Australian Tennis Magazine - July 2010

juLY 2010

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AUSSIES ROCK ROLAND GARROS

Rafael nadal Recrowning a King

s bonu Hero

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SAM STOSUR

Your Game Learn to Smash The Coaching Chain Box yourself Fit Smart Snacking

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Facing up to the big time

JULY 2010 VOL 35 No. 7

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FEATURES

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C ourt Jesters

16

T he (Almost) Happy Sam

Tennis is a serious business, but the game’s many characters show there is also a lighter side.

As runner-up in Paris, Samantha Stosur helped establish a new order in women’s tennis.

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T he Claycourt King Recrowned Rafael Nadal returned to world No. 1 with his fifth French Open; is it a permanent shift for the men’s game?

A ndre Agassi: Turning Full Circle Continuing his candid interview, Andre Agassi opens up on his family relationships and plans for the future.

K oori Kids Courting Tennis An innovative community program in Sydney is ensuring local kids hit the courts, not the streets.

Australian Tennis Magazine | July 2010

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juLY 2010 REGULARS 7

Topspin

13

Your Serve

40

Court Talk

44

Rankings

47

My Game

56 70

My Coach Club of the Month

FROM THE EDITOR Grand er world No. 1 players, a first ins over a current and two form g up and legitimate tilt at steppin Slam final, career-best ranking world tennis. to an even higher echelon in Sam Stosur, after take that, and so too should Most players would happily Slam final in 30 woman to contest a Grand becoming the first Australian years at Roland Garros. right favourite to intment when Stosur, the out Granted, there was disappo dle to a spirited l weekend, fell at the last hur take home the title by the fina her own in on a history making path of Francesca Schiavone, who was m final.

Sla nd yer in history to win a Gra becoming the first Italian pla nted run, ede positives from Stosur’s unprec But there were many, many t point. had progressed to reach tha especially given how far she 2009 semi-final the of ries ging back memo With her Parisian success brin titles on the WTA wed by her first professional performance, which was follo ’s career, when she most difficult time in Stosur Tour, it was easy to forget the Lyme’s disease. was sidelined for months by ultimately relander’s fighting spirit that she It’s testament to the Queens sically commanding become one of the most phy emerged from that time to an who’ll not en’s game and points to a wom and capable players in the wom opportunity that y arise, but deserves every onl y take her chances as the comes her way. cesses, Jason ian tennis. Among other suc It’s a positive time for Austral to Roland Garros, 1 junior male in the lead up Kubler became the world No. achieved careerBall and Anastasia Rodionova while Jarmila Groth, Carsten ma jor. best results in the clay court ance might e her French Open perform gin Stosur is delighted to ima t. As we ponder que tralian players to pick up a rac encourage other young Aus current generation equal pleasure in knowing the the next generation, there’s al role models. are proving such inspiration

W

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

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Australian Tennis Magazine | July 2010

EDITOR CONSULTING EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR ART DIRECTOR ADVERTISING MANAGER ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER MY COACH CONTENT PHOTOGRAPHS

COVER PHOTO

Vivienne Christie Alan Trengove Daniela Toleski Naomi O’Bryan Jackie Cunningham Sherryn Dove Travis Atkinson, Karen Clydesdale Getty Images, John Anthony (All photographs by Getty Images unless specified) Getty Images

Australian Tennis Magazine is published monthly 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.

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Australian Tennis Magazine | July 2010

the Clay Court King Recrowned Roger Federer fell early but Rafael Nadal returned to world No. 1 with an emotional fifth French Open title ... leaving many to wonder whether there’s been a permanent shift in the upper echelons of the men’s game. By Kristina Moore

S

ix French Open appearances, five titles and an incredible 38-1 match winning record. Roland Garros is all about memorable moments for Rafael Nadal and his many fans.

But it was the picture of the Spaniard burying his face into a towel and sobbing his heart out after obliterating Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the final that might have said it all. Roland Garros really is that

Ousting, among others, Lleyton Hewitt, Thomaz Belluci, Nicolas Almagro and surprise semi-finalist Jurgen Melzer along the way, Nadal claimed his seventh Grand Slam title without the loss of a single set – a feat he also achieved in 2008 and which only two other men, Borg and Ilie Nastase, have previously managed in Paris.

Most notable for three-time champion

“When I was crying after the match, the last thing I was thinking was (of) the No. 1 (ranking). The first thing is the title and all the hours I worked a lot to be here another time.” – Rafael Nadal special to Nadal, who is now just one title away from equalling Bjorn Borg’s record six majors in the French capital – and even without that number on his record (yet) Nadal is already regarded by most observers as the best clay courter in the game’s history.

The Spaniard arrived in Paris boasting the rare achievement of claiming every clay court Masters event (Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid) – and from the first ball he struck at Roland Garros, it was clear he was determined to ride that wave of success throughout the French Open fortnight.

Mats Wilander was the fact that Nadal now seems a more complete player than on the four other occasions he’s claimed the clay court major. “He’s playing faster, hitting the ball with lower trajectory and deeper, too,” the Swede observed. “He’s serving better, too, moving the ball around.”

Others were struck by Nadal’s unmatchable mind power, which was most evident when he took to the court for the final against Soderling. Despite the subtext of his lone French Open loss to the Swede in the fourth round last year, Nadal resisted the temptation to comment on the

The defending champ’s nightmare ... after upsetting Rafael Nadal in 2009, the increasingly influential Robin Soderling upset Roger Federer in 2010.

Australian Tennis Magazine | July 2010

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