Australian Tennis Magazine - September 2010 by Tennis Australia

SEPTEMBER 2010

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DREAM DOUBLES DUOS

FEDERER’S FAME GAME

US OPEN

PREVIEW GUIDE

INJURY WATCH

YOUR GAME • SWITCHING SURFACES • THE ART OF ANTICIPATION • RETURN WITH INTEREST

RACQUETS REPORT

ANA IVANOVIC • FRIENDS ON TOUR • ROBIN SODERLING •

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NOVAK DJOKOVIC

THE SERIOUS SIDE TO SUCCESS

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september 2010 VOL 35 No. 9

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FEATURES

The big stage player Will the spotlight shine on Novak Djokovic with a second ma jor title in New York?

Flushing Meadows firsts While Roger Federer, Serena Williams and others eye repeat US Open success, others are poised to break through.

F ederer’s Fame Game

He might have temporarily dropped out of the world’s top two, but Roger Federer remains as popular as ever with the fans.

F acing all Challenges

Jelena Dokic has returned to lowerlevel events as she stages yet another career comeback.

With a little help from their friends

They face off for the highest individual honours, but many of the world’s top players thrive as friends too.

Australian Tennis Magazine | September 2010

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september 2010 REGULARS 7

Topspin

Your Serve

Court Talk

Rankings

Scoreboard

43 My Game 52

My Coach

Club of the Month

FROM THE EDITOR ” favourite Kim ed the magic double of “old f the 2009 US Open deliver n Martin del n’s trophy and “new” star Jua Clijsters winning the wome 2010 tournament ugh in the men’s event, the Potro making his breakthro pelling. promises to be equally com e form in a finals er Federer rediscovered som As five-time champion Rog impressive record in s and Clijsters added to her finish at the Toronto Master ir best in time for the other stars returning to the Cincinnati, there were also season’s final Grand Slam. l runner-up results back to old form with severa Maria Sharapova appeared of her former No. 1 ile Ivanovic showed shades in US Open series events, wh halted her progress inst several players who’ve self with impressive wins aga suffered a foot rtbreaking, then, when she in recent months. It was hea y rule the Serbian i against Clijsters, which ma injury in the Cincinnati sem n. temporaril y out of competitio title in New t favourite to win the men’s righ out rt sta It’s the man who’ll latest setback. Rafael ovic with inspiration in this Ivan e vid pro ld cou o wh k Yor he recovered from g run seemed all but over as Nadal’s Grand Slam winnin hing Meadows year ago; he now takes to Flus severe knee tendinitis just a d whatever ess his No. 1 ranking is assure with the reassuring awaren

happens. Defending champ note of Nadal’s turnaround. Others might also be taking the wrist injury many career questions given Del Potro, for example, faces Lleyton Hewitt, Andy e January. Serena Williams, that’s kept him off tour sinc recent events among others who’ve sat out Roddick and Sam Stosur are with varying ailments. r’s final ma jor. preceding theme to the yea Injury, it seems, is always a e, it can also ortunity for new names to shin While this can create the opp trasting possibilities their true mettle. Those con w sho to s yer pla er oth w allo l Grand Slam. op as we enter the year’s fina create a fascinating backdr

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

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) John Anthony

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.

Australian Tennis Magazine | September 2010

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Australian Tennis Magazine | September 2010

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Novak djokovic:

the big stage player With the world No. 2 ranking behind him, Novak Djokovic has been warming up to bigger things all season. Could that include a second Grand Slam at this month’s US Open? Kristina Moore reports.

t was something of a quiet achievement when Novak Djokovic slipped into world No. 2 earlier this season, with attention focused more on the injured Rafael Nadal’s step down than the Serbian’s step up. But for Djokovic himself, the personal best ranking came with the knowledge of persistence and hard work, a reward for some notable high points during his stillyoung career. As well as a first Grand Slam title at Australian Open 2008, Djokovic was a finalist at the 2007 US Open and remains the youngest player in history to reach the semifinals of every Grand Slam event. While his impressive results have at times

years ... as long as it’s like that, I will keep playing.” And if past results are any indication, he’ll keep winning too – especially on American hard court. Clearly a surface that lends itself well to Djokovic’s flashy style, the Serbian has claimed three of his five ATP Masters titles in America, and been a semi-finalist or better at the past three US Opens. As he gathered momentum during the lead-in US Open series, there were promising signs that he could finally breakthrough with a second major prize in the 2010’s final major. While he ultimately surrendered his No. 2 ranking in losing to Federer in the Toronto

“If I don’t have emotions for this sport I wouldn’t play it.” – Novak Djokovic been overshadowed by some untimely mid-match withdrawals – including three in the latter stages of Grand Slams – you can’t argue the fact that Djokovic is one of the most consistent performers in men’s tennis. And for all his antics and parody both on and off the court, it’s inarguable that Djokovic takes his place at the top of the game extremely seriously. The Serbian explained his approach to the game during a tempestuous run in the Toronto Masters, where he notched his 10th match win from the 11 matches he’d contested since Wimbledon, before falling to Roger Federer. “I’m a person who plays with a lot of emotions and (was) just brought up that way in the country where, you know, we are temperamental and emotional, so if I don’t have emotions for this sport I wouldn’t play it,” Djokovic said. “I still enjoy what I do. I love the sport. I love competing at this level, and I had lots of success which I think is a result of hard work that I had put in (during) the last couple of

semi-finals, Djokovic was happy with his progress, pointing only to the reduction of unforced errors as a pre-US Open focus. He was also encouraged despite struggling in some steamy conditions in Canada, knowing that progressing through the tough conditions proved an important point. “It was a big struggle, I was not feeling the best, but it is something I overcame,” he commented after his 7-5, 7-5 opening-round win over Julien Benneteau. “I was lucky to come back when I needed to ...when I needed to hit winners I went for it instead of waiting for him to make errors. “That was a positive that came out of this. The heat was at least 30 degrees Celsius and the court absorbs it and makes things even hotter. I was close to the edge today.” Another positive was the chance for Djokovic to

show how much he simply loves the game, highlighted in a long-awaited doubles pairing with Rafael Nadal. The two top men didn’t make it past the first round, but Djokovic believes it was important to men’s tennis, and said they were already planning for a repeat performance. “It’s good for the sport, you know, I think these things should happen more often,” Djokovic noted. “We felt like a team at some points, but we were still not feeling comfortable as a team ... We had lots of fun and we will definitely try to do it again.” The fan-pleasing manoeuvre might also serve the Serbian well in New York. It’s been a see-sawing relationship with the tough tennis crowd, ranging from the highs of his runner-up performance in 2007 – accompanied by his highly entertaining player impersonations – to the lows of being booed off court after a run in with the parochial audience in 2008. Striking the right balance now comes easier to the 23 year old Djokovic. And with $US 17.5 million in prize money, the world No. 2 title and a Grand Slam among his 17 career titles, Djokovic can also play without the need to please anybody. As a big stage player, it seems only a matter of time before further big stage success comes his way. ■

In fine company with Rafael Nadal.

AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | September 2010

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