer in the quarter-finals.

It marked the first time in nine years that he had not reached the final at the prestigious event.

All these disappointments, coupled with the fact that Djokovic is playing impressively, having won back-to-back Masters 1000 trophies in Indian Wells and Miami, and that Wawrinka is carrying on his good start to the year, are increasingly weighing on the Spaniard’s mind.

That is without even mentioning Federer, who has already beaten Djokovic twice this season and seems to be close to his best form in years.

So it is going to be a tough season for Nadal, and he will have to play at his 2013 level going forward to have any chance of ending the season as world number one.

However, he is no stranger to adversity, and it is certainly possible that he will respond to these pressures as he has in the past – by winning.

Remembering Nadal’s first Grand Slam victory

by Princy Jones

Nine years have passed since the beginning of the Rafael Nadal era of tennis. At 27, he is still hungry for more titles!

At 12, when faced with a dilemma of choosing between the two loves of his life - football and tennis - Rafael Nadal picked the latter.

According to him, that was one of the hardest decisions he had had to confront in life.

Seven years later, when he first laid his lips on (or rather, bit) the French Open trophy, that decision proved right. That Sunday evening of June 5th 2005 witnessed the beginning of a new era in tennis.

Nine years have gone, the young knight who conquered the red dirt of Roland Garros that day has now become the Le Roi de L'Argile (King of Clay) - having won a record eight titles

on his favourite ground. Rafael Nadal, the enfant terrible, took the world by storm with his unconventional style of play. Crowd loved the long-haired sinewy Spaniard who flaunted his bulging biceps in sleeveless shirts. But it wasn’t just for his flamboyance alone he hogged the limelight.

Unlike Andre Agassi, Nadal was no showman, he let his racket do the talking instead. The world watched in amazement when the brawny teen returned even the most impossible shots with immense power from eight to 10 feet behind the baseline. His power-packed returns loaded with a crazy spin made his shots

Till Rafael Nadal stepped in, Roger Federer had an aura of invincibility around him. unpredictable for the opponents. It was difficult to comprehend his moves, let alone beat him on a high-bouncing surface like clay.

The David who slayed Goliath Till Rafael Nadal stepped in, Roger Federer had an aura of invincibility around him. There weren’t many on the tour then who could stop the genius. When Nadal outwitted Federer -- 63, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 -- in the semifinals of the 2005 French Open, it was also a watershed moment for tennis, setting off one of the most enchanting rivalries in the history of the game. From then on, Nadal became the most feared name on the circuit, especially for Federer.

While players like Marat Safin and Andy Roddick lacked the mental edge over the Swiss maestro, Nadal showed no signs of fear while taking on Federer.

The Guardian then wrote: “This is surely going to be the major rivalry over the next few years.�

They were right, nine years on, the rivalry still continues.

"It took me a set to figure it out. I'm not happy with my performance. I don't feel he was much better than me. I had the keys to beat him but I wasn't at my best. I'm disappointed but I'm not going to trash the locker room. My desire to win here is still massive," said Federer after the defeat.

Federer was wrong. Nadal was a better player than him, and still is, when it comes to clay courts. The Swiss had to wait for another four years to finally win his first and only title at Roland Garros - that time, luck too was on his side, for Nadal suffered a shocking defeat at the hands of Robin Soderling in the fourth round.

The job was easier for Federer with his nemesis off his path. Till now, Federer has never been able to topple his arch-rival at the French Open.

Rafa and the myth The big win at Roland Garros catapulted Nadal to fame. The teen annihilator had fans as well as critics, both.

His anomalous style and peculiar manners on the court was amusing to the media, however much those tics irritated his opponents. His OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) behavioural pattern on the court made him a subject of mockery by the press - the precisely positioned water bottles near his seat, pulling of his shorts, avoiding stepping on the lines, levelling of the socks, etc., singled him out from his peers. Needless to say, there were many myths regarding the southpaw -- one of which was that his coach and mentor Toni Nadal manoeuvred him to play left-handed to make him indomitable on the tennis circuit. According to Nadal, it’s just another story made up by the media.

Nadal is ambidextrous - he writes, as well as plays golf and basketball with his right hand; while playing football, he relies on his much stronger left foot. Same happens when he plays tennis also. He just happened to be gifted with having control on both hands.

The last teen champion Nadal was the second youngest player after 17year-old Michael Chang in 1989 to win the French Open. After the 19-year-old’s sensational win in 2005, there has been no

People often wonder why Nadal bites his trophies. It was just an impromptu act when he won his first ATP title at Monte Carlo, which became an instant hit. other teenage men's Grand Slam champion till date.

The wait is still on. In the nine years that followed, Nadal managed to add 12 more titles to his name. At 27, he has many more years ahead of him, perhaps he can even overshadow Federer’s formidable record of 17 Grand Slams.

But things haven’t been always great for the champion. There were many instances where he almost called it quits owing to his persistent injuries. The strenuosity of his playing style has made critics doubt his longevity as a professional. Injuries took a toll on his career in 2009 and 2012, both. Nadal proved all the predictions wrong on both the occasions by winning more Slams, thereby breaking all

convictions when it comes to endurance.

“Endurance: that’s a big word. Keeping going physically, never letting up, and putting up with everything that comes my way, not allowing the good or the bad—the great shots or the weak ones, the good luck or the bad—to put me off track. I have to be centered, no distractions, do what I have to do in each moment.” (Courtesy: RAFA My Story) People often wonder why Nadal bites his trophies. It was just an impromptu act when he won his first ATP title at Monte Carlo, which became an instant hit. The camera crew started asking for that signature pose every time he won a title. His fans say it symbolises the champions hunger for more titles. Yes!

Chasing History

by Adriano S. With the summer of 2014 in full swing, an important question is again on everyone’s mind: will Rafael Nadal surpass Roger Federer’s record of 17 Grand Slam titles?

With the summer of 2014 in full swing, an important question is again on everyone’s mind: will Rafael Nadal surpass Roger Federer’s record of 17 Grand Slam titles? Assuming he is able to win at least one Slam a year going forward, many pundits believe that Nadal, who currently stands at 13, will be able to do so.

Since winning his first Slam at Roland Garros in 2005, Nadal has won at least one Major every year. But the bloody Sunday experienced against Wawrinka in Australia is likely to weigh on Nadal’s mind.

The back injury is worrying, since it is the latest in a long line of injuries the Spaniard has suffered. He will also now have to contend against a group of players who are more confident than ever that they can beat the King of Clay. Novak Djokovic will be especially confident, and maybe even the favorite to win his first French Open trophy.

But perhaps the biggest threat to Nadal’s ambitions of surpassing Federer is simple mathematics. No player has won player has won more than five Slams after their 27th birthday

The next few years are certainly going to be interesting…

Here is a breakdown of those who have won Slams after that date: 5 Slams – Rod Laver (30 +) 5 Slams – Roger Federer (30 +) 5 Slams – Andre Agassi (30 +) 4 Slams –Ken Rosewall (30 +) 4 Slams – Ivan Lendl 4 Slams –John Newcombe (30 +) 3 Slams – Pete Sampras (30 +) 3 Slams – Jimmy Connors (30 +) 2 Slams – Rafael Nadal 1 Slam –Arthur Ashe (30 +) 1 Slam –Boris Becker 1 Slam –Guillermo Vilas 1 Slam –Goran Ivanisavic 1 Slam –Stanislas Wawrinka

Nadal has already won two Slams after his 27th birthday, so in theory he only has three more coming his way.

In addition, it must be said that the biological age of the King of Clay does not match up against his body’s age, which has been worn down for years due to the Spaniard’s physical style of play.

All of this certainly makes it tougher for Nadal to surpass Federer. If he did, it would certainly put an end to the GOAT debate, at least as it relates to Nadal and Federer. But getting to that point is going to be a massive challenge, perhaps the greatest a tennis player has ever faced. The next few years are certainly going to be interesting…

Just Can’t Seem To Lose There

by Alessandro Varassi After Serena Williams won yet another trophy in Miami, it was confirmed once again that some players just perform better at certain tournaments.

Her win against Li Na at the Sony Open was the seventh time Serena Williams has lifted the trophy in Miami.

The world number one yet again showed that she is the absolute ruler in Key Biscayne. She has had great success in Florida, where she won three straight titles between 2002 and 2004, and again in 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014.

She also reached the final in 1999 and 2009. No other tennis player, male or female, has won so many editions of that event (Andre Agassi won six times, and Steffi Graf five).

Of course, there are many instances of a certain player dominating a particular tournament.

Let’s have a look at some prominent examples: Rafael Nadal - Monte Carlo Masters 1000: Between 2005 and 2012, Nadal owned the principality. Novak Djokovic finally put an end to Nadal’s record-breaking streak last year in the final, but the numbers remain incredibly impressive: the Spaniard won 48 out of 50 matches, along with eight titles, during his reign.

Martina Navratilova - WTA Championships: Seen by many as a fifth Slam, the WTA Championships has played an important role in the history of the Tour.

Martina Navratilova reached the final of that event 14 times, including 10 consecutive appearances between 1978 and 1986. She won eight titles in total, with an additional 12 doubles titles.

Bjorn Borg - Roland Garros: Before Nadal became the King Of Clay, there was Bjorn Borg.

The Swede won the French Open six times in

his short career, including four in a row between 1978 and 1981. He won 49 matches and lost only twice, an even more impressive record than he had at Wimbledon.

Chris Evert - Roland Garros: The American had many records in her day: the first player to win 1 000 matches, and a stratospheric streak of 125 matches won on clay, between 1973 and 1979. She won 7 titles at Roland Garros, but it could have been more had she not missed the event in 1976, 1977 and 1978. She reached the final two additional times.

Steffi Graf - Wimbledon: Among her 22 Grand Slam singles titles, which included two calendar Slams, Graf counted seven Wimbledon trophies. Between 1987 and 1996 she reached final eight times, winning it all but once. In 1988 she won not only every Slam, but also the Olympic gold medal. She is the only tennis player to ever win the Golden Slam.

Roger Federer - Wimbledon: Roger won Wimbledon five times in a row before being stopped by Nadal in the epic final of 2008.

Federer came back, however, to win the title twice more in 2009 and 2012 for a total of seven trophies.

Pete Sampras - Wimbledon: Pete Sampras dominated Wimbledon even more than Roger Federer did, winning seven titles in eight years between 1993 and 2000. The only snag came in 1996, when he fell in the quarter-finals to eventual winner Richard Krajcek. His serve was almost unstoppable on grass, and it caused endless headaches for the likes of Jim Courier, Goran Ivanisevic, Cedric Pioline, Boris Becker, Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter. In the 2001 edition, when he lost to Roger Federer, it was seen by many as the passing of the baton from the old American to the young Swiss.

Of course, there are many instances of a certain player dominating a particular tournament.

Between 1993 and 2009, 13 of the 17 editions were won by the two of them.

Rafael Nadal - Roland Garros: If it were not for Robin Soderling, Nadal might still be waiting for his first defeat in Paris. He has won the trophy eight times, along with 59 match wins, and suffered only one loss at the hands of the Swede. The loss to Soderling allowed Federer to win the tournament and complete his career Grand Slam, and marked the start of a prolonged layoff for Nadal.

Martina Navratilova - Wimbledon: Navratilova won many Slams in her career, but her most successful hunting ground by far was Wimbledon. She won nine singles titles, seven doubles titles and four mixed doubles titles. Her first trophy came in 1976 in the women's doubles, and the last one came in 2003 in the mixed doubles.

At one point, she won the singles evens six times in a row. Her string of victories was eventually interrupted by Steffi Graf, who won the event in 1987 and 1988.

Down But Not Out

by Adriano S. Too often in sports, particularly in tennis, the favorite pastime of fans is to overanalyze athletes who are going through a rough patch. The bigger the star, of course, the more vicious the comments, especially in the media.

Too often in sports, particularly in tennis, the favorite pastime of fans is to overanalyze athletes who are going through a rough patch. The bigger the star, of course, the more vicious the comments, especially in the media.

Very often, however, the athletes emerge from their slumps to show everybody who doubted them just how silly and wrong they were for overreacting.

The examples are endless. From Kobe Bryant in basketball to Albert Pujols in baseball and Valentino Rossi in superbike racing, top athletes often find themselves written off as “done,� only to come back and perform at an

even higher level than before.

But let us focus on tennis for the moment.

One of the more striking examples of this phenomenon was Pete Sampras.

Even though he had dominated the sport for a decade, when he failed to win Wimbledon in 2001 pundits were quick to condemn his career as over.

He would never bounce back after such a disappointment, they argued.

Yet the next year, he would win the US Open, and retire on the spot, providing the ultimate revenge against all the naysayers.

The old saying goes that the bigger you are, the harder you fall. That is certainly true, but in modern sports it seems people take more pleasure than ever in the supposed fall of those stars.

Roger Federer is the most relevant contemporary example. Talk of his decline started as early as 2007, and even though he has reached number one in the world again and won several Slams, retirement talk follows him everywhere.

Every big win or tournament triumph quiets the critics, but only for a while.

The same is true of Serena Williams, who was written off after having foot surgery a few years ago. Since then she has re-established her dominance over the WTA Tour in a big way.

Rafael Nadal? His many injury problems have caused many to question his longevity, yet he has come back time and again, often stronger than before his injury.

After failing to defend his title in Melbourne, Novak Djokovic had to endure a lot of criticism in February. But winning the Indian WellsMiami double has earned him some respite from the media, at least for a while.

In Italy, there is a particular viciousness to these attacks. Francesca Schiavone was said to be in obvious decline, and a regular punching bag for editorials in sports magazines. Her response?

Winning Roland Garros. Yet those people have again started with their negativity. Fabio Fognini has also had to undergo every sort of insult over the years.

Andreas Seppi scored a good win over Ward in the Davis Cup, and was praised as a hero.

An interview with Milos Raonic

by Fabrizio Fidecaro

When thinking about Milos Raonic, the phrase “gentle giant” comes to mind You always appear so steady and quiet.

Do you ever get angry?

"I can get very angry. But it's something that does not help, so I try to stay calm."

What are you taking away from your time in Rome?

"A lot of positive emotions. I'm happy, I will take what I have done here and I will try to do even better at Roland Garros."

When thinking about Milos Raonic, the phrase “gentle giant” comes to mind.

The affable Canadian is capable of generating some of the most tremendously powerful serves the sport has ever seen, but never loses his temper.

In fact, his well-groomed appearance – which resembles that of a member of the Rat Pack – and icy countenance are never ruffled no matter what the score or situation.

It is rather strange to see someone so relaxed in the latter stages of a big clay court event like Rome.

After all, these tournaments are usually dominated by the Spaniards, who wear their hearts on their sleeves and are not afraid to make their joy or displeasure known.

Raonic reached the semi-finals at the Foro Italico before falling to Novak Djokovic in three sets. He spoke to us afterwards.

Quarters in Madrid, semis in Rome…you have made huge strides on clay. What area do you think has improved the most?

"I think I have improved not only on this surface, but in general. My movement and return are two areas that I have improved. And also in the way in which I handle difficult situations. For me, the main issue was figuring out what I should do in certain special moments, because last year I threw away several matches because of that. Now I have a clearer vision and I know I can find the answers in myself."

ÂŤOne of my big goals is to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals. And also to obtain good results in Grand SlamsÂť What do you think you have to improve to take the next step on clay?

"I feel that I am improving steadily, but I have to keep going. The serve, the return, the mental and the physical aspects, there is plenty of work to be done on all of those."

Even if you think you still have to improve, your serve is already an effective weapon... "Of course, I like to keep my service games short and create a little discomfort for my opponents. I try to take advantage."

What goals do you have for this year?

"One of my big goals is to qualify for the ATP

World Tour Finals. And also to obtain good results in Grand Slams."

It is true that you have applied to join the ATP Council [the Committee representing the players, of which his coach Ivan Ljubicic was president]? "Yes. It's good to know what is really going on. The players on there are quite old. I would like to bring in a voice of the younger generation."

In this regard, in recent times the younger generation, you along with Dimitrov and Nishikori, have been getting some good results. What has changed for you?

«I do not think that the phenomenon is something limited to my peers....»

"I do not think that the phenomenon is something limited to my peers.

After years in which the Big Four have dominated the Slams, to see Stanislas Wawrinka triumph in Australia and then repeat it in Monte Carlo has been an inspiration.

I think Stan has been the keystone. I do not think it is a generational thing. It all started with him." ___________________________ Milos began playing tennis at age nine and played his first tennis tournament at age 10 in Toronto. When he was 16, he grew into one of Canada’s top juniors and was invited to be one of the first to join Tennis Canada’s National Training Centre in Montreal.

The Race For Number One

by Marco Di Nardo The 2014 season has gotten off to an unusual start, with the race for number one being tighter than we’ve seen it in many years.

That 2014 would be a period of great uncertainty was no guarantee at the start of the season. 2012 was without Nadal for the latter part of it, but order was restored in 2013 when he, along with Djokovic, re-established the dominance of the Big Four. However, this year has so far seen a number of major surprises, with many different players suddenly competing for the year-end number one.

The Race to London rankings only take into account the results a player has achieved so far this year. Currently, there are five players who have a realistic chance of clinching the year-end number one. The first four are very close, with

Wawrinka, Djokovic, Federer and Nadal all within less than a thousand points of each other heading into Barcelona. Berdych is a little further back, but still within sight of the number one spot.

Nadal has always piled up a lot of points at this time of the year, but has struggled so far in 2014.

The biggest surprise of the year, however, has been Stan Wawrinka. Incredibly, he is leading the race for number one with a quarter of the season already finished. Even more than his win in Australia, his victory in Monte Carlo has made people truly sit up and notice.

Another great protagonist of the first few months of the season has been the young Grigor Dimitrov For him to win one of the most difficult Masters 1000 events, one that has been dominated by Nadal for almost a decade, and beating Federer in the final, was truly incredible.

Another surprise is Kei Nishikori, who seems to be going through a bit of a transformation. He has already won two tournaments this year, in Memphis and Barcelona, ​and also impressed with his performance at the Masters 1000 in Miami, where he eliminated Dimitrov, Ferrer and Federer to reach the semi-finals. If you do not consider his loss to Teymuraz Gabashvili in Delray Beach, which was because of an injury, he has won 17 of his last 18 matches. He has an overall record of 22-4 on the year.

Another great protagonist of the first few months of the season has been the young Grigor Dimitrov, who is number eight in the race. He reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open, and won titles in Acapulco and Bucharest. In the former, he won the final in a third set tie-break against the big-serving Kevin Anderson.

Nicolas Almagro, while a familiar name to many tennis fans, has shown the kind of consistency so far this year that has eluded him in the past.

Now number 18 of the Race, he has played well since the Australian Open.

He reached two semi-finals at Vina del Mar and Buenos Aires, and the final in Houston.

Nicolas Almagro, while a familiar name to many tennis fans, has shown the kind of consistency so far this year that has eluded him in the past.

But perhaps his biggest result of the year was against Rafael Nadal in Barcelona, where he beat his friend and countryman for the first time in his career. He even did so after losing the first set 6-2.

Lastly, we should mention Santiago Giraldo, who is currently in 24th place in the race. He reached his first ATP 500 final in Barcelona, and seems to be playing at a very high level with a great deal of consistency. It seems crazy that we are not even halfway through the season, and yet we have seen more surprises and drama than we have in the whole of last season. Hopefully it can continue like this, and make 2014 one of the most memorable seasons in tennis history.

A New Balance

by Marco Di Nardo Similar to what is happening on the men’s circuit, the WTA is trying to find a new balance after Serena Williams has cooled down from the dominance of the last two seasons

n 2012, she won Wimbledon, the Olympics, the US Open and the WTA Tour Championships , while last year she triumphed at Roland Garros, the US Open and the WTA Tour Championships. She finished 2013 with just four losses. In this first part of 2014 , however, Serena Williams has had more problems than was expected. After two seasons of complete domination by her, the WTA circuit is back to being very spectacular and equally uncertain.

Looking at the leaderboard for the year yields some surprising names. Arguably, Li Na has

She won her first tournament of the season in Shenzhen before grabbing her second career Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

In Melbourne, she lost only one set in the third round against Lucie Safarova.

She also reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells and the final in Miami.

In second place we find this year’s Australian Open finalist, Dominika Cibulkova , who can be considered the biggest surprise of the season so far. The Slovak beat a number of tough opponents in Melbourne, including Sharapova , Halep and Radwanska .

Agnieszka Radwanska built her ranking with some very consistent results.

Sharapova , Halep and Radwanska .

She then went on to post good results in Acapulco, and reaching the quarters in Indian Wells, the semis in Miami and the final in Kuala Lumpur.

Third place is occupied by Agnieszka Radwanska , who built her ranking with some very consistent results. After beating the double defending champion Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open, she lost in the semi-finals, but she also reached the semi-finals in Doha , the final in Indian Wells, the quarters in Miami and the semis in Katowice .

Serena Williams, the real news this year, is only fourth, despite the two successes in Brisbane and Miami. At the Australian Open

the American was caught off guard by Ana Ivanovic , while two surprising defeats came against Alize Cornet in the semi-finals in Dubai, and Jana Cepelova in the first round in Charleston. The next few months will be critical if the American wants to stay at the top of the rankings.

In fifth place is the revelation of 2013, Simona Halep . After winning six titles last year, she is continuing her good run of form. She has already won a title in Doha , beating Errani, Kerber and Radwanska, and reached the quarters in Melbourne and semis in Indian Wells. Sixth on the list is Flavia Pennetta , who is playing some of the best tennis of her long career.

Flavia Pennetta , who is playing some of the best tennis of her long career.

She achieved the biggest success of her career in Indian Wells, where she won the title, beating the world number one en route to the title. She also overcame Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska on the way.

Though not in the Top 10, Eugenie Bouchard warrants a special mention. She unexpectedly reached the semis at the Australian Open and has posted some very positive results since.

Many pundits believe she has what it takes to be world number one someday. For now, however, she is the underdog. It is not a title she is afraid of though, and has embraced her role as promising newcomer on the Tour. She still has a lot to prove, but she is wasting no time in proving it to both herself and her fans.

Kazakistan

by Marco Avena

Money And Happiness

To eventually stop Kazakhstan’s run required none other than Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, and even they almost failed to pull it off. The Swiss managed to record a narrow 3-2 victory, but the tie left the tennis world impressed with the young team from Kazakhstan. Indeed, this is the third time in four years that they have reached this stage of the competition.

But there is an asterisk to all this success: the players in the team are not actually from Kazakhstan. Instead, they are foreigners who have become citizens in order to compete for the country in tennis. How? Simple: money.

Andrey Golubev, Mikhail Kukushkin, Evgeny Korolev and Alekandr Nedovyesov were not born in Astana and its surroundings, the first three are Russian and the fourth Ukrainian. The first was born in Volzhsky, the second is a native of Volgograd, the third comes from Moscow and the fourth is of Alushta.

They became citizens thanks to the influence of powerful media magnate Utemuratov Bulat, who reportedly has assets worth some $1.5 billion.

He is the president of the local tennis federation and a great friend of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The president is also a lover of tennis, who desired to forge ahead in this sport and bring glory to his country.

The two came up with the idea of building a team that could compete with the major powers of world tennis. The experiment has proven very successful, given the results obtained by the team led by captain Doskarayev. But just because they are now citizens of Kazakhstan it does not mean they spend all their time in the country. Indeed, Golubev spent the bulk of his time preparing for the Davis Cup tie against Switzerland in Italy.

He has, in fact, spent a lot of time training there in general.

Dominic Dogliani, the president of the club in Italy where he trains, said that he was happy Golubev spent so much time there on the eve of the tie.

Money does not buy happiness, but it sure can help... “I am pleased and proud that Andrey has played at our club in preparation for the Kazakh national match against Federer and Wawrinka of Switzerland,� he said. Never mind that Kazakhstan failed to reach the semi-finals this time around. Utemuratov and Nazarbayev have shown no signs that they are about to give up on their experiment. Instead, they seem more committed to it than ever. After all, Kenyan Wilson Kipketer became one of the strongest middle distance runners of all time under the Danish flag. So why can Golubev , Kukushkin , Korolev and Nedovyesov not win the Davis Cup under the flag of Kazakhstan? Money does not buy happiness, but it sure can help...

Grass Season To Undergo Significant Changes in 2015

by Laura Saggio The ATP has announced its schedule for the 2015 season, which includes a longer grass court season.

The grass swing of the ATP Tour has always been the shortest of the year, and while that will not change anytime soon, it will get slightly less short from 2015 onwards. The grass court season will begin on 8 June (the day following the final of Roland Garros) with the events in 'sHertogenbosch and Stuttgart. The tournaments in Halle and Queen's, scheduled for the following week, will change from being 250 events to 500 events, which will carry with it not only an increase in available points but also an increase in prestige. The tournament in Nottingham will increase its draw to 48 from

and take the place of the Eastbourne tournament the week before Wimbledon.

Finally, the last grass court event of the season will take place on 13 July in Newport.

"The fact that we have extended the duration of the grass court season is definitely a good thing," said Chris Kermode, the President of the ATP. "It is an extension of our commitment to ensuring a variety of surfaces throughout the whole of the season, and increasing the number of grass tournaments is a big step forward."

China will become, along with the US, the only country to host an ATP event of every caliber: ATP World Tour 250 (Shenzhen), ATP World Tour 500 (Beijing) and ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (Shanghai).

Another change to the calendar is the addition of a clay event in Europe between 27 April and 4 May 2015, before the ATP 1000 event in Madrid.

A tournament will also be added in Rio, scheduled from 16-22 February. It will take place between the 500 events in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo.

Keen observers will also notice that the ATP is further extending its presence in China in 2015, with a new event being added in Shenzhen.

China will become, along with the US, the only country to host an ATP event of every caliber: ATP World Tour 250 (Shenzhen), ATP World Tour 500 (Beijing) and ATP World Tour Masters 1000 (Shanghai).

2015 already promises to be full of surprises, and if these kinds of changes continue in the future, we might very well see grass becoming an even more important part of the ATP World Tour.

This will certainly be music to the ears of the players who prefer to play on the surface.

We can, however, think of at least one player who will lament that these changes did not come sooner.

The Art Of Teaching

by Andrea Guarracino

You must wait for the right time to dispense knowledge to have it taken seriously

Once upon a time, many years ago, a school of archery was conducted by a great Zen master.

One day, a young student showed up at the school. "Good morning teacher, I came for my first lesson in archery, what should I do today?" the student asked. The teacher looked at him carefully and said, "Well, this is the bow, these are the arrows, that thing is the target, try to hit it." The young man, excited to start his training, started shooting arrows at the target. However, after an hour’s worth of attempts, he could still not hit it. Exhausted, he took everything back to the teacher, who told him to come back the next day. The young man came back again the following day and spoke to the Zen. “Good morning teacher,” he said. “I have come for my second lesson, what can I expect?" The teacher looked at him more closely this time, and eventually responded. “Well,” he said, “take this bow and these arrows and try to hit the second target back there."

The young man tried again to hit the target, but after another hour gave up. This story was repeated in subsequent lessons. After the tenth time, the young man appealed to the teacher.

“Master, please help me, I have tried for many hours to hit the target, but have not been able to even once, please tell me how I can do it."

The teacher promptly replied, "Holds the bow in this way, and the arrows this way. Relax, take a deep breath and shoot."

The young immediately did what the teacher had told him, and instantly had success. He ran to his teacher with enthusiasm.

“That is great! But why didn’t you tell me to do that from the start?”

The teacher thought a while, then replied: “If I told you how to do it right away, you never would have done it that way."

That's all there is to the art of transmitting knowledge.

You must wait for the right time to dispense knowledge to have it taken seriously.

If You Are Happy, You Will Win

by Stefano Massari, Mental Coach

You will not be happy when you win, but you will win when you are happy.

Recently, I watched the final of the tournament in Charleston between Andrea Petkovic and Jana Cepalova. I like to watch tennis played on green clay. The color of the court has, for me who is used to the red clay of my home, something dreamlike and surreal about it. The thing that struck me most, however, was not the green of the court or even the play between the two finalists.

I was instead enchanted by Andrea Petkovic’s speech at the end. As she spoke, awkwardly holding a bouquet of flowers as if she never had before, it was clear that every word she was saying was true and honest. First of all she congratulated her opponent, and her tone was not fake or formal.

She recalled that Cepalova, who is only twenty years old, was alone in Charleston without sponsors or an entourage, and that she admired her courage.

She then turned to her family and to her coach, reminding them of some of their most difficult moments together.

The ones where Petkovic’s numerous injuries kept her away from the court and made her ranking drop significantly. Finally, she thanked the organizers of what she called one of the best tournaments in the world. Even this trifling statement, which is so often made by players, caught my attention for its genuine and heartfelt tone. Impressed by such spontaneity and, I admit, by so much beauty, I went to look for news about her.

I have found, in several articles, something which makes me understand why I enjoyed her speech so much.

Born in Bosnia 23 years ago, Andrea fled to Germany with her parents during the Balkan Wars.

Athletes are able to use on the court the experiences and knowledge they have acquired away from the court, perhaps playing the drums or reading a book

She performed well at school and is still enrolled in the Faculty of Political Science.

Despite several injuries that made her drop from ninth in the world in 2011 to out of the Top 100 in 2012, she is now again in the Top 40.

It seems that after the 2016 Olympics she wants to leave tennis and enroll in a famous school of journalism.

She then wants to become either a journalist or a politician, where she would focus on the needs and interests of young people.

She plays the guitar and drums and says that these instruments have helped her with her coordination on the court.

She loves Goethe, the genius of writing, and Che Guevara, the genius of combat.

Many people believe that if Andrea devoted herself exclusively to the courts that she would reach great heights indeed.

However, she contends that if she did not follow these other interests, she would not be as good a tennis player as she is now.

"I'm the kind of person," she says, "who needs to train not only my body but also my mind and soul."

The coaching work that I do with athletes, especially young ones, has been a daily demonstration of the fact that Andrea Petkovic, although only 23, is already very wise. Someone who manages to have a life off the court, especially one that involves a decent relationship with school and knowledge (they are not the same thing), interests like music or film or painting or photography, along with good friends and perhaps a partner, is always a happier person and a better athlete.

Andrea’s praise of her opponent’s lack of sponsors, relatives or coaches shows that she appreciates an independent spirit, and shows her interest in youngsters.

By contrast, I can think of some parents who, in the frenzy of being fulfilled through the success of their children, would dominate their child’s life on the court.

I know that if one looks beyond the obsession one sees the great love of a father or a mother.

This love, however, is expressed in the wrong way, and is tied to results and the pressure of victory.

Athletes like Andrea, who train their soul along with their body, have a huge advantage over their opponents.

They are able to use on the court the experiences and knowledge they have acquired away from the court, perhaps playing the drums or reading a book.

In the smile of Andrea Pektovic, which comes from the pain of injuries, from the struggle of climbing back up the rankings through smaller tournaments and by staying in awful hotels, there emerges a new concept of success. Success as a process, as a career, but first of all as a human.

As I said long ago a young tennis player in crisis, you will not be happy when you win, but you will win when you are happy.

Injuries And How To Deal With Them

by Amanda Gesualdi The athlete is, first and foremost, a human being with emotions, sensations and infinite inner world that is in a constant state of change and adjustment

The athlete is, first and foremost, a human being with emotions, sensations and infinite inner world that is in a constant state of change and adjustment. If we are centered and in balance, the possibility of incurring an injury or accident is virtually zero.

Otherwise, the possible lack of stability makes us more susceptible to problems such as contractures, tears and illnesses of various kinds.

There is no chance or "bad luck." Instead, everything moves according to the laws of nature, of which man is an integral part.

It should also be considered that not all of us get sick in the same ways, and not all of us hurt the same muscle groups. This is because each of us is unique!

Injury is nature’s way of sending us a message: "Something is wrong! Stop and reconsider what you're doing and what you should do!" You can always learn something from an injury.

In the life cycle of victories and defeats, achievements and sacrifice is a constant which we cannot oppose.

In case of injury or crisis, it is good to accept the obstacles as a natural occurrence.

An injury can work to promote a complex series of moods in an athlete: insecurity, depression, anger, fear, tension, anxiety and panic.

You have to put it to good use and consider it an opportunity to reflect on yourself, your own activity and how you are living in this moment.

The painful moment that accompanies and follows an injury is an opportunity to review techniques of training, and to understand strategy, physical and mental preparation, as well as nutrition.

An injury can work to promote a complex series of moods in an athlete: insecurity, depression, anger, fear, tension, anxiety and panic.

These responses in turn create stress, making the injury even more difficult to deal with.

Injured athletes go through five stages of suffering. The first phase is that of denial.

"No, it cannot happen to me," we often think.

"No problem, it is not so serious." Soon, however, we must face the reality that the injury has undermined our ability to perform well. This is abruptly replaced by the second stage: anger.

"Damn! Why me? Why now?" At this point, panic often sets in, and then the pain intensifies.

The next phase is depression. We realize that there is nothing we can do, that we cannot compete. The risk at this juncture is to withdraw into ourselves. True healing usually coincides with the phase of acceptance. "I got injured, but life goes on", "I'll come back stronger than before, I'll make it." However, before reaching this point, the mind passes from one to another of the first four stages.

The injury creates a breeding ground for stress and frustration The injury creates a breeding ground for stress and frustration. To escape the fear, focus on the positive aspects of your life. Think about those athletes who, despite having found themselves in the same condition, not only recovered but were able to return to the court and win. An injury is also an opportunity to achieve full awareness: it allows you to rest, maybe catching up on some aspects of your life that you have neglected because of your rigorous training program.

Convalescence is a perfect time to evaluate your life in an objective way, to review the goals that you have set out to achieve, and to confirm and redefine priorities. Try to see the glass half full and savor the freedom. If you change the point of view from which to watch your crisis, feelings of tension and discomfort will decrease, thus facilitating the healing process. Suffering a loss, whether it relates to work, friendship, home life or love, means having to go through the five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Give yourself time to explore each of them. You cannot skip or rush the process of healing. To completely heal is a difficult journey. Healing means becoming aware of it. It means broadening your perspectives. You must stop looking back and live in the present. Changing the image of ourselves is our true task. In the course of our lives, we have the ability to "die" and be "reborn" many times.

Djokovic Becomes An Author

by Stefania Grosheva

“Serve To Win,” is a diet book that deals with gluten-free foods.

It is not uncommon for tennis players to write books while they are still playing. Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have both done so in recent years, Murray more than once. What is a little more uncommon, however, is for a tennis player to write a book that is not really about tennis.

Novak Djokovic has done just that. His new book, “Serve To Win,” is a diet book that deals with gluten-free foods. The Serb says that moving away from gluten has changed his game and his life, and he believes his fans can also benefit from it.

The main message of the book is, of course, that gluten is bad. Djokovic says in the

introduction that this diet was the result of a quest to "find the right food for the body of an athlete."

Eliminating gluten from a diet has not been a popular notion for very long, but it has gained massive traction in recent years. This can easily be seen by the explosion of gluten-free foods for sale in supermarkets today.

The book recommends eating foods with a high glycemic index.

It has been called the “diet of the stars,” since so many celebrities like Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Rachel Weisz are adherents.

"This diet has allowed me to feel lighter, healthier and more focuse" Those who follow the diet claim that they not only have lost weight, but that their physical and mental wellbeing has drastically improved as a result. Djokovic also claims that it "helps to improve athletic performance." "This diet has allowed me to feel lighter, healthier and more focused," he says. In his book, Djokovic also provides advice on achieving an ideal body weight, which he says you can make major strides towards in just 14 days. However, weight loss is not the only challenge that the book aims at its readers. There are also tips to reduce stress and stay fit. Djokovic has been one of the best and fittest players on the Tour for years, and now it seems he is sharing the secrets of his success with the rest of us.