Can Djokovic Win The Grand Slam? by Marco Di Nardo By winning the French Open title this year, Novak Djokovic has become only the fifth player to achieve a career Grand Slam in the Open Era. The Serb is also the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win all four Majors consecutively, albeit not in the same calendar year. Djokovic started his Slam winning streak at Wimbledon in 2015, then took the US Open that same year, followed by the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2016. He is also the first player since Kim Courier in 1992 to win the first two Slams of the year. The big question now, of course, is whether he will be able to complete the elusive Grand Slam, that is winning all four Slams in the same calendar year. It has been done only three times in history, and only once in the Open Era (Don Budge in 1938 and Rod Laver in 1962 and 1969). Djokovic has said that nothing is impossible, though he prefers to stay focused on the present. However, if he does manage to win Wimbledon, it seems unlikely that he will be able to keep his mind from drifting towards the US Open. In addition to bringing him closer to a Grand Slam, a win at Wimbledon would make him the first player since Rod Laver to win the first three Slams in a season. It would also equal Nadal’s feat of winning three Slams on three
different surfaces in the same year (the Spaniard won Roland Garros in 2010 on clay, Wimbledon on grass and the US Open on hard court). Finally, a victory at Wimbledon would allow Djokovic to win his fifth consecutive Slam, something that nobody has ever done in the Open Era. Budge won six straight, but that was in 1937-1938. If Djokovic is able to win the Grand Slam, a host of records would be broken. He would even equal Budge’s feat of six in a row, something that has never been done in the Open Era. Therefore, even for a player of Djokovic’s talents in an era where there is no particularly strong rival to take him on, this seems like a tall order. The Serb might be the favorite in every tournament he enters, and he might only be two Slams from these historic feats, it still seems more likely than not that he will fall short somewhere. The statistics are certainly against him, and so is common sense. However, records are made to be broken, and Djokovic has proven himself capable of breaking many of those. Perhaps he proves us all wrong after all.
Nadal – (Almost) Back to His Best by Marco Di Nardo
Having to retire from Roland Garros was a massive blow for Rafael Nadal. He had just experienced, for the first time in a very long while, a period of sustained success on his beloved clay. In the first two rounds of French Open, in fact, Nadal seemed to be in the best physical and mental condition of the year, and indeed many years. He lost just nine games in his first two matches, half of the 18 that Djokovic lost over the same period. It seemed highly possible that he could compete with the likes of Djokovic and Wawrinka for the trophy. But just as it seemed as if the old Nadal was back, disaster struck. A wrist injury, first picked up at the Masters 1000 in Madrid, came back with a vengeance, forcing the Spaniard to retire from the French Open for the first time in his career. Even though he had not lost a match, his quest for a tenth French Open crown came to a premature end. Yet despite this massive setback, Nadal might take some comfort in the fact that he had a tremendous clay court season. In fact, the numbers seem to point to him soon fully regaining his clay court dominance from years past. Today we will examine the results from the three best players over the European clay court season, and see how Nadal shapes up against the competition. Novak Djokovic: Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo: second round, 0 wins and 1 loss
Masters 1000 Madrid: winner, 5 wins and 0 losses Masters 1000 Rome: final, 4 wins and 1 loss Roland Garros: winner, 7 wins and 0 losses Total: 16 wins and 2 losses Success rate: 88.9% Andy Murray: Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo: semifinals, 3 wins and 1 loss Masters 1000 Madrid: final, 4 wins and 1 loss Masters 1000 Rome: winner, 5 wins and 0 losses Roland Garros: final, 6 wins and 1 loss Total: 18 wins and 3 losses Success rate: 85.7% Rafael Nadal Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo: winner, 5 wins and 0 losses ATP 500 Barcelona: winner, 5 wins and 0 losses Masters 1000 Madrid: semi-finals, 3 wins and 1 loss Masters 1000 Rome: quarterfinals, 2 wins and 1 loss Roland Garros: third round, 2 wins and 0 losses Total: 17 wins and 2 losses Success rate: 89.5% As you can see, despite the fact that he played so few matches at Roland Garros, Nadal had a wonderful clay season. In fact, his success rate is greater than Djokovic, who actually went on to win the French Open. Murray, who had a surprisingly strong clay season, also falls short of Nadal’s success. Nadal won 13 consecutive matches from Monte
Carlo to Barcelona and Madrid. Djokovic, in contrast, only had nine wins between Madrid and Rome, while Murray had 11 between Rome and Roland Garros. Also, we cannot forget the ninth title he won at Monte Carlo and Barcelona. Truly extraordinary numbers, especially when one considers that he is also chasing his tenth title at the French Open. The most important thing for the Spaniard at this time is to get fully healthy so that he can compete at Wimbledon and the Olympics. For his tenth win at Roland Garros‌that will have to wait until 2017. But, as we have seen, based on what he has done this year, nothing is impossible for Rafa.
Roland Garros – Time to Forget by Valerio Carriero
"Next year, I'll be ready for anything." These could very well be the words of a student who has passed his exams by the skin of his teeth with very little preparation, vowing to not make the same mistake again the following term. Of course, as time moves on so do our thoughts, and such promises are soon forgotten. But the above words are not from a student, they are from Guy Forget, the director of Roland Garros, and tennis fans around the world are hoping that he does not forget them any time soon. This year’s event was underwhelming by any stretch of the imagination. A lot of it was, of course, down to bad luck. The rain was disastrous, playing havoc with the schedule and, more importantly, the quality of play. Angry players loudly voiced their disappointment at being made to play in such poor conditions, and that’s not even mentioning the fact that several high profile players specifically Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer had to withdraw from the tournament due to injuries. But not everything had to do with luck. Indeed, the biggest problems at Roland Garros are not due to luck, but to decades of poor planning and short-sightedness. The French Open is, simply put, behind the times. There are no lights and no roof over the showcase court, and the grounds are so small that the tournament feels cramped even on quiet days, of which there aren’t many.
These issues have been raised time and again, but particularly vocal criticism came in 2012, when Stanislas Wawrinka vented about his inability to finish his match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a reasonable time. Gilbert Ysern, then the tournament director, said that he knew it was a sensitive issue, but re-iterated that he did not want players playing at night. He did, however, hint that lighting would be addressed by 2017. Whether this will happen remains to be seen, but even if it did it would be a small step to modernizing a Slam tournament that has fallen way behind its peers. The best estimates have a roof being built on the main courts not before 2020, and realistically only much, much later. This central problem, then, will likely continue to plague the tournament for the better part of a decade. This year, Novak Djokovic had to play on three consecutive days in order to make up for time lost to the rain. Neither he nor the fans were happy about this, but it seems as if nothing can be done about it in the near future. The other main problem  the size of the event  is also not easily solved. Roland Garros occupies 8.5 hectares, a minuscule size compared to 17 in Melbourne, 18 at Wimbledon and 18.5 in New York. A firm decision on the exact nature and timing of an expanded tournament has been delayed again and again, and though many proposals have been made, nobody has any real idea when the French Open will move to a new location or get bigger in its current one. The size of the event was highlighted in an embarrassing manner this year, when commentators pointed out that even though the tournament was so small, they could still not fill up the stands for a men’s quarter-final between Dominic Thiem and David Goffin. It was a spectator mutiny that will haunt the organizers for some time to come.
Perhaps a mutiny was justified after the way fans were treated in some circumstances. Fans were made to wait hours on end with no clear indication as to whether play would resume. They felt cheated, then, when play was abruptly called off and they were refused full refunds. Forget defended all the decisions related to delays. “The decision to suspend or resume the game is solely for the supervisor Stefan Fransson,” he said. “Respect for the game has always taken precedence.” In short, “thank goodness it’s over” is sadly how most fans are viewing the 2016 French Open. From an entertainment point of view, everything was sadly lacking as well. A Grand Slam without Roger Federer is just unthinkable, and Nadal having to withdraw due to an injury himself severely depleted the men’s draw of talent. It was nice to see a youngster like Thiem finally play well on a big stage, and the inspirational story of Kiki Bertens and her fight back from cancer was wonderful to watch, but overall the event was unimpressive. The main headline, of course, after everything is said and done, is Djokovic’s historic victory, followed by another Williams failure and, perhaps, the passing of the baton to the young Garbine Muguruza. The Serb now holds all four Grand Slams and is in a good position to make a real run at the Calendar Slam. As for Williams, time will tell if she is finally able to equal Steffi Graf’s record for number of Slams. Perhaps by the time the next French Open rolls around we will all have forgotten about this uninspired edition, but we hope the organizers do not. They can hardly afford another disaster like this, and one can only hope that it spurs to them to get the tournament to a modern standard sooner rather than later.
Parigi 2016: anteprima del futuro by Federico Mariani L’edizione 2016 del Roland Garros può, suo malgrado, coincidere con l’inizio di una nuova era. Dopo tanto (troppo) tempo trascorso nella speranza di un agognato ricambio generazionale valido e contestualmente nel terrore di un tennis senza Federer e Nadal, lo Slam parigino sbatte in faccia agli appassionati un torneo senza i più amati. Roger non si è presentato a Bois de Boulogne saltando un Major come non accadeva sostanzialmente da sempre, dal 1999, con in mezzo 65 presenze consecutive ai nastri di partenza. Il compare Rafa si è, invece, ritirato in corso d’opera con un forfait dettato dall’ennesimo infortunio che, con trenta candeline sulla torta e un fisico oltremodo usurato, fa intravedere l’anticamera del baratro (sportivo). Insomma, quanto visto al Roland Garros potrebbe rappresentare l’anteprima di ciò che sarà del circuito in un tempo tutt’altro che lontano, anzi più vicino di quanto si ritiene nell’immaginario comune. Ma cosa sarà del circuito maschile nell’era post-Federer&Nadal? Quanto perderà il tennis dopo il ritiro dei due campionissimi? Ci sarà qualcuno in grado di raccoglierne l’eredità non solo tecnica ma soprattutto carismatica? Difficile, anzi forse impossibile rispondere oggi con un certo grado di fiducia su quesiti che affliggono l’intera Atp e che insidiano di incognite un circuito che ha vissuto nell’ultimo decennio una straordinaria età dell’oro, basti pensare che degli otto tennisti nella storia
capaci di conquistare tutte le prove dello Slam, ben tre appartengono alla stessa generazione. Si può, però, provare a ipotizzare ciò che sarà. È ragionevole e se vogliamo anche comodo credere che l’Atp possa ripercorrere il cammino tracciato dalla NBA nei primi anni del terzo millennio. Grazie a Michael Jordan il basket americano ha vissuto un vero e proprio boom passando dall’essere il fratello minore di baseball e football fino a diventare un fenomeno planetario con un’identità culturale e sociale ben marcata. È auspicabile uno stesso percorso per il tennis che, da sport di nicchia (o poco più) qual era, si è trasformato quasi in uno sport popolare aprendo le sue frontiere a una fetta di pubblico sempre crescente. Tale crescita clamorosa può esistere soltanto se supportata e promossa dai campioni che in campo e fuori hanno la possibilità di attrarre
nuovi appassionati. Tutto ciò è avvenuto con Federer e Nadal, grazie a Federer e Nadal che non si sono limitati a mostrare in campo cose inedite, si sono spinti oltre. Sono stati (e sono) talmente forti da far avvicinare con fervore anche chi il tennis lo masticava poco. Sono stati (e sono) meravigliosamente diversi da aver creato attorno alle loro figure due fazioni che sfociano spesso e volentieri nel più vivo e viscerale del tifo. Una componente che fa storcere il naso ai puristi del Gioco ma che, pragmaticamente parlando, ha portato soldi, molti soldi, e attenzioni provenienti da ogni latitudine della terra. La tesi che si intende avvalorare tramite questo ragionamento si basa sul fatto che se prima erano in 10 a seguire il tennis e oggi quei 10 sono diventati 100, in un domani senza ovviamente Federer e Nadal i 100 non
torneranno 10. Forse non saranno più 100, ma verosimilmente saranno 85-90, non certo 10. Questo perché quell’enorme nuova fetta di neofiti che si è innamorata del tennis nell’ultimo decennio si è nel frattempo fidelizzata, assuefatta, e non abbandonerà. Federer e Nadal hanno accompagnato il tennis in una nuova dimensione facendo la fortuna (economica ed emozionale) di questo sport. I tennisti di oggi e soprattutto di domani possono, dunque, partire con una base di popolarità solidissima, impensabile fino a qualche stagione fa. Non si può dare responsi su ciò che sarà a livello tecnico e carismatico, ma è a ben vedere sciocco attendersi di rivivere i fasti dell’età odierna così come sarebbe sciocco abbandonare la nave quando Roger e Rafa non saranno più al timone.
Rising Stars And Their Stats by Alex Bisi Infosys ATP has conducted some interesting research relating to the young players on the men’s Tour. The ATP promoted the #NextGen campaign in Indian Wells to promote the young players who are rising up through the ranks and are likely to be the champions of tomorrow. This particular analysis focused on serving and returning with the score at 0-30. These are, of course, important moments in a
match, and the results show the top youngsters’ ability to hold their own serve in a tight spot and to break their opponents’ serve when the opportunity presented itself. In this first half of the season, the Top 8 players managed to hold their serve on average 50% of the time when serving at 0-30, while the top youngsters managed only 37% on average. When returning at 0-30, the Top 8 managed to break 38% of the time on average, while the youngsters only managed 26%. The analysis shows that Alexander Zverev, Elias Ymer, Yoshihito Nishioka,
Nick Kyrgios, Kyle Edmund, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Quentin Halys and Andrey Rublev are effective at holding their serve while at a disadvantage, while Borna Coric, Hyeon Chung, Taylor Fritz, Jared Donaldson and Francis Tiafoe are good at breaking serve when they have the opportunity. Interestingly, Kyle Edmund has a higher percentage than Andy Murray of holding serve at 0-30, while Donaldson and Chung have better break percentages than Novak Djokovic, at 46% against 41%. Zverev is in the Top 4 of both categories, with better percentages than David
Ferrer when serving at 0-30, and better return percentages than Thomas Berdych at 0-30. SERVING 0-30 1 Kyle Edmund 50 2 Nick Kyrgios 45 3 Quentin Halys 44 4 Alexander Zverev 42 5 Elias Ymer 41 6 Taylor Fritz 38 7 Hyeon Chung 35 RETURNING 0-30 T1 Jared Donaldson 46 T1 Hyeon Chung 46 3 Alexander Zverev 37 4 Borna Coric 36 5 Taylor Fritz 35 6 Frances Tiafoe 30 7 Andrey Rublev 26
The Next Generation Can Wait by Giorgio Giannaccini It seems that every other week we hear tales about how the next generation is ready to make a run to the top of the tennis world. Yet for the most part, despite all of these proclamations, it is the old guard that still walks away with most of the top prizes. So it was at Roland Garros as well, even though Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both withdrew from the tournament, leaving the likes of Djokovic and Murray badly outnumbered by the youngsters. Yet still it was Djokovic who finally prevailed, completing his career Grand Slam by winning the French Open for the first time. The tournament, described by many pundits as perhaps the worst Roland Garros ever, lost one of its main attractions early. Roger Federer, still hampered by a back injury that dogged his entire clay season, withdrew from the competition as a precaution. While a massive loss, it was the withdrawal of the nine-time champion which really sent shockwaves through the tennis world. Nadal had been playing perhaps his best
tennis in years, breezing through the first two rounds, when he announced that he had a wrist injury so serious that he could not risk going back out on court. In short, there was room for the next generation, two massive portions of the draw that would usually be occupied by these juggernauts was wide open, but nobody could really take advantage of the situation. Let's start with Nick Kyrgios. Talented but unstable, the Australian has long been pegged as a future superstar, yet when he came up against the normally fragile Richard Gasquet, he fell dismally short. He was ousted in three sets, and seemed completely overmatched by the more experienced
Frenchman. Alexander Zverev, one of the most promising young men in the draw, reached the third round relatively easily before bowing out to the more mature Dominic Thiem. It was a tight match, but Zverev showed that the still has a long way to go in order to maximize his considerable talent. David Goffin, not exactly a spring chicken at 25, is still nevertheless considered a top candidate to become a future superstar. He had a decent tournament which would see him reach a career-high of 11 in the world rankings, but a quarter0final result is not quite good enough for a man of his talents, especially considering the
opportunities afforded by the draw. Still, he beat the likes of Nicolas Almagro and Ernests Gulbis en route to the last eight, so he won’t be too heartbroken with his fortnight. In the quarters, of course, he came up against Thiem, who killed many a dream this year. Goffin took the first set, and seemed the more comfortable of the two men for the first portion of the match. He was slightly more patient and tactical with his play, despite the overwhelming power of his opponent. But as the match wore on, Thiem found his groove and Goffin’s limitations became more and more apparent. It wasn’t a walkover, but Thiem was clearly the stronger player, and deserving of a spot in
the semi-finals. So the final four featured Djokovic and Thiem on the one side of the draw, while on the other side Wawrinka and Murray loomed large. Of the four spots, then, three were occupied by oldtimers. In the battle of the old guard, it was Murray who managed to prevail over the defending champion. It was a result that would have been all but unthinkable five years ago, when the Scot was very ordinary on the clay. But a victory in Rome this year, as well as his performance in Paris, proves that he has made huge strides in his clay court game in recent years. In the other semi-final,
Dominic Thiem received a tennis lesson from the world number one: 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. It was a massive opportunity for Thiem to prove all of the next-gen supporters right, but in the spotlight he failed dismally. He obviously has the power, the weapons and the talent, but they were all proven to be terribly raw and unrefined when compared to the robotic consistency of the vastly experienced Djokovic. The message was clear for all to see: your time has not yet come. The final, between the two old friends and rivals, was won by Djokovic with relative ease. At least for now, old is the new young.
Albert Ramos, A Long Time Coming by Giorgio Giannaccini
For a Spanish tennis player who names clay as his favorite surface, the last 15 years has been perhaps the most unfortunate time in history to try and get to the top of the sport. Competing with the likes of Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer, Fernando Verdasco, Nicolas Almagro and Feliciano Lopez is hard enough, but when you aren’t as obviously talented as they are, it can be a very difficult challenge indeed. Such has been the fate of Albert RamosVinolas, born in 1988 and destined to ply his trade in an era of unprecedented talent in Spanish tennis. Tall but slender, the lefty based most of his game on extreme topspin and clever point construction. Not blessed with any major weapons or tremendous power, craftiness has been his biggest asset. In the bigger tournaments, Ramos-Vinolas has experienced his fair share of disappointment. In 2012 he ran into an in-form Roger Federer at Wimbledon, where he got a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 shellacking. Even though it was a disheartening defeat, 2012 was a good year for the Spaniard, and it was the first season he reached a Tourlevel final, though he lost to Pablo Andujar in Casablanca. It’s fair to say, in short, that Ramos-Vinolas is a good player who can compete at a Top 50 level, though at the same time one who was never destined to reach the upper echelons of the game. That hasn’t stopped him, however, from claiming quite a few illustrious scalps in his time on the Tour.
In 2010 at the ATP 500 event in Barcelona, he beat world number 12 Fernando Gonzalez, at a time when the Chilean was playing some of the best tennis of his career. Unfortunately, our hero could not carry that success into the rest of the event, as he soon lost to Ernests Gulbis. In 2012, he beat Richard Gasquet at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, where he reached the third round. He would also reach the third round in Miami that year, where he beat world number 15 Feliciano Lopez. A year later, again in Miami, he ousted world number 14 Juan Monaco and former world number four James Blake, but was eventually stopped by Jurgen Melzer in the fourth round. Later that season, in Barcelona, he overcame Jerzy Janowicz and Japan's Kei Nishikori before running into the immovable wall that was Rafael Nadal. Fast forward to 2015 and we find RamosVinolas winning the biggest match of his career against his 2012 conqueror at Wimbledon: Roger Federer. The victory came at the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament, where he upset the Swiss 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3. He would lose to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga later on, but that hardly mattered. Beating Federer was a careermaking moment for him. That is, until Roland Garros 2016 rolled around. In the first round, he enjoyed a hard-fought victory against Horacio Zeballos, before ousting another Argentine, Marco Trungelliti, in the second. Another tough fight was in store in the next round, this time against the in-form American Jack Sock. After losing the first set in a tie-break, he won the next two before dropping the fourth. The fifth, however, belonged to him, and he moved on to his first fourth round appearance in a Slam. "A lifetime achievement award," Eurosport commentator Federico Ferrero called his
exploits at the end of the match. "The recognition of a guy who has always worked very hard, he deserves it." Most observers thought that would be the end of it. Lying in wait for him in the next round was a serious contender: Milos Raonic. Though the Canadian was not at his best on clay, he had made serious strides in 2016, and was playing very well indeed. When the Spaniard won the first set 6-2 against Raonic’s monstrous serve, it raised a few eyebrows, but there were few spectators who really gave him much of a shot. Surely Raonic would bounce back, they thought. But when the second set also went to the Spaniard, 6-4, people really started to take notice. In the end it was over fairly quickly, a straight-sets victory for Albert Ramos-Vinolas, the biggest upset he had scored since beating Federer so many months before. Our hero’s journey came to an end in the next round, when he lost to defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka. It was not a particularly close match, but Ramos-Vinolas had already painted his masterpiece, and was more than happy with his work at the year’s second Slam. The only question that remains now is, how much further can he push himself? Given his upward trajectory over the last few years, it might be a bit further than even he imagines…
A Dream Of Wimbledon…In France by Niccolò Inches
With Wimbledon just around the corner, grass fever is thoroughly gripping the tennis world. Even France, the hosts of the French Open on clay, seem to be getting into the spirit of grass. Of course, that shouldn’t be surprising. After all, French players have a knack for grass, and often do better at SW19 than at their home Slam. Richard Gasquet has twice reached the semi-finals at The Championships, while JoWilfried Tsonga authored a sensational elimination for Roger Federer in 2010. Not to mention the exploits of the 2006 Wimbledon champion, Amelie Mauresmo, as well as 1997
finalist Cédric Pioline. Nicolas Mahut, too, had the most celebrated moment of his career at Wimbledon, when he played the longest match in history against John Isner in 2010. With so much success on grass, it seems only natural that the French would start growing grass courts on their own turf, and that is exactly what has happened in the city of Deauville in Normandy. The brainchild of Grégory Brussot and Martin Besançon, these are the only grass courts in France apart from the court in the British Embassy in Paris. Fans of faster-paced tennis will soon have as many as 14 courts to play on, but it will cost them €40 per hour to do so. Brussot and Besançon say that they were inspired to take on the project by an article in L'Equipe in 2007 which asked: "Grass courts, why not?". Et voila: the result is that four
courts are already usable, with more being prepared for the future. "This Deauville is extraordinary," Gachassin said of the project. "The club will certainly be a candidate to host a weekend of Davis Cup or Fed Cup.” The stated objective of the club is to eventually host a Challenger tournament or ATP 250 event. In the meantime, it will be enjoyed by local residents. “In a region with a great tradition of clay court tennis, this addition can only be an asset, especially for young people,” the head of the local league said of the club. “You can open important windows for youth competitions, regional and non-regional.” Also of interest: the possibility of luring top players to the club as they prepare for Wimbledon. But all of that is in the far future, of course. Until then, an exhibition tournament will take place at the club in order to properly break it
in. Former Top 50 player Marc Gicquel and current world number 230 Axel Michon will be present, alongside Jérémy Chardy and Quentin Halys. Even TennisWorld had a chance to test out the courts during the inauguration celebrations. The grass, unfortunately, was rather slippery due to recent rains. "The grass is cut between 8 and 10 millimeters," Besancon explained, specifying how the club provides for "two types of soils. One for the Center Court, which was implemented with the help of the experts at the Queen’s Club in England. The other, is from the French company Natural Grass, which is characterized by the so-called "substrate bundle" which, with the addition of sand, accentuates permeability and allows for rapid
re-use of the court in case of rain. The club also employs two full-time “gardeners” to oversee the courts, as well as a supervisor who oversees their work. The founders are using golf clubs as their business model, at least for the first few years of the young institution’s life. Although a third of the budget is covered by the local authorities, already 23 private partners have come forward to turn the club into a multifunctional establishment that features conference rooms and a restaurant. It will be, the organizers hope, the incubator for grass court greatness in France, leading hopefully not only to tournaments and the interest of international players, but of future French Wimbledon champions.
Beauty On The Court by Riccardo Zuliani
Aesthetics is everything to some people. To others, it mean even more than that. To them, it is the heart and soul of an event. For such people, one of the greatest delights in the world is attending a tennis match in which Roger Federer is playing. Of course, in tennis aesthetics can be a tricky concept. One match might end in straight sets, and contain some of the most beautiful tennis anyone has ever seen. Another might finish with the exact same scoreline, but be the ugliest match ever played. Mistimed shots, unforced errors, overly nervous players, poor playing conditions‌there are many ways a match can be ugly. But not when Federer is on the court. The Swiss is to many people a kind of tennis god. And like with any religion, sometimes when a god stops giving to his people, their belief grows even stronger. So he might not be winning every tournaments he enters, as he once did, and he might not have won a Slam in many years, but his believers still believe. Many people who go to see him play are not merely going to see their idol tested by an opponent, but they are, in a way, testing themselves and their deeply held views. People go to see Federer, but he is often so different from the Federer they expected that their faith might be tested, at least for an instant. But then, before they can question those doubts too deeply, he delivers one of the moments that seize the souls of every member of the audience. A moment when he does not just seem to be the absolute master of tennis, but the very essence of tennis itself. When he weaves such a spell, nobody notices
his errors. Time stops whenever he performs an action not worthy of his lofty reputation, and triumphantly resumes when he again preaches to the converted masses. And how they love to hear his sermons, in the sanctuary that is his court. And when he is at his very best, when each point leaves the audience gasping and nudging each other, even Federer seems to become consumed with the moment. He forgets himself, all that was and will be, all his affections, all that has led him to be there, totally immersed in the perfection of his play. It seems almost as if he joins the audience to watch himself play, for it is so good that even he himself does not want to miss the spectacle. At such times, the pursuit of a victory seems almost irrelevant. It will matter at the end of the day, but during the match it is on nobody’s mind. It ceases to be a hotly contested athletic event, somehow rising above such trivial things. Federer is not an overwhelming champion all but humiliating his opponent, but a benevolent teacher, taking his adversary by the hand and showing him how beautiful the
game can be. Federer's opponent will do his part in realizing the big show. Taking his place as the foil to Federer’s finesse, he serves as the canvas for the Master’s paintbrush, and though the glory may not be his, he is still connected to the genius in a very real way. And as the last moment passes, as the last brushstroke leaves the canvas, the masterpiece will be complete. If it were not for the silly rules that keep Federer and his congregation grounded that one point should follow another, that gestures such as clapping are mandatory he and them would probably float away on the breeze towards the sun. In some ways, the fact that such poetry can be achieved despite it is being framed by these rules and regulations make the achievement all the more remarkable. It is like when a poet, forced into form by a set meter and rhyme scheme, is able to become the best version of himself, flourishing in spite of external forces that seem to limit him. When attending Federer’s matches, it is often not even necessary to watch the rallies or the flight of
the ball. Just observing his movement and his footwork is enough of a show in itself to make the ticket price worth it. When he is in full flight, he will show you not just a tennis match, but a full history of tennis with the depth of his play, the width of his expressive capabilities. And, happy after the match, everyone will go back to their homes, as if nothing at all had happened. Forgetting that they have been judged by the god of tennis, unaware of his goodness and the wondrous things he had shared with them. They will one day tell their children what they saw, and how incredible it was. What they won’t even remember is that he lost that match. It didn’t matter. He was Roger Federer.
A Story Told One Shot At A Time by Riccardo Zuliani Observing your forehand from across the court, I have to say: beautiful. It is extraordinary, the elegant gesture your body is engaged in, perfectly stringing together so many disparate movements into one coherent flow, completely focused on a single physical goal. But how did you do that? I hit the ball at you with such violence and accuracy. You had almost no time to react, but even so, or perhaps because of it, you managed to get yourself into the perfect position. If I had not hit the ball, and it had not made its way over to you, of course, you would not be in that position. But I did, and it reached you, the result of my backhand. But it’s not just a backhand. It is the gesture, in part, of an arm that hangs by my side, which is not even in contact with the racket when I hit the shot. I remember that the backhand was the last shot I added to my repertoire. Initially of the two-handed variety, but that soon changed. When I say I learned a proper backhand last, I really mean it: I
mastered even useless shots before I learned to hit a backhand. Useless shots such as the Veronica, also known as the hotdog, which is when one hits the ball between one’s legs after chasing down a lob. I do not know which nickname for such a silly shot, one which is often not seen at all for entire matches, is more delightful, but I love them both. I learned the one-handed backhand for the simple fact that it seemed to me the most aesthetically pleasing of the available options. The gesture is always unique and irreproducible, somehow removed from and above the basic technical principles that underpin it. It seems more creative, more
expressive‌it simply has more personality than the alternative. I have invested a great deal of sweat and tears in the backhand. I worked hard to allow myself the ability to play this shot of elegant simplicity. At the end of my labors, I have achieved some good results. After many failures on the court while learning this tricky shot, it eventually stabilized and became reliable with much greater frequency. It eventually surpassed the two-handed backhand, which had given me such stability and practicality, but little aesthetic pleasure. And this journey of functionality and beauty, which has taken so long and demanded so much, has brought me here
today, to this tournament, to this final. It is definitely the biggest stage that my right arm (very well, I will admit that my left arm does not just hang there, it does also serve its purpose) has brought me. My backhand, especially, brought me here. My story is condensed in this one shot, and which has become the center of my tennis personality, the center of my self on the court. Behind my last backhand lies all my shots, all my games, my every emotion which I have experienced on the court. On every backhand is engraved, like marks on a prison wall, every backhand that I have ever hit in my life. They are all, in a way part of each other.
You, on the other side of the court, are going to be hit by a very long story, a story that has been written one shot at a time for many, many years. A story that could never be fully written by mere words. Because what's coming to you, dear opponent, is the latest and most recent outcome of the great story in which we are both participating. A story that involves dizzying highs and devastating lows, and which continues to expand with every rally, with every shot. The media does not care about these details, they only want a quick snapshot after each match, but the story does not care, it keeps going no matter what. But as you prepare to hit
your shot, I can see your story as well. You are about to express yourself with that shot, with the violence and imagination that has taken you years to perfect. All the tournaments, rankings, triumphs, joys and tears have lead ultimately to this moment. You are about to try and show everyone why you are here, and your shot might very well change the fate of not only this match and your career, but my career as well. And as I wait for you to hit that shot, I cannot help but admire the technical perfection of your stance as you wait to execute it. You're perfect in this historical preservation of a movement, and it goes beyond the physical reality
of simply preparing to hit a little yellow ball. Perhaps then it is not so much the way in which you bend your legs, lower your shoulders, stretch your left arm as if to indicate that, yes, this is exactly the story you want to tell. Perhaps it is more about the fact that you ardently, with dignity and respect, refuse to back down, and step up to each and every shot and challenge with superb style and confidence. Possibly you can’t even help it. You have
so many memories, so many experiences driving your every movement, that you cannot help but perform the action the way you do. I cannot imagine anything but a happy outcome, from your perspective, from your encounter with the ball. You are simply amazing, so impassively carrying out your task despite pressure from so many sources, unruffled in the midst of the most terrible of storms. Of course, once you hit the ball I know that it will be my turn to
take my position, my turn to act. I know at that point I will feel the unbearable weight of history pressing down on my racket. I have a chance to change the very course of history itself, and the thought overwhelms me to the point that I simply want to sit down on the court and think deeply about all of these philosophical questions. But I cannot. For that is not my destiny. My destiny is to react. To act. To strive. To triumph.
Fasciitis Of The Foot: A Common Disorder Among Tennis Players by Rodolfo Lisi
In my sixth book on tennis, entitled "Disorders of the Lower Limbs in Tennis" (Edizioni Arachne, www.aracneeditrice.it, € 10), I deal with the most common conditions of the lower limbs in tennis player (Figure cover) One of the most common conditions is plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis (plantar or enthesitis or rear talalgia) is often accompanied by calcification (heel spurs) at the level of the medial calcaneal tuberosity. It is a common disorder of the foot and often caused by overexertion or overuse. Excessive tension on the ligament on its calcaneal insertion (when standing or walking) causes inflammation and pain. The pain at first can be infrequent and focused on the back
part of the foot, but soon spreads across the arch towards the toes. Poor training techniques while exercising or simple overuse can cause the condition. Neurological factors can also play a role in contracting plantar fasciitis, as can obesity, congenital deformity or secondary trauma. Patients will complain of pain in the medial region of the calcaneus, especially in the morning and after periods of resting. With movement, the pain may disappear but reappear when remaining idle for an extended period. In a more advanced phase, the pain may be constant even when moving, and can be quite severe. It is appropriate to consider in addition to the patient's medical history various factors that may be addressed in order to resolve the condition over the long term. These include the patient’s weight and physical activities. Physical examination will identify the point of pain: palpation and acupressure may aggravate the
symptoms. There is usually noteworthy edema. If present, the swelling will likely be located at the rear of the foot and be rather limited. One must 足 in the case of plantar fasciitis 足 perform a radiological examination of the right and left foot under load in two standard projections, focusing on the axial assessment of the calcaneus. One must also include the pelvis, hip and knee in the radiographic screening if one suspects, after the initial examination, they are contributing factors. Ultrasonography is of great help in the assessment of calcifications, integrity and structural characteristics of the ligament. One can easily detect the presence of nodules or lumps with this method. The examination is painless, repeatable and free from side effects, making it the tool of choice for diagnosis in this case. CT and MRI must only be conducted if particular questions need to be answered (such as better bone structural assessment and accurate visualization of soft tissue). Cortisone therapy is only to be used for short periods of time, ideally only once. Otherwise, the risk of damage to the ligament is high. Cortisone "draws" the water, causing wetting of the fibers. The hydrogen bonds of the collagen are loosened and the plantar aponeurosis, therefore, becomes more yieldable. Medications can be usefully applied via mesotherapy, usually anti-inflammatory drugs or a simple saline solution. Treatment of the pain is, of course, very important. Shock Wave Therapy 足 considered by many to be the treatment of choice 足 exerts anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, promoting revascularization. The structural and metabolic connective tissue needs enough vitamins and minerals, meaning that a decrease of animal products is recommended while healing. This reduces the acidity of the blood and the promotes the production of free
radicals. It's always imperative to assess static and dynamic foot support. Using a simple X-ray, one can make use of orthotics to correct any support deficiencies. Since the condition is very often a dysfunction of the Achilles-plantar system, the use of stretching exercises for the fascia tendon is strongly advocated. For example, the patient can squeeze a tennis ball under the sole of his foot until he experiences a feeling of tenderness (Figure 2). This will "desensitize" the fascial fibers, based on the principle that repeated stimulation can reduce the pool of local algogenic mediators and/or the threshold of neuronal excitability. It is reasonable, then, to provide some reinforcement for the pelvic girdle and the spine so that the movement of the foot takes place with the necessary synergy and coordination.
Leadership by Nick Bollettieri
Throughout my life, I have been so fortunate to do so many things including parachuting at West Point on my 80th birthday, traveling to Iraq and Afghanistan to speak to our troops, and flying with the famous Blue Angels in a sophisticated F-18. My pilot was Scott Beare, who I have since become very close friends with and we have shared our thoughts and opinions about leadership to each other. Let’s talk a bit about the role of a leader and start out with a few paragraphs from Lt. Scott Beare and Michael McMillan’s book titled, “The Power of Teamwork: Inspired by the Blue Angels.” The Role of a leader carries a great honor and responsibility. Now let’s focus on those that cannot be a leader: 1. A leader that always makes excuses 2. Stays in the background and hides behind a desk Both Kenneth Blanchard Ph.D. and Spencer Johnson M.D. think that effective leadership starts in the heart: “Your heart controls your motivation, your intent, and your leadership character.” They explained that, “Managers might set goals and then disappear until you screw up. Then they fly in, make a lot
of noise, dump on everybody and then fly out. They think that is great leadership. “ I started the Academy in 1976 with 6 to 8 coaches along with my close friend Mike Depalmer. Believe me, I did not know very much about starting an Academy but there were a few simple rules that I quickly learned when I was a paratrooper. 1. We always had a policy when part of a jump- An officer or a sergeant would always lead the jump or be the last to jump. I was an officer and
understood why this was the policy. Let me share a story with you: On a particular jump, I was first. On our way to a drop zone, a young private was sitting next to me and asked me if I was going to jump. I said in a positive voice, “Yes.” Even though I was scared to death, me knowing my role as a leader helped give him the confidence. He responded. “If you jump, I jump.” 2. As our Academy began to expand, I realized how important it was that everyone receives the credit for a super practice, you perform as a
team. No matter what anyone thinks, my experience has taught me that successful leaders embrace the power of teamwork. Tapping into the innate strength that each person brings to the table. A very close friend of mine, Marilyn Nelson, and former CEO of the Carlson Company explained to me that no one in their company is more important than anyone else, no matter what their role is. In closing, a leader must be the one that accepts success or failure and never shifts their role of being a leader. PS. There is no greater gift to your employees than a simple pat on the back.
Work Hard, Work Smart by Federico Coppini
Anyone who regularly reads my posts will know how passionate I am about three things: tennis, the UFC and music. In particular, that of Noel Gallagher. You will also know that I'm a big, big believer that you get out what you put in in sport, and indeed life. There are no two athletes in the world that prove my point more than Conor McGregor and Ronda Rousey, the two biggest stars in UFC right now. Ronda Rousey defended her UFC title in just 34 seconds in her last fight following her last three previous fights
that lasted 14 seconds, 16 seconds and 1 minute 6 seconds. These were world title fights against the best in the world and demonstrates why Sports Illustrated voted her the most dominant athlete in the world. Conor McGregor burst on to the UFC scene two years ago and has broken every record in the sport on his way to winning the Interim Featherweight Championship of the World last month. Many would say that these two athletes were born that way, but what those people don't realise is that there probably isn't an athlete on the planet who works harder than Rousey and McGregor. It is true that every athlete in the UFC has put in
thousands of hours of gruelling hard work to get to the leading mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation in the world. To become an elite MMA athlete, you need to be elite in all combat sports. Boxing, Wrestling, Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, to name just a few. And as well as their skill levels being off of the chart, so are their fitness levels. What separates Rousey and McGregor from the rest is their obsession with MMA. It's something they can't turn off. Ronda is known for her incredible work rate going back to the days where she became the first American woman to win a Judo medal at an Olympics. She's transferred that work ethic to become the best female mixed martial artist in
the world, with many experts saying she is twenty years ahead of all of her rivals. She says “I'm very bad at resting. I have a problem, I'll go defend my belt and I’ll be in the gym two days later. I don't know what to do with myself.” When referring to her last opponent Bethe Correia, she stated “I've had so many thousands of experiences this girl could never possibly have between when she decided MMA was cool until now. She'll never catch up.” Conor has said in different interviews that “my obsession is movement” and also that he is "obsessed with the game" and is known for spending hours studying movement both of humans
and animals in their natural habitat. Like Rousey, McGregor isn't very good at resting. "It's all I think about, it's 24/7. I train all day here and travel around to different gyms and when I get home late at night my adrenaline is still racing so I often shadow box in my room. I think you have to have that obsession to get to a high level." His girlfriend of eight years Dee Devlin reiterates the point by saying “he doesn't have hobbies, he doesn't play golf. Anything he does outside of his training is related to his training, like running. Even watching a movie is hard for him. To concentrate on something [other than fight or movement related] for two hours is a hard thing for Conor to do.” Tom Egan, friend and training partner of McGregor comments “this is his life. This is all he loves to do. After he beat Dennis Siver, we pretty much got some food and went to the gym. That's our hobby.” The other thing that impresses me so much about these two fighters is their completely unshakable confidence and self-belief. Though all fighters in any combat sport need to be incredibly confident when in
an environment where there is a real risk of serious injury, Rousey and McGregor have a self-belief like I've never seen before, on a different level to 99% of other athletes and of which I find truly inspiring. Where does this confidence come from? Simple. From preparation, the hours and hours dedicated to improving their craft and developing their skills, mindset, movement, technique, etc., etc.. When every waking minute is dedicated to becoming the very best, by putting the hours in, by living and breathing the game, by removing yourself from your comfort zone every day, there is no room for doubt. There's a saying in the fight world ‘train hard, fight easy’ and Muhamed Ali said famously on training hard “don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” Though Rousey and McGregor are very different in the way they promote themselves (Ronda does most of her talking in the octagon whereas Conor is very loud and brash and very forefront with his confidence in himself and the weaknesses he sees in his opponents. It is his Muhamed Ali like trash talk and the fact he's backed up everything he has said so far,
that has played such a big part in bringing the UFC to a more mainstream audience here in the UK.), in my opinion they are both exceptional role models for any aspiring athletes because of their staggering work ethic and dedication. It is this work ethic and dedication that has sent many men and women to the top of their chosen field. Too many to mention in this article. Many, many names you would have heard of and probably even more that you wouldn't have heard of. To name just a couple of athletes who reached the pinnacle of their sport. Firstly, Roger Federer. Federer is widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time playing a consistent, magnificent level
of tennis so good that you could easily be fooled into thinking he was given a god given talent, that he was born a tennis genius. The truth is, Federer put in the hours. From the age of four years old he spent hours and hours watching tennis on the TV. And though tennis was his favourite sport, he played a lot of football and squash up until the age of twelve which helped him become the amazing athlete he is today and arguably the best mover we've ever seen on the court. There was nothing else he wanted to be other than a tennis champion. Another athlete who was recently described as the best free kick taker ever by Brazilian legend Roberto
Carlos is David Beckham. Like Federer, it's easy to think that he was born with that magical right foot but Beckham spent every minute possible practicing his free kicks, corners and crosses when he was a kid. He practiced for hours and hours with his dad up until turning pro where he would then stay behind long after his Manchester United team mates had gone home, practicing his dead ball kicks. Both Federer and Beckham were obsessed with their favourite sport and were adamant that when they grew up, they would make it. Despite the scepticism of their school teachers. Where we're easily fooled is when these masters of their craft make it look so easy. When Federer makes his
running forehand look so easy, we think that must be down to natural talent. When Michael Jordan made it look so easy, that must be down to natural talent. In reality, Federer has hit millions of forehands and has spent hundreds of hours working on his footwork, peRFecting his movement. And in Jordan's case, no one could have predicted just how big a star he would go on to become when he was cut from his school basketball team when he was 15. It was the dogged hard work after he was cut that made Jordan the legend that he is. He famously once said "I've always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come. I don't do things half-hearted. Because I know if I do then I can expect half-hearted results." And another time "some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen." Sticking to aspects of life I am most fond of, I’ll give you two more examples from the world of music, Jimi Hendrix and Noel Gallagher. Jimi Hendrix is regarded as the greatest guitarist there has ever been by many musicians. Again, if you ask the average man on the street, he will tell you that he must have had some god given talent. But like Rousey, McGregor, Federer and Beckham, Jimi Hendrix was
obsessed. Obsessed with guitars saying “music is my religion“ and “my goal is to be one with the music. I just dedicate my whole life to this art”. They say he never, ever put his guitar down and that he even took it with him to the bathroom. Noel Gallagher along with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and Pete Townshend is one of my favourite song writers of all time. Just last month when talking about his musical talent in an interview, he said “I can safely say that I didn't get a head start in life at all, if anything the deck of cards was stacked firmly against me and I got to where I am today by sheer force of will. I think that in life, if you are realistic enough, you can achieve anything you want” adding “my aspirations and goals
were to be the biggest rock star in the world [and achieved it] through sheer determination”. Every example I've mentioned supports the work Daniel Coyle demonstrates in his book The Talent Code where he dismisses the myth that talent is something the great are born with but is something the great have earned through hard work and deep practice. No one is a born champion. Champions work incredibly hard, incredibly smart, relentlessly. McGregor said after winning the Interim Featherweight belt last month "I honestly believe there is no such thing as self-made. I believe that is a term that does not exist. For me it certainly doesn't." These athletes and musicians
show the doggedness, the persistence and singlemindedness that is needed to become the best. In the case of young athletes though, this singlemindedness has to be nurtured. Like I've stated many times in previous posts, it's extremely important that the future Federers and Beckhams don't stick to the one sport and just like Federer did,
play multiple sports until the age of 12 years old. Though it takes thousands of hours of hard, smart, deep practice to make it to the top, the benefits of playing multiple sports at a young age and the all-round athleticism that brings, is equally important. What is of equal importance, which every athlete and musician mentioned here possesses, is having a growth
mindset and the ability to not be afraid to fail. All the hard work in the world isn't going to be enough if you have a fixed mindset and are afraid to fail. So work hard, work smart, keep a growth mindset and DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL!
This top is made of fabric sporting Climachill technology, which uses a fine mesh of polar fiber to draw away heat and ensure maximum freshness, even during the longest matches. The mesh panels enhance ventilation and are elegantly elastic, allowing it to follow the exact movements of your body. The entire structure is made from recycled polyester that has less impact on the environment and reduces emissions.
ADIDAS BARRICADE ROLAND GARROS 2016 BY STELLA McCARTNEY by Edoardo Di Mino
To accompany the top is this tennis skirt which perfectly follows the movements of your body, even during the most intense rallies. Created together with the top for some of the best players in the world, like Garbine Muguruza and Caroline Wozniacki, it uses Climachill technology to draw moisture away from the skin in order to keep you fresh and focused. The elastic waistband also ensures maximum freedom of movement.
Every detail of this shirt is designed to improve your performance on the court. The lightweight fabric is ultra-breathable to keep you cool and confident, and the new design will allow you to stay ultra-comfortable even during the longest matches. The new athletic fit features shoulder seams that have been moved forward for maximum comfort, while the perforated inserts will keep you cooler for longer. Made from 100% polyester material with antihumidity dye, the shirt will also protect you from harmful UV rays.
NEW BALANCE TOURNAMENT CREW by Edoardo Di Mino
The new Tournament Crew collection would not be complete without these revolutionary shorts, designed for top players like Milos Raonic. Made from ultra-lightweight stretch fabric, these shorts have a mesh gusset and back yoke for ultimate breathability. The fabric also stretches to allow for complete freedom of movement, and is made using 88% Nylon and 12% Spandex.
Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto again at Roland Garros by Edoardo Di Mino Given the success of the collaboration between Adidas and Yohji Yamamoto last year, it only makes sense that the two work together again for this year’s Roland Garros collection. The new collection draws inspiration from the camouflage style popular in the 1940s and 1950s, and is designed to make you feel comfortable while distracting your opponent with your sharp fashion sense. Starting with the women’s line, the shirt features a modern design with clean lines. Sporting the ClimaLite technology, it offers a superior and comfortable fit thanks to the support brackets on the front and the back of the garment. The skirt, also made with ClimaLite moisture fabric, has a mesh lining specially designed for a feminine silhouette. The left leg features the Roland Garros logo. The men’s collection starts with a comfortable shirt that features a ¼ zip and a casual look with some striking graphical designs. The shorts sport Climacool ventilation technology, which guarantees freshness and maximum comfort. As with the women’s line, the Roland Garros logo appears on one leg. Made in collaboration with Yohji Yamamoto, these sneakers offer high performance and a unique style. The design offers the stability and flexibility which each shot of an intense rally requires. It caters perfectly for players who need to make rapid and aggressive movements. The Boost technology ensures an unbeatable return of energy, with a sense of incredible lightness and speed.
Graham Williamson, Senior Director of Adidas, explains:
"We designed the new collection so as to minimize distractions for the players. The result is a maximum functionality for the athlete without sacrificing style" Lawrence Midwood, director of Y-3 design, says:
"We were honored to be a part of the Roland Garros collection this year, and to have the opportunity to create something really special for one of the biggest stages in tennis. Our goal is to break the clothing patterns in tennis, combing both functional utility and visual appeal."
Designed for emerging young tennis players like Alexander Zverev, Head has introduced a special edition racket that is a restyling of the popular SPEED series. Inspired by the Graphene XT Speed line of rackets, this limited edition is distinguished by its original design. It presents a modern and fresh take on a classic, featuring satin metallic colors. From a technical point of view, as with it’s predecessors, the Speed Limited Edition offers only the best in cutting-edge tennis techn. The revolutionary Graphene XT technology, which allows you to transfer power to the most strategic points of the racket for better energy transfer, is the core feature of this product. With an unstrung weight of 300g and 16/19 string pattern, this racket is designed to help you play with more spin than ever. The racket is very easy
The Head Speed Limited Edition – A New Racket For A New Generation by Carlo Cazzaniga
to play with, and its smooth design helps you generate maximum power. This racket is best suited to intermediate and better players who want to get the most power, versatility and speed from their game, INFO: WEIGHT (UNSTRUNG): 300 g / 10.6 oz STRINGS: 16/19 HEAD SIZE: 645 cm² / 100 in² GRIP SIZE: 1-5 BALANCE (UNSTRUNG): 320 mm / 1 in HL LENGTH: Standard, 685 mm / 27 in PROFILE: 22 mm