Australian Tennis Magazine - February/March 2023

SUMMER SOUVENIR ISSUE

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

THE PERFECT 10

ARYNA SABALENKA

SLAM STORY BEGINS HIJIKATA + KUBLER

AUSSIE

STARS SHINE

12 RETURN OF THE KING

Back at his Melbourne Park stronghold, 10 for 10 in Australian Open finals for a record-equalling 22nd major, Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of his cherished place in history. FEATURES

8 AN EXTRAORDINARY AUSTRALIAN OPEN

History unfolded in spectacular fashion at Australian Open 2023.

26 A SPECIAL CELEBRATION

The trailblazing Original Nine reunited at Melbourne Park this summer.

27 SANIA’S SWANSONG

The retiring Sania Mirza capped her inspirational career with an emotional run to the Australian Open mixed doubles final.

18 SABALENKA REWRITES THE STORY

A Grand Slam singles breakthrough in Melbourne created an exciting new narrative for Aryna Sabalenka.

EDITOR

Vivienne Christie

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Leigh Rogers

DESIGN

Andrea Williamson

Daniel Frawley

Trevor Bridger

Craig Holes

FOUNDING EDITOR

Alan Trengove

PHOTOGRAPHS

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Tennis Australia

COVER PHOTO

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Australian Tennis Magazine is published by TENNIS AUSTRALIA LTD, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, Vic 3121.

Email: editor@tennismag.com.au

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The views expressed in Australian Tennis Magazine are not necessarily those held by Tennis Australia. While the utmost care is taken in compiling the information contained in this publication, Tennis Australia is not responsible for any loss or injury occurring as a result of any omissions in either the editorial or advertising appearing herein.

45 AUSSIE HEROES

It was a summer to remember for many Australian players, with outstanding results creating positive momentum for the season ahead.

50 ANDY MURRAY: BRAVEHEART

With an incredible odyssey completed in Melbourne, Andy Murray showed the strength and mettle to extend his career.

54 AMERICAN DREAM

With their players dominating the game’s upper echelons, there’s strength in numbers for American tennis.

36 SAM SIGNS OFF

Even as the retiring Sam Stosur made her last appearance as a professional player at Australian Open 2023, the passionate tennis lover was already contemplating her next steps in the sport.

58 TENNIS UNITED: A NEW ERA

America claimed the inaugural United Cup this summer, an exciting new mixed team event featuring the world’s best players.

62 FAMILY TIES

Following in the footsteps of a famous parent or sibling is a growing trend in the sport, as Australian Open 2023 highlighted.

65 SCENES OF SUMMER

Soaking up the sun, surf and iconic Aussie scenes is a much-loved side note for the world’s top players in an Australian summer of tennis.

24 HIJIKATA AND KUBLER’S WILD RIDE

Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler completed a fairytale run in the Australian Open 2023 men’s doubles competition.

HIT YOUR WAY TO FIT CARDIO TENNIS

CHAPTERS

The story starts here” was the intriguing tagline of Australian Open 2023 – proving remarkably apt as spectacular narratives unfolded at the seasonopening Slam. New champions were crowned, tournament records smashed and within individual match wins and career-best performances, there were legendary tales that will be told and retold for years.

Aryna Sabalenka’s rise to a rst Grand Slam title featured drama, suspense, courage and most poignantly, triumph over di cult circumstances. Three years ago, Sabalenka arrived in Melbourne a er the sudden death of her beloved father, Sergey, in the oseason and the heartbroken world No.12 didn’t progress beyond the rst round. In 2022, the Belarusian was battling the ba ing serving woes that almost ended her coaching relationship with Anton Dubrov.

But at AO 2023, Sabalenka’s form challenges were well and truly behind her – and so too were any associated

“At this stage of my career, these trophies are the biggest motivational factor of why I still compete,” said Djokovic, who was also reinstated as world No.1. “I never really liked comparing myself to others, but of course it’s a privilege to be part of the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time.”

As new heroes emerged, a rst Australian Open trophy was equally profound. “We only won eight or nine matches on the ATP Tour before,” said an almost disbelieving Jason Kubler a er he had combined with countryman Rinky Hijikata to become the 14th all-Australian duo crowned as men’s doubles champions. “Now we have a Grand Slam title … For me, I didn’t know if that was ever going to come true. For Rinky to be (age) 21, have a Grand Slam under his belt already, it’s pretty exciting.”

And as Sam Stosur would happily relate, it creates a legacy that can endure beyond their playing careers. In her 21st Australian Open

mental struggles as she became the 28th woman of the Open era to lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. “I’ve been through a lot of tough moments in the last year. They always say that everyone happens for a reason and I couldn’t understand what was the reason … right now, sitting here, I have this understanding. Now I got it,” Sabalenka said. “I think I wouldn’t win a Grand Slam without that situation.”

For Novak Djokovic, an epic Australian Open story has become tennis folklore. Fi een years since the Serbian, then aged 20, li ed his rst major trophy in Melbourne, he became a record-breaking 22-time Grand Slam champion. Within that lo y number –equalled only throughout men’s tennis history by Rafael Nadal – Djokovic extended his record Australian Open title count to 10.

appearance, Stosur contested her last professional matches in the doubles events. As the only Australian player of the past four decades to win Grand Slam titles in all disciplines (her eight Slams in total coming in singles, doubles and mixed doubles), emotion for the legendary Stosur could be of the happy kind. A champion completely at peace with everything the sport had given her and everything she had given back, Stosur was already contemplating her next steps in tennis.

The many life-changing stories that started at the Australian Open set the scene for brilliant new chapters. There’s excitement aplenty for the season – and years – ahead.

Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

“It’s a privilege to be part of the discussion as one of the greatest players of all time.”

AN EXTR AORDINARY AUSTRALIAN OPEN

History unfolded in spectacular fashion at Australian Open 2023.

AO 2023 CHAMPION

KING Return of the

Back at his Melbourne Park stronghold, 10 for 10

Australian Open finals for a record-equalling 22nd major, Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of his cherished place in history.

Is there anything in tennis bigger than the ambition of Novak Djokovic? The brash young challenger who won his rst major in Melbourne 15 years ago and set his sights on toppling the legendary doubleheader of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, is on the verge of his long-ago imagined place in history. As all-time greatest.

Never has the Djokovic juggernaut looked more unstoppable than the roll to a 10th Australian title from 10 nals, levelling with Nadal on a record 22 majors. The superstar Serb’s 6-3 7-6(4) 7-6(5) nal victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas was tense, though never in doubt, despite a set point against his serve late in the second set.

But the emotional toll was obvious as Djokovic climbed

into his box, tearfully embraced family and collapsed sobbing.

“This is probably the biggest victory in my life, considering the circumstances,” he told an awed Rod Laver Arena.

Neither the searing deportation saga of 2022, the le hamstring he injured while winning Adelaide in the rst week of the year, nor the controversy of his father being pictured with Russian nationalists could throw Djokovic from his mission to stand alone as the greatest men’s major winner.

The 35-year-old looks destined to stand at the pinnacle, perhaps as early as Roland Garros, while Nadal – a wounded secondround loser as defending champion – endures another injury-enforced absence.

in

By SUZI PETKOVSKI

Revenge tour? Redemption? Djokovic was certainly on a mission to regain his Melbourne Park stronghold, admitting the restorm of controversy last January and the questioning (even mocking) of his injury gave him ‘something extra’.

Leg heavily strapped, subjecting himself to 77 daily treatments (according to coach Goran Ivanisevic), Djokovic powered through the draw for the loss of one set – ironically to his lowest-ranked opponent, No.190 French quali er Enzo Couacaud, in the second round. Ominous momentum started to build against Grigor Dimitrov in round three, despite obviously restricted movement by the best mover in the game. Djokovic hit peak ruthless against Alex de Minaur in the fourth round,

allowing the last Aussie hope ve games. Andrey Rublev was con ned to seven games and a 0-7 mark in major quarter nals.

Newbie semi nalist Tommy Paul threw a spanner in the Djokovic machinery, levelling at 5-all from 1-5 down in the rst set, but gathered three games therea er.

Djokovic was openly more nervous about the reception from fans than his ability to win a 10th title at his pet event. He was reassured by raucous support in Adelaide (where he won the title from match point down in a cracking nal against Sebastian Korda). A soldout practice match with Nick Kyrgios on the Friday before the Australian Open helped ease him into the Melbourne Park fold. By the night of the nal, an

ARYNA SABALENKA

Rewrites

THE STORY

After several difficult chapters in her earlier tennis story, a bold and brilliant Aryna Sabalenka reset the narrative with a first Grand Slam singles title at Australian Open 2023. VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports

Aryna Sabalenka, still just 24, had already experienced many chapters in professional tennis. From hopeful early beginnings, there had also been encouraging steady progress, before personal di culties and form frustrations threatened to make her tennis story one of sadly unful lled potential.

But at Australian Open 2023 it was at last a happy chapter for Sabalenka, as she rose above all challenges to li her rst Grand Slam trophy. “(This) is the best day of my life,” declared the beaming Belarusian, champagne in hand as she celebrated the

life-changing title. “I’m just super happy (and) proud.”

As were the many Sabalenka supporters who agreed that it was hard to imagine a player more deserving of major triumphs. Bold and brilliant as she claimed 11 straight match wins to start the 2023 season – her Australian Open title preceded by a title run in Adelaide – the Minsk-born champion had also bravely taken control to achieve the biggest breakthrough of her career so far.

A true appreciation for Sabalenka’s Grand Slam story required an understanding of its undeniably turbulent prequel,

in which her rise to world No.2 was accompanied by welldocumented lapses in form.

Beset by ba ing serving woes, she recorded 428 double faults – 151 more than any other WTA player – in 55 matches last season and had to beg her coach, Anton Dubrov, not to quit the team. “I knew that it was not about him, it’s just something about me,” Sabalenka re ected. “I just had to gure out the problem.”

And to her credit, the hardworking competitor did exactly that. A er consulting with renowned big-server Mark Philippoussis early in the season, Sabalenka employed another Australian, biomechanics

trainer Gavin MacMillan, to help overhaul her service motion.

But mental improvements, Sabalenka knew, was an area she had to tackle alone. Opting to end her working arrangement with a sports psychologist, she considered the mindset that needed reframing.

“I always had this weird feeling that when people would come to me and ask for a signature, I would be like, ‘Why are you asking for signature? I’m nobody. I’m a player. I don’t have a Grand Slam and all this stuff’,” she related.

“I just changed how I feel. I start to respect myself more. I start to understand that actually I’m here

SAM STOSUR

“It’s a very, very privileged position to be in if your peers can look up to you.”

Even as the retiring Sam Stosur made her last appearance as a professional player at Australian Open 2023, the passionate tennis lover was already contemplating her next steps in the sport.

Much had changed since a 17-yearold Sam Stosur launched her rst Australian Open campaign in 2002.

The courts were green, the tournament’s footprint hadn’t yet expanded to such generous proportions and the thenworld No.258 was still to fully appreciate some of the key lessons that would eventually shape her Grand Slam-winning tennis career.

“I played Greta Ahn in the first round, and I was so excited about playing Martina Hingis in the second round (but) I didn’t even win my first round,” Stosur recalled with a laugh ahead of Australian Open 2023, having announced that a 21st campaign in her home major would be the final tournament of her professional career.

“So that was a good learning curve – when you’re young, kind of junior starting out, not to get ahead of yourself.”

Yet for all that had changed more than two decades after that Grand Slam debut, much remained the same for the Queensland-born Stosur, who first took up tennis when she was gifted a racquet as an eight-year-old.

Asked to re ect on the best piece of advice she’d received in her many years of tennis, Stosur considered the technical elements – learning how to best combine her devasting serve and forehand, for example – and the mind shi s that helped

MAJOR STAR: After her debut at AO 2002, Sam Stosur went on to win Grand Slam titles in all disciplines.

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE

reports

her to simply enjoy her tennis, before pointing to important values she learned as a junior.

“When I was young (my coach) Nick, I think he’s the one that really taught me to always try your best. You know, you shake hands at the end of the day, you respect your opponent, yourself, what’s going on,” Stosur said.

“And it’s not like we ever sat down, and he said, ‘this is how you got to be’ or anything like that (but) I’ve always then grown up through my whole career to try and have that way of being.”

It was an approach that carried Stosur to Grand Slam heights across all disciplines – making her the only Australian player to achieve that impressive sweep in the past four decades.

Achieving her Grand Slam breakthrough in the Australian Open 2005 mixed doubles alongside fellow Queenslander Scott Draper, Stosur went on to lift trophies at all four majors.

TENNIS COURT HIRE

NO MEMBERSHIP, NO WORRIES

HEROES AUSSIE

It was a summer to remember for many Australian players, with outstanding results creating positive momentum for the season ahead.

ALEXEI POPYRIN

Recorded two top-10 wins in a resurgent summer, defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime during a quarterfinal run in Adelaide and Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open to make the third round.

With American names dominating the world’s top 50 and a string of compatriots following closely behind, there’s strength in numbers for the stars and stripes. ALEX SHARP reports

AMERICAN DREAM

Top-10 singles and doubles star launched 2023 season by winning a third singles title in Auckland.

Peaked at No.3 as Guadalajara WTA 1000 champion. AO quarterfinalist for a third straight year.

Wherever you looked across the tennis scene over recent months, the stars and stripes of the American ag were prominent.

Whether it was United Cup glory, successful qualifying campaigns, immediate 2023 silverware or deep runs at Australian Open 2023, the strength and depth in American tennis was as good as it gets.

If you scan down the singles rankings, you’ll notice 10 men with ‘USA’ next to their name and

nine women inside the world’s top 50. From this star-studded bunch eight were seeded for the Australian Open. These aren’t just rankings, this is sustained success at the very top – and nowhere is this better demonstrated than with the quartet who truly stood out last year.

Jessica Pegula personi es consistency and as she combined her talent with a dogged work ethic, she was rewarded with a career-high No.3 ranking. Three Grand quarter nals (halted by the eventual champion Ash Barty

or Iga Swiatek in each) and a maiden WTA 1000-level title in Guadalajara paint the picture of her stellar 2022 season.

Pegula also highlighted her versatility in teaming with Coco Gau to reach the doubles nal at Roland Garros. In fact, each American bookended their memorable campaigns by qualifying for the WTA Finals in both disciplines. That’s rare and mightily impressive.

Gau , somehow still only 18-years-old, excelled last season to also make her top-10 debut in singles and didn’t drop a set en

route to the Roland-Garros singles nal. Only an inspired Swiatek had all the answers that Parisian Saturday.

singles nal. Only an inspired Swiatek had all the answers

In the men’s game, Taylor Fritz erased his previous 0-7 record in Grand Slam third rounds to enjoy second week journeys at Australian Open and Wimbledon. His finest moment came at his “home tournament” of Indian Wells, snapping Rafael Nadal’s 20-match winning streak for a Masters 1000 milestone triumph.

COCO GAUFF RANK No.6

JESSICA PEGULA AGE 28 RANK No.4

It keeps on coming. Frances Tiafoe climbed into the world’s top 20 a er toppling Nadal at the US Open, posting an 8-0 tiebreak record during a pulsating run to the last four. The ve-set semi nal seesaw with Carlos

MADISON KEYS

RANK No.24

Won all fi ve singles matches contested in Team USA’s title run at the United Cup.

Alcaraz was widely regarded as a match of the year.

However that’s just scratching the surface. So a Kenin became Australian Open champion in 2020, American duo Jennifer Brady and Collins reached the

TAYLOR FRITZ

AGE 25 RANK No.8

Top-ranked American man helped USA claim title honours at the inaugural United Cup.

nal in 2021 and 2022. Add into the mix the big-hitting experience of Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens and Amanda Anisimova, and American women signal danger for any draw.

And in the men’s muchpublicised ‘Next Gen’ ATP Finals, Sebastian Korda was the 2021 runner-up and Brandon Nakashima was crowned the 2022 champion.

More names could be listed, the production line seems endless and that's without digging into the juniors or wheelchairs contingent.

So why now? Ola Malmqvist, Director of Coaching for USTA Player Development, has been entrenched in USTA coaching since 1999 and spent the last ve years in his current role transforming the culture of American tennis.

According to Malmqvist, the likes of Grand Slam champions Venus and Serena Williams, as well as Andy Roddick, had been "papering over the cracks”, with the number of top players coming through stagnating by 2008.

With direction from the USTA board, Player Development

TOMMY PAUL “We push each other ... everyone wants to be the best.”