Australian Tennis Magazine - October/November 2018

RESILIENCE SPECIAL

HEART+

PERSISTENCE

PAYS

STRENGTH US Open champions

Stars return

OF COOL NOVAK

RENEWED

AUSSIE HIGHLIGHTS Barty breaks through Millman heroics De Minaur delivers Kubler’s comeback

Back in Big Three

Plus FEATS OF ENDURANCE . LESSONS IN LONGEVITY . GAME STYLES EXPLORED

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contents OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018 VOL.43 NO.6

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TOWER OF STRENGTH With his career once threatened by serial injury, Juan Martin del Potro has proven a power of strength in returning to achieve new highs.

FEATURES 30 LESSONS IN LONGEVITY

Linking sense of self entirely to on-court success can create an agonising path for many players. Fortunately, many leading coaches are injecting the critical ingredients of self-esteem and perspective.

34 SHAKING THINGS UP

While it has never seemed more difficult to be youthful at the top of world tennis, some standout young stars are defying the established 30-something trend.

38 A SPIRITED RISE

As Australian teen Alex de Minaur soars up the rankings, respect for his fighting spirit is growing equally fast.

40 EXTRAORDINARY EMOTIONS

In the heat of battle, emotional resilience is as important as physical endurance.

This was highlighted during a dramatic and memorable US Open.

26

POWER TO PERSEVERE

Postivity paid for John Millman as the Aussie favourite stunned Roger Federer in a career-best Grand Slam run.

OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018 VOL.43 NO.6

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A DREAM COME TRUE Novak Djokovic achieved a dream as he equalled the record of childhood idol Pete Sampras with his 14th Grand Slam title in New York.

REGULARS 9 10 12 14 15 16

FIRST SERVE FAN ZONE BREAKPOINTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONE TO WATCH TOP 10

61 82 84 86 88 90

YOUR GAME RANKINGS SCOREBOARD FROM THE ARCHIVES KIDS’ CLUB LAST WORD

EDITOR Vivienne Christie ASSISTANT EDITOR Leigh Rogers FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrea Williamson ADVERTISING MANAGER Nicole Hearnden

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OSAKA’S GRAND ARRIVAL

Naomi Osaka is the sport’s newest superstar, cementing her arrival with a sensational US Open triumph.

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Vanessa Skendaris PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images John Anthony COVER PHOTO Getty Images COVER DESIGN & PHOTO EDITING Andrew Hutchison AFL Media

Australian Tennis Magazine is published by TENNIS AUSTRALIA LTD, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, Vic 3121. Ph: (03) 9914 4200 Email: editor@tennismag.com.au Distributed by Network Distribution Company Printed in Australia by Webstar 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.

FIRST SERVE

ADVANTAGE AUSTRALIA The 2018 Grand Slam season concluded with many positives for Australian tennis.

JOHN MILLMAN reached a first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the US Open. His fourth round win over world No.2 Roger Federer was his career-first against a top 10-ranked opponent and it was the best performance from an Australian man in New York since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.

ASH BARTY won her first Grand Slam women’s doubles title, saving three championship points in the final to triumph with American CoCo Vandeweghe. The 22-year-old is the seventh Australian to win the title and first since Sam Stosur in 2005.

SAM STOSUR teamed with China’s Zhang Shuai to reach the women’s doubles semifinals, her best Grand Slam doubles result since 2011.

DYLAN ALCOTT extended his unbeaten record in Grand Slam singles finals to six, winning a second US Open quad wheelchair title with a straight-sets win over world No.1 David Wagner.

JOHN MILLMAN

“I encourage anyone who’s been inspired about our game to get out there and pick up a racquet and give it a go … it’s a great game and has taken me to many places.”

RESILIENCE REQUIRED

H

as there ever been a Grand Slam that provided such wideranging talking points as the 2018 US Open?

Alongside conversations on highly deserving champions Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic, there were endless discussions about the brutal New York heat, newly-implemented rules, surprising player antics and the many controversies that followed.

To triumph at Flushing Meadows, it became clear in 2018, resilience was the quality most required.

Fortunately, it’s a quality the titleholders possess in spades. For Osaka, it’s evident in the way she bounced back from the disappointment of patchy lead-in form – the 20-year-old winning just a single match in the three tournaments she contested after Wimbledon – to become the youngest women’s champion in 12 years.

But that resilience was nothing compared to the composure Osaka showed in the highly-charged fi nal.

Competing against a childhood idol and a player almost 17 years her senior in Serena Williams, the Japanese star showed remarkable maturity as the sixtime champion unravelled in a series of controversial code violations.

While debates raged about Serena’s actions, everyone agreed on one point: Osaka, had deserved her win. With that in mind, she also earned her Australian Tennis Magazine cover debut.

Djokovic, too, worked hard for his success. In the year since he sat out

the US Open as he nursed an elbow injury, the Serb has undergone surgery and experienced a series of dramatic changes in his coaching team.

More happily, Djokovic has also recovered from form challenges to historically complete his collection of all nine ATP Masters 1000 titles at Cincinnati and win two consecutive Grand Slams to take his overall tally to 14. “Life showed me that it takes time for good things, it takes time to really build them, for things to fall into place, so you can centre yourself, balance yourself and thrive,” Djokovic said.

Other players have also thrived despite difficult circumstances. Juan Martin del Potro endured the longestwait ever to return to a Grand Slam fi nal, with nine years and 21 majors passing before the 2009 US Open champion created the opportunity to compete for that title again.

And as Australia celebrated many new high points at the US Open (see left), John Millman most emphatically demonstrated that past challenges need not be an obstacle to future triumphs. If anything, such experiences combine to create the hardy competitors who are most deserving of bright new milestones.

As the resilient stars showcase important lessons to other players, they unquestionably provide inspiration too.

Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

9

Choose a sport they can play forever‌ Tennis!

TOWER OF ST FEATURE

From the edge of retirement when his career was all but ruined by serial injury, Juan Martin del Potro has proven a tower of strength in his return to a career-high ranking. KRISTINA MOORE reports

F

ew players are more entitled to contemplate the ‘what ifs’ than Juan Martin del Potro.

What if he’d chosen a career in soccer – a possibility as a talented all-round athlete growing up in football-mad Argentina – over tennis?

What if the wrist injuries that required four surgeries – three on his left, one on his right – hadn’t robbed him of so much tennis?

What if the 14 Grand Slams he’s missed since his debut at the 2006 French Open hadn’t been as impactful on del Potro’s career as the 34 he’s contested?

And what if the 198 cm Argentine, quickly touted as a future No.1 when he claimed his breakthrough Grand Slam title as a 20-year-old at the 2009 US Open, had arrived in any other time than the Big Three era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic?

The famously goodnatured del Potro, though, is not one to ponder such questions. At age 30, there’s already been enough introspection when it comes to his tennis – most notably in the period following the latest surgery. At a time that should have been the prime of his career, del Potro instead considered ending it prematurely.

“The worst moment was in 2015 when I was close to quitting this sport because I couldn't fi nd a way to fi x my wrist problems,” del Potro revealed at the US Open. “I (had) been suffering a lot. I got depressed for couple of months also.”

With hindsight, both del Potro and the many supporters who

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helped him find the strength to persevere, can recognise what a loss that would have been to tennis.

Since that physically and emotionally-crippling period, the enduring Argentine stunned Djokovic and Nadal to win a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics and led his nation to a first-ever Davis Cup title.

The hero of the 2016 fi nal against Croatia, del Potro suffered a broken fi gure in his

left hand as he recovered from a emotions playing tennis again. two-sets deficit to claim a critical Reaching finals, winning titles, 6-7(4) 2-6 7-5 6-4 6-3 win over having my highest ranking ever Marin Cilic. in this moment, everything is “This was an emotionally almost perfect.” exhausting match and one of The “almost” in that statement the biggest wins of my career,” almost certainly relates to how he said. “Thanks to all those who close del Potro came to replicating prevented me from retiring, I was his 2009 US Open title as he very close to never playing again surrendered the 2018 fi nal to and, well, here I am.”

Novak Djokovic. The LOOKING FORWARD: Other highs are nine years between Achieving a careerof an individual championship high world No.3 nature. In a return to deciders represented ranking only months career-best form in the longest wait for before turning 30, 2018, del Potro has a man to return to a Juan Martin del Potro has put retirement not only showcased Grand Slam fi nal in thoughts to rest. his electrifying – and history, making del hugely entertaining Potro’s devastation – brand of aggressive tennis, but when he was unable to fully also underlined the qualities that capitalise on that opportunity have made him one of the game’s understandable. most popular fi gures.

“I'm very sad for being a loser Determination, grace and today,” said the Argentine, gratitude have all featured in admitting the tears he shed on a season that included three court after Djokovic secured the match points saved against 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3 victory flowed until Roger Federer in the fi nal as del the post-match press conference.

Potro collected a fi rst Masters “But Novak deserved to take the 1000 title at Indian Wells and at trophy. He played a great match, last returned to a Grand Slam very smart game … He’s a great fi nal – 21 major appearances champion, so I’m glad for him.” since his previous one – at That the Serb is one of del Potro’s Flushing Meadows. Combined greatest friends, as well as his with another title in Acapulco, greatest opponents, is likely to as well as a semifi nal run have helped the recovery process. at Roland Garros and a And so too will the knowledge that quarterfi nal at Wimbledon, he del Potro’s best tennis could well peaked at a career-high world be ahead of him.

No.3 ranking in August.

For a time, del Potro’s style It’s unsurprising, then, that was clearly compromised in the the endlessly positive del Potro wake of his wrist surgeries, his is now determined to put those famous forehand still strong but retirement thoughts firmly the double-handed backhand behind him. “That is completely more a weakness than a weapon. in the past, and now I'm having Throughout 2018, however, a good present, looking forward del Potro is showcasing how for the future,” he related. “I both his body and his game are didn't expect to get this kind of reinvigorated.

TRENGTH “I don’t know when my last tournament in this career will be, but I’m excited to keep surprising myself ....

I’m very motivated to keep trying to win these titles.”

JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO

“I love this sport.

I love the competition.”

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FEATURE

JOHN MILLMAN

POWER TO PERSEVERE John Millman’s US Open upset of Roger Federer was the biggest win, statistically speaking, of his career – but an even greater triumph for the persistent Queenslander was perhaps that he’d given himself the opportunity to compete at all. VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports

W

hen John Even Federer, who’d spent a Millman watched period practising with Millman a Roger Federer after the French Open, could forehand drift recognise the feel-good factor long to complete of his opponent’s win. “We were a 3-6 7-5 7-6(7) 7-6(3) upset over looking for somebody who was the superstar champion in the a great guy (and) who could train fourth round of the US Open, it hard,” said the Swiss, explaining was impossible to overstate the that his coach Severin Luthi had magnitude of his win. issued the invitation. “He was At age 29, Millman had never like, ‘Yeah, absolutely, I'm ready to claimed a win over a top-10 come.’ We had a great few days, a player – never mind the current good time together.” world No.2 with five US Opens The time Millman spent with among his record 20 Grand Slam Federer helped explain the titles – in 10 matches. And with his respectful celebrations fi rst win over such a high-profi le after the comeback win, in opponent, Millman progressed to which the unseeded a Grand Slam quarterfi nal, and by Aussie fought his extension to a career-high world heart out for more No.37 ranking, for the fi rst time. than three-and-a“Hopefully I create a few half hours in his fi rst more memories. I'll obviously competitive outing on remember this (win) for a Arthur Ashe Stadium. long, long time,” said Millman, Admitting he initially felt cherishing the moment but like a “deer in the headlights”, equally aware of a bigger picture Millman saved two set points too. “I hope the people in the second set – who are watching recovering from a 6-3 A PROUD WIN: here and back home 5-4 40-15 deficit – to John Millman is remember it, too. I think triumph amid brutal only the second that's all part of tennis, New York heat.

Australian, and first since Pat sharing the experiences “In all honesty, Roger's Rafter in 1999, with those close to you. a hero of mine. I look to defeat Roger It's extremely special.” up to him. I really like Federer in a That the his team. He's always Grand Slam.

Queenslander was so been one of the guys in quick to draw others the locker rooms, we'll into his success is of little surprise always chat, very approachable. to the many tennis insiders – and He's a hero of mine,” he said. increasingly, casual observers – Millman was quick to note he who regard Millman as one of the felt “a bit guilty, because he didn’t most genuine players on tour. have his best day” referencing

the 77 errors Federer had uncharacteristically committed as he struggled with the energysapping heat. But with his own composed performance evident in just 28 errors against 64 winners, Millman had to acknowledge his own ability too.

“In previous matches, not just with him … I’ve always accounted

myself pretty well,” he said. “Even in some slightly bigger matches that I’ve played, I always felt as if I’ve done a good job of not letting the moment get the better of me.”

S

ome might say Millman has battled far bigger challenges than Federer, having overcome numerous injury setbacks to forge his place on tour.

A fi rst major shoulder surgery was required just as he was setting out as a professional; another became necessary as he edged towards the world’s top 100 in May 2013. Millman returned from an 11-month absence in 2014, only to require groin surgery that halted him for a four-month period at the start of 2017.

“With that you have to start all over again,” said Millman. “That’s challenging. It’s challenging fi nancially. It’s challenging mentally. It’s tough to start all over again a few times.”

Knowing that his path back to top-level tennis would include time on the less glamorous ATP Challenger tour, the popular competitor could have easily considered other options as a career.

After bypassing junior tours to complete his high school education in Brisbane – a move encouraged by parents Ron and Shona, both physical education

Y R A N I D R E XT R A O PICTORIAL

EMOTIONS

In the heat of battle, emotional resilience is as important as physical endurance. A dramatic and memorable US Open highlighted the wide range of emotions that players can experience.

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

SATISFACTION A calf injury derailed Spaniard David Ferrer’s Grand Slam farewell, leaving him unable to complete his first-round match against compatriot Rafael Nadal.

Yet the former world No.3 insisted he had no regrets. “Tennis doesn’t owe me anything. Tennis is one of the fairest sports. It’s given me so many extraordinary feelings,” said the 36-year-old Ferrer after the Roland Garros 2013 final rematch.

PRIDE Russian Karen Khachanov lost to Rafael Nadal in the third round, but took solace in his effort to push the world No.1 in four high-quality sets.

“I gave everything that I had,” said the 22-year-old of his career-best result in New York. “I’m proud of myself that I could play a good game, fight till the end. (It was) just a few points difference.”

JOY Anastasija Sevastova burst into tears after reaching the semifinals.

It was an emotional career-best result for the 28-year-old Latvian, who returned to the sport in 2015 after an injury-induced 21-month retirement. “It’s for semifinals of US Open. It’s okay, I think, just to show some emotions,” Sevastova said after eliminating defending champion Sloane Stephens.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

41

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GRANDARRIVAL US OPEN

OSAKA’S

Naomi Osaka is the sport’s newest superstar, cementing her arrival with a sensational US Open triumph. LEIGH ROGERS reports

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

49

A DREAM COME TRUE

US OPEN

Any debates about Novak Djokovic’s place among the greats were laid to rest as he claimed his 14th Grand Slam title at the US Open. GILLIAN TAN reports

A

s soon as Novak Djokovic saw that he’d perfectly placed an overhead smash on match point, he collapsed on his back, soaking in the moment as he stared up at Arthur Ashe Stadium's closed roof.

The 31-year-old deserved the celebration, after his three hour, 16-minute victory over Juan Martin del Potro, which was more gruelling than the straight sets scoreline of 6-3 7-6(4) 6-3 suggests.

Djokovic had just clinched his third US Open title and finally rewritten history by equalling his childhood hero Pete Sampras’ haul of 14 Grand Slams. “Pete, I love you, you’re my idol,” he said during the trophy presentation, commenting that he’d hoped the American could attend.

Later, Djokovic explained that seeing Sampras win either his first or second Wimbledon championship inspired the beginning of his own tennis journey. “(Sampras) is one of the biggest legends ever to play the game,” Djokovic said. “There is a lot of significance of me being

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now shoulder-to-shoulder in terms of Grand Slam wins with him, it's truly incredible when you think about it … I grew up playing and thinking that one day I’ll be able to do what he does. To actually be here, it’s a dream come true.”

Fuelled by an electric atmosphere that Djokovic later said felt like a football match between Argentina and Serbia, the steely father-of-two was able to replace his nickname “Nole” whenever the booming cheers of “Ole, ole, ole, ole” echoed throughout the stadium.

Djokovic’s victory propels him back to world No.3, dispatching del Potro, who entered the US Open at that career-high ranking. Even so, the popular Argentine surprised himself by reaching a first Grand Slam final since he won the title as a 20-year-old in 2009 after navigating career-threatening injuries in the years since.

Given the long wait to return to the biggest stage at his favourite tournament, del Potro’s post-match tears were understandable – but he quickly acknowledged he’d simply been outplayed by his friend: “You deserved to win,” he told the Serb.

It is a path Djokovic well understands.

“When I had surgery on my elbow earlier this year I could truly understand what Juan Martin was going through with

his surgeries for the two or three years that kept him away from the tour,” Djokovic said.

“Difficult times, but you learn from adversity. You learn when you’re down, when you have doubtful moments, when things are not working out as you want them to.”

Things certainly are working out for Djokovic. Since winning Wimbledon, he’s lost just one match – to Stefanos Tsitsipas in Toronto. He bounced back to win Cincinnati, routing great rival Roger Federer in the final and by doing so, became the first man to win all nine Masters 1000 singles titles at least once.

At the US Open, he didn’t drop a set from the third round through to winning the title.

“The last two months have been terrific,” he said.

The Serb said he owes Federer and Rafael Nadal for shaping

him into the player he is today, explaining that early losses to both greats forced him to improve and develop, and now he has winning records, albeit narrow, against the duo.

“I have utmost respect for what they have achieved on the court, but also the champions, role models they are off the court. I think we have pushed each other to the limit every time we get to play each other. For me, that was always an ultimate challenge: to play Nadal or Federer anywhere.”

Djokovic also credited his current passion and motivation to the perspective gained on a long hike with his wife Jelena, which they took after his frustrating loss to Italian Marco Cecchinato in the Roland Garros quarterfinals.

The three-hour climb to the summit of Mount Victoire in the French Alps made him feel “a whole wave of energy that I was kind of thriving on from that moment onwards.”

NADAL’S MISFORTUNE

For the second time this season, the world No.1 was forced to exit a major prematurely. Struggling with knee tendonitis – the same injury that has plagued the Majorcan throughout his career – Nadal retired while trailing by two-sets-to-love in

since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.

“I'm having two great years…

He lost a tough three-set match This year (has) been a fantastic against eventual champion year until this moment,” said Djokovic, commenting that: “I the 32-year-old after his think the guy's beat a brick wall retirement, recalling just once because he makes you two non-retirement losses work hard for every point and it's this year: in the final of the relentless… that's the difficulty Madrid Open to Dominic playing against him.”

Thiem and a dramatic Millman proved he five-set semifinal COMEBACK KINGS: has the skill it takes loss to Djokovic at Absent due to injury to compete with the Wimbledon. in 2017, Novak world’s best, and even “All my career Djokovic won a third more heart. everybody says US Open title in 2018; Juan Martin del Potro “Every match in that because of my waited nine years to my career, whether style, I will have a return to the final he it's here, Flushing short career… I’m won in 2009.

Meadows, or some still here because awkward place in I love what I am doing. I still have the passion the middle of nowhere, that's just what I do, I try to leave it all for the game. I’m going to out there,” explained the rightkeep fighting and working hander, who is known in the hard to keep enjoying this locker room for being one of the tour and keep having nicest on tour. chances to compete at the highest level.” his semifi nal against del Potro.

While it was only the third time in 283 matches that he’s had to bow out of a Grand Slam, each of the three occasions have been at the business end of a tournament, with a spot in the fi nal frustratingly within reach.

Visitors to Melbourne Park may recall the other two instances quarterfi nals in 2010 and 2018, against Andy Murray and Marin Cilic respectively.

MILLMANIA

A year ago, Queensland’s John Millman was ranked No.235 after returning from a groin injury.

After a run to the quarterfi nals, he has jumped to No.37 and become a household name. The 29-year-old dismantled world No.2 Federer to become the fi rst Australian man through to the fi nal eight in Flushing Meadows

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

55

YOUR GAME

YOURGAME

Boost your on-court performance

61 THE VOLLEY

One of the most enduring strokes in the game is one that every player should master.

This comprehensive guide will help.

68 TO ICE OR NOT TO ICE?

Ice is a go-to solution when injury strikes – but is it the best approach?

69 MAJOR MINDSET

What can you learn from Naomi Osaka and Novak Djokovic, who each maintained steely focus to claim US Open wins?

71 BUILD YOUR ENDURANCE

Essential to maintaining both athleticism and concentration in long matches, endurance is a skill that all players can improve.

COACHPERFORMANCE 72 CHAMPION OF RESILIENCE

The extraordinary resilience required for Jason Kubler to enter the world’s top 100 provides a valuable lesson for every player and coach.

74 UNDERSTANDING GAME STYLES

Identifying ideal game styles of developing players is a critical starting point as a coach.

75 THE ULTIMATE ENDURANCE TEST Studies reveal how the demands of a Grand Slam can impact player performance.

76 DIARIES FROM THE TOUR

Top Australian juniors are building valuable skills as they travel throughout the world.

78 MASTERSTROKE

Alex de Minaur’s rapidly-improving backhand features many valuable teaching points.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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