DEMON DELIVERS Alex de Minaur
Carlos Alcaraz took another step towards greatness in claiming a third major singles title, and on a third diff erent Grand Slam surface, at Roland Garros.
FEATURES
18 LIGHTING UP PARIS
Glowing brightly in the city of lights with a career-best Grand Slam performance, Alex de Minaur led a strong Australian contingent at Roland Garros.
20 WHAT NEXT FOR NADAL?
Despite a first opening-round exit in 19 Roland Garros appearances, Rafael Nadal seems determined to compete at his favourite setting at least once more.
24
QUEEN OF CLAY
Iga Swiatek's fourth Roland Garros singles title reaffirmed her status as the most dominant clay-court player in the women’s game.
Trengove
Distributed by Ovato
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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.
34 DREAMING BIG
Australia’s top-ranked players are eyeing podium finishes at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
42 TURNING POINTS
For stars like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Naomi Osaka, lifechanging turning points can also transform their careers.
62 AUSSIES FINALS BOUND
The Australian team secured a place in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals with an emphatic victory against Mexico in Brisbane.
64 KEEPING UP WITH THE SAVILLES
Australians Daria and Luke Saville share an exclusive insight into their life on tour as a married couple.
CHANGING TIMES
From stunning breakthroughs to record-breaking feats, the 2024 season has already served up significant changes across the sport.
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
Dramatic flair has long been a character trait of Danielle Collins – and the American is taking that to stunning new levels in her final season on tour.
GENERATION NEXTInspiring
The symbolism couldn’t have been stronger as Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz, both respectful and admiring of their long-time idol, sat courtside for Rafael Nadal’s first-round match at Roland Garros 2024.
While the soon-to-turn-38 Nadal suffered his earliest loss at the tournament he’d dominated over two decades, Swiatek and Alcaraz went on to win the respective women’s and men’s singles crowns.
With new records for Swiatek and a new champion in Alcaraz, change was unquestionably in the Parisian air. While the business end of Grand Slams has in recent years been dominated by 30-something superstars, five of the eight semifinalists at Roland Garros were aged 23 or below.
That group of young stars included incoming world No.1 Jannik Sinner (age 22), US Open 2023 champion Coco Gauff (20) and fast-rising teenager Mirra Andreeva (recently turned 17).
It was Swiatek and Alcaraz, though, who best showcased a bright new era in the sport. Swiatek became the youngest woman in the Open era to win four Roland Garros titles, while a third Grand Slam victory for Alcaraz made him the youngest man to triumph on all three major surfaces.
But as a new generation of champions was feted in Paris, Roland Garros 2024 was in many ways a triumph of legacy too. In their rapid rise to superstar status, Swiatek and Alcaraz have repeatedly referenced Nadal’s powerful influence in their respective careers.
“He taught me that always fighting ‘til the end and not giving up is the best way to go,” said Swiatek, who would go on to save a match point against Naomi Osaka in the second round.
“He managed to turn around some matches that it seemed impossible to turn around. This basically really inspired me. But also, how he is off the court, he’s really humble and really focused on the work. It seems that success didn't change him … I just like the person he is overall.”
Alcaraz, who was just two years old when Nadal lifted the first of his 14 Roland Garros singles trophies, recalls rushing home from school to watch his countryman make history at the event.
“I have a special feeling for this tournament … I watched a lot of matches,” he smiled. “Of course, Rafa Nadal dominating this tournament for, let's say, 14, 15 years. It's something unbelievable.
“I wanted to put my name on that list of the Spanish players who won this tournament. Not only Rafa. (Juan Carlos) Ferrero, (Carlos) Moya, (Albert) Costa, a lot of Spanish players, legends from our sport that won this tournament, I really want(ed) to put my name on that list.”
As the established order shifted in Paris, the influence of other history-making champions was clear too. Serbia’s Olga Danilovic, for example, who qualified and reached the fourth round at Roland Garros,
has an accessible role model in countryman Novak
On her way to a career-best Grand Slam performance, the 23-year-old explained how teaming with Djokovic at the United Cup “was like a dream come true.”
“He’s very humble and (a) nice guy, especially (since) he’s No.1 in the world,” she added. “For me, the greatest of all time. I come to him with some dayto-day struggles that I have on court, and he’s really happy to share his thoughts with me and what he learned.”
It shows how each generation creates the foundation for future champions. Young fans across the world were undoubtedly watching on as Swiatek and Alcaraz set new benchmarks at Roland Garros – and if their 2024 performances are a measure, those new-generation champions will continue to inspire as they build on their superstar reigns.
Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au
Djokovic.
STAR CARLOS ALCARAZ All-surface
Carlos Alcaraz took another significant step towards greatness in winning a third Grand Slam singles title and becoming a champion on all three major surfaces. MATT TROLLOPE
reports
When you’ve
already scaled several signi cant
tennis mountains, and done so at just 21 years old, it’s hard to know which achievement represents the highest peak.
Carlos Alcaraz was asked which of his feats generated the most pride, and he initially
struggled to respond. “That’s a Having played only 13 Grand Slam main draws, Alcaraz already owns three major titles on all three surfaces, things no man in the Open era has achieved so young, or so quickly. He became one of only seven men in the modern era to win his rst three Grand Slam nals.
di cult question,” he replied. Alcaraz had not long earlier completed a four-hour, 19-minute victory over Alexander Zverev to win Roland Garros, rebounding from two-sets-to-one down – plus the disappointment of blowing a 5-2 third-set lead – and overcoming physical issues to triumph 6-3 2-6 5-7 6-1 6-2.
achieved so young, or so quickly.
Now the reigning titleholder at two of the four majors, he is
three-quarters of the way to a career Grand Slam and moved a step closer to reclaiming the
world No.1 ranking.
“Obviously winning the US Open, when I reached for the first time the No.1 (both in 2022),
“Obviously winning the US Open, when I reached for the first time the No.1 (both in 2022), something that I dream since I started playing tennis, getting my first Grand Slam. So, it was pretty special,” began Alcaraz,
my first Grand Slam. So, it was pretty special,” began Alcaraz,
IGA SWIATEK Queen of
CL4Y
As Iga Swiatek claimed a fourth Roland Garros singles title, the Polish star reaffirmed her status as the most dominant clay-court player on the women’s tour.
LEIGH ROGERS reports
When asked to describe her comfort and con dence levels competing on clay during another successful Roland Garros campaign, Iga Swiatek answered with a single word: “High”.
Prompted to elaborate, she added: “The surface makes my game better. My grip allows me to spin more. I can play more defence points because it’s a bit slower, but on the other hand, I have also more time to attack sometimes. So, I feel like I’m just using it well.”
beginning and with (the) second round, and then I was able to get my game better and better every match. I’m really proud of myself, because the expectations obviously have been pretty high from the outside. Pressure, as well. I’m happy that I just went for it, and I was ready to deal with all of this and I could win.”
AN EARLY TEST
Swiatek arrived in Paris on an impressive 12-match winning streak, a er clinching back-toback WTA 1000 titles at Madrid and Rome.
This set up a highly anticipated second-round clash with Naomi Osaka, a former world No.1 and the only other four-time major champion in the draw.
Swiatek de nitely did not get it easy, needing to ght back from the brink of defeat to beat Osaka. The top seed recovered from a 2-5 de cit in the nal set and saved a match point before triumphing 7-6(1) 1-6 7-5.
ELITE COMPANY:
Iga Swiatek is a winner of all fi ve major finals she’s contested; Jasmine Paolini is the third Italian woman to reach the Roland Garros final.
“I was in huge trouble,” the Polish star admitted. “I’m glad that I didn’t give up.” Former world No.1 Lindsay Davenport, now an analyst on The Tennis Channel, described the absorbing battle as the “highest quality secondround match of a major I’ve ever seen”.
It is an assessment that few could dispute, especially considering the phenomenal records the 23-year-old from Poland is building at the claycourt Grand Slam.
The top seed made a convincing start to her Roland Garros campaign too, dismissing French quali er Leolia Jeanjean 6-1 6-2 in a 61-minute openinground encounter.
Now a four-time singles
“Nowadays in women’s draw you can play Grand Slam champions early in the tournament,” Swiatek noted ahead of her rst meeting with Osaka since the Miami nal in 2022. “It is pretty tricky because you know these players are really experienced. They also achieved many great things. So, they have bigger kind of belief, I would say, as well. For sure, it’s not going to be easy.”
Now a four-time singles champion, her career record in Paris stands at 35 wins from 37 matches. Only the legendary Chris Evert and Monica Seles have been as dominant at the tournament in the early stages of their career.
Paris stands at 35 wins from 37 tournament in the early stages of
“It means a lot,” beamed a “This tournament has
“It means a lot,” beamed Swiatek a er beating rst-time major nalist Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-1 to secure a third consecutive Roland Garros title and her h Grand Slam in total.
“This tournament has been pretty surreal with its
“I thought it was a really fun match,” Osaka said a er their near three-hour battle. “Probably the most fun match that I have played so far. It just felt really incredible, with the atmosphere, and how much fun I guess everyone in the crowd was having too. It was de nitely very memorable for me.” Contesting only her second Grand Slam tournament since returning from maternity leave, the 26-year-old Osaka was buoyed by her performance.
much fun I guess everyone in by her performance.
“I cried when I got o the court, but then for me, I kind of realised I was watching Iga win this tournament last year, and I was pregnant,” she said. “When I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing pretty well. And I’m also just trying not to be too hard on myself. I feel
tournament last year, and I was pregnant,” she said. “When I kind of think of it like that, I think I’m doing myself.
MARK PETERSON, TENNIS AUSTRALIA
“I’m really proud of myself, because the expectations obviously have been pretty high.”
Dre amin g
BIG
Australia’s top-ranked players are eyeing podium finishes at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. By LEIGH ROGERS
Ellen Perez has no shortage of motivation as she looks to make her second Olympic Games appearance.
“For me, that’s the highest honour to be able to represent your country,” a patriotic Perez told Australian Tennis Magazine
“And the Olympics is the pinnacle of the sport for me.”
The 28-year-old Australian made her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, reaching the women’s doubles quarter nals alongside childhood idol Sam Stosur.
The tennis event at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris will be played on the clay courts at State Roland Garros, the same venue as the recently completed French Open.
Perez has been a Roland Garros women’s doubles semi nalist and having achieved a career-high doubles ranking of world No.7 in April, she is feeling optimistic about her medal chances in Paris.
“It would mean the world,” she said.
“I would trade in a Grand Slam to win a medal at the Olympics, that would just be the best for me. Gold is obviously the number one target, but any type of medal would be really cool.”
Perez is equally excited to experience the Olympic Games on a larger scale, a er the Tokyo edition was bound by strict COVID restrictions. This included playing in front of empty stands and following stringent social distancing measures o court.
team-mates from across di erent sports.
“I don’t know how much time we’ll have and how close the events are, but there’s a lot I want to see,” she said.
“I de nitely want to go to the swimming. I feel like obviously Australia does really well at the swimming and I have a lot of good friends who are on the US team, from going to college at the University of Georgia.
“The skateboarding seemed like a cool event, I think that gained a lot of traction, and seeing the Matildas (Australia’s women’s football team) would be awesome.
“I think I’d be open to seeing every sport to be honest.”
“Being able to be in the athlete’s village and meet new people, interact and go to the di erent sports, that aspect was kind of lost in Tokyo,” Perez said.
“To see how a real Olympics, I guess in a sense, looks will be really exciting.”
Perez is hoping to soak up more of the atmosphere in Paris, as well as support her
Perez, who grew up in New South Wales’ Shellharbour, revealed it is typically the surfers that leave her feeling the most starstruck.
“When I did go to Tokyo, I was in awe to see Julian Wilson,” she said. “I remember growing up loving surfers, so meeting him and Owen Wright was a cool experience.”
OLYMPIC GAMES 2024
KEY FACTS
HOST: Paris, France
DATES: 26 July – 11 August
TENNIS EVENT
VENUE: State Roland Garros
DATES: 27 July – 4 August
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
WOMEN’S SINGLES: Belinda Bencic (SUI)
MEN’S SINGLES: Alexander Zverev (GER)
WOMEN’S DOUBLES: Barbora Krejcikova/ Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
MEN’S DOUBLES: Nikola Mektic/ Mate Pavic (CRO)
She is also hoping to cross paths with the USA men’s basketball team, who are the four-time defending champions in Paris.
“They probably hold some of the highest prestige among the athletes,” Perez acknowledged.
“But I think everybody is really cool in their own right.”
DELAYED DEBUT
Alex de Minaur, Australia’s top-ranked man in singles, is “genuinely excited” as he looks ahead to his rst Olympic Games appearance.
“Being at the Olympics, I think that’s one of the dreams as a young kid. One of those milestone moments,” he said.
MIXED DOUBLES: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/Andrey Rublev
PARIS POINTERS
A maximum of 172 tennis players will compete across fi ve events.
National teams are capped at 12 players, six men and six women.
The men’s and women’s singles events will each feature 64 players, with a maximum of four per nation.
The men’s and women’s doubles events will each feature 32 teams, with a maximum of two per nation.
The mixed doubles competition will feature 16 teams, capped at one per nation.
This is the first Olympic tennis event played on clay since Barcelona hosted in 1992.
It is the second time a Grand Slam venue has been used for an Olympic tennis event, following London 2012.
Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde won Australia’s first, and to date only, Olympic gold medal in tennis in the men’s doubles competition at Atlanta 1996.
PROUD PATRIOTS: Daria Saville, Ellen Perez and Alex de Minaur relish the prospect of representing Australia in Paris.
NEW VIEW: Stefanos Tsitsipas and Naomi Osaka each gained new perspective.
TURNING POINTS
Stefanos Tsitsipas and
Naomi
Osaka are among
Stefanos Tsitsipas was still a teenager when he started turning heads in the tennis world.
At a time when most boys his age were still considering career and broader life opportunities –typically while still at school and living with their familiies – the rising Greek had already worked his way through the gruelling ITF and ATP Challenger circuits.
By age 19, he’d claimed wins over Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev and other top-10 opponents. At Stockholm in 2018, Tsitsipas made history for his nation as the rst Greek man to li an ATP singles trophy.
Where, some wondered, did a high-intensity Tsitsipas develop the work etehic and ambition required to maximise his talent?
In time, the Greek revealed the life-changing event that provided a powerful broader perspective.
In 2015, Tsitsipas and a friend were swimming o the coast of Crete when he almost drowned a er he was dragged into the ocean by a sudden current.
“I remember surrendering.
I remember the ashback when time froze,” said Tsitsipas, who was eventually saved by his father, Apostolos.
“It gave me hope …. that was the day I saw life in a di erent perspective.”
Determined that his second chance would not be wasted, Tsitsipas channelled a more courageous outlook into a career that has so far delivered
the stars who show that life-changing turning points can also transform their tennis careers. By JEREMY STYLES
11 ATP singles titles (including the prestigious ATP Finals as a 21-year-old), two Grand Slam nals and a peak No.3 ranking. Other players, too, can look back on life events that dramatically impacted their tennis careers. O en challenging, but at times deeply rewarding, those circumstances have changed the course of many stars of today’s tours.
A MOTHER’S MINDSET
Happily, not every transformational event of today’s top players is a neardeath experience. Former world No.1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka is among the growing number of mothers competing on tour. The birth of her baby daughter Shai last July, says the Japanese star, has changed her view on life and on her tennis career.
“It forced me to see life in a di erent way,” said Osaka, who had earlier spent time o the tour while addressing some mental health challenges. “I know a lot of people probably think I retired in that year, but it just made me a lot more grateful for the sport and, in turn, made me just know there’s so many possibilities outside tennis and I realised I would still love to play tennis.”
While yet to quite regain the heights of her multiple Australian and US Open titles, Osaka is unquestionably reemerging as one of the tour’s most dangerous
forces. Within that process, she’s also rediscovering the power of the journey. A er holding a match point against top seed and eventual champion Iga Swiatek in the Roland Garros second round, the 26-year-old spoke of her shi in mindset.
“I have my little book, right?” Osaka smiled in her post-match press conference. “In it today I just wrote: I’m proud of you. And I think for me, like, saying that to myself, it gives me a lot of power, because … sometimes I curse myself out in my head and it’s quite a negative feeling.
“Yeah, I would just say I’m proud of the journey. I’m hoping, hopefully it will get more and more positive.”
DEFYING ALL ODDS
For Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremska and other pro-playing Ukrainians, the stress of competing on tour while war continues in their homeland could be crippling. Instead, those top-30 superstars are drawing on their resilience to not only achieve new tennis highs, but also to provide a beacon of hope for their nation.
The 21-year-old Kostyuk, who has climbed to a career-high No.17 singles rankings a er two WTA nals appearance this year, delivered an emotional speech a er she was runner-up to Katie Boulter in San Diego.
“I want to say thank you to my family back home. It’s been di cult last couple of nights for Ukraine,” said Kostyuk, who
DANIELLE COLLINS and beautiful
Dramatic flair has long been a character trait of Danielle Collins – and the American is taking that to stunning new levels in her final season on tour. LEIGH ROGERS reports
The resurgence of Danielle Collins is proving one of the most fascinating storylines of the 2024 season.
The 30-year-old American has captured the two biggest titles of her career to climb from outside the world’s top 70 in February to return to the top 10 in May.
What makes this feat even more remarkable is the fact that this is Collins’ swansong season.
She had shown glimpses of her potential throughout her career, most notably as a surprise nalist when ranked No.30 at Australian Open 2022. Although this performance helped Collins’ ranking peak at world No.7 a few months later, she failed to progress beyond the second round in six of her next eight major appearances.
“It’s nally clicking for me,” a relieved Collins acknowledged. “It’s pretty late in my career for this to be happening, I wish in some ways it had of happened a little bit earlier … (but)
I’m really proud of the improvements I’ve made.” Determined to “go out playing my best tennis”, Collins is certainly ful lling her dream.
So, what has changed?
“You can always put more pressure
on yourself. You can always take pressure o of yourself. It’s just a mindset,” Collins noted. “For me, I’m just enjoying my time on tour. I’m enjoying the travel and being out on court and being a competitive player … that’s really all there is to it.”
THE SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT
News of Collins’ impending retirement broke during Australian Open 2024, shortly a er she squandered a 4-1 lead in the deciding set against world No.1 Iga Swiatek in a thrilling second-round encounter.
The seemly seething Collins marched straight into press following the three-hour battle, then dropped the bombshell in a throwaway line to the single journalist in attendance.
“I’m kind of at the end of my career and they don’t sting quite as much, to be honest,” a nonchalant Collins declared when asked how much the loss hurt.
As word spread, many questioned whether it was simply a comment made in frustration?
However, Collins reiterated her retirement plans at her next tournament in Abu Dhabi, detailing how her determination to start a family meant this would indeed be her nal season on tour.
“I certainly love my job and it’s been a rollercoaster of fun emotion,” she told WTATennis. com. “(But) at this point I feel like I’m ready for the next chapter.”
THE FINAL FAREWELL?
Collins is remaining coy on where or when her nal tournament might be – but is adamant it will be soon.
She has constantly shut down suggestions she should prolong her career, especially considering her current form.
“No, I’m not,” she smiled when quizzed yet again if
she was reconsidering her plans following a title-winning run at Miami in late March. “Thank you, though. I feel like all of these questions are coming from such a good place, because I feel like a lot of people would like to continue seeing me play well.”
At the same time, Collins is frustrated at those second guessing her “very emotional and personal” decision.
“I’m living with a chronic in ammatory disease that a ects your ability to get pregnant, and so that’s, like, a deeply personal situation. I hope everyone can respect that,” she explained.
“At the end of the day, this is my personal choice. There is so much more to do than just tennis and my caree r.”
NOT DONE YET
With tennis remaining her focus for now, Collins is enjoying the best form of her life.
As the world No.53 at Miami, she defeated ve top-30 opponents to become the tournament’s lowest-ranked women’s singles champion.
Collins secured her rst WTA 1000 singles crown with a 7-5 6-3 victory against world No.4 Elena Rybakina.
“What a dream come true,” she declared.
Collins, who was born and raised in Florida, described the atmosphere
YOURGAME GAME
Boost your on-court
54 WHY CLAY CAN PAY
Clay-court tennis can provide developing players with a solid foundation for success.
56 IMPORTANT EARLY LESSONS
What are the most valuable qualities that parents should aim to impart in young players?
57 STROKE MASTER
Discover why Casper Ruud possesses one of the most potent forehands in the men’s game.
58 TRAIN WITH THANASI
Australian favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis shares an insight into his practice routines.
59 ARE YOU READY TO COMPETE?
Why is this an important question to ask yourself whenever you step on court?
60 NO LONG STRETCH
Learn why short-and-sharp stretching sessions are most eff ective to improve flexibility.
61 A REWARDING JOURNEY
Codie George explains why learning from your peers is critical to a coach's development.
HISTORIC PEAK: Jannik Sinner is the first Italian player, male or female, to rise to singles world No.1