Australian Tennis Magazine - December 2015

THE ENDURANCE ISSUE EXTEND YOUR PLAYING PRIME

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contents

DECEMBER 2015 VOL 40 No. 12

16

A GAME FOR LIFE

As Lleyton Hewitt winds up his professional playing career, his profound influence will continue as Australia’s Davis Cup captain.

FEATURES 13 A CHAMPION SPIRIT

Claiming his first title at age 16 and becoming the ATP’s youngest-ever world No.1 in the years afterwards, Lleyton Hewitt’s champion spirit has been unwavering throughout his enduring career.

20 THE MARATHON MAN

Some of the game’s most famous five-set victories are woven into the rich legend of Lleyton Hewitt – who has contested more marathons than any other man in the Open Era.

24 THE FIFTH SET

A five-set match is one of the greatest tests of tennis endurance, requiring skill, fitness – and a whole lot of heart.

The record books reveal the players with those special qualities.

27 LEAD IN LIKE LLEYTON

A strong fitness base is critical in a long tennis season – so a strong pre-season, like the one that Lleyton Hewitt has long established, is vital.

34 PERSEVERANCE PAYS

Some careers ignite quickly then burn out, others players are rewarded for their persistence over many years.

46 AGA’S NEW HIGHS

Emerging triumphant for her biggest career title at the WTA Finals, Agnieszka Radwanska is targeting even greater success in 2016.

52 MATCHES THAT NEVER END Matches that go on – and on – can provide some vital insights on how to best manage your own marathon matches.

56 FUTURE FORCES

Who are the young Aussie players packed with potential? We cast an eye over Generation Next.

30

STOP YOUR TENNIS CLOCK

Today’s pro players are showing how careful attention to health, fitness and the latest technology can extend your playing prime.

DECEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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DECEMBER 2015 VOL 40 No.12

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ACES & FAULTS OF 2015 As dominant No.1s Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams reigned uninterrupted, a series of other notable events also shaped season 2015.

REGULARS 8 BREAKPOINTS 10 THE HITTING WALL 27 FITNESS 29 STROKEMASTER 64 IN FOCUS 66 FROM THE CLUBHOUSE 68 RANKINGS 70 SCOREBOARD 72 KIDS’ CLUBHOUSE 74 LAST WORD

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STILL HITTING THE HEIGHTS

Almost 20 years after she claimed Grand Slam singles titles, Martina Hingis is replicating those heights in doubles.

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2015

EDITOR Vivienne Christie ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniela Toleski FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Andrea Williamson Dominica Glass

ADVERTISING MANAGER Nicole Hearnden ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Daniel Heathcote PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images, John Anthony COVER PHOTO Getty Images COVER DESIGN & PHOTO EDITING Andrew Hutchison, FourFront

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.

FIRST SERVE

A LASTING LEGACY

W

hen a floppyhaired and somewhat slight 16-year-old outclassed a string of higherranked and more experienced opponents to become the second-youngest ATP champion in Adelaide in 1998, it was impossible to foresee that some 17 years later, Lleyton Hewitt would still be achieving elite tennis milestones.

For some new fans, there was such excitement in Hewitt’s early achievement that they barely looked beyond the moment itself. Others wondered about the sustainability of the young man’s style: surely a player of such passion and competitive intensity would burn bright and then burn out?

In fact, the opposite has proven true.

Hewitt’s fierce competitive spirit has been fuelled by every win and challenge overcome – both of which have occurred in abundance. A neversay-attitude has helped him claim two Grand Slam titles, become the youngest-ever ATP world No.1 and feature in many famous Davis Cup victories, Hewitt memorably contributing to two Australian titles in the world team event.

Beyond the record-breaking numbers is the astonishing awareness that Hewitt’s competitive spirit has been unwavering in close to two

‘

Nexnt th mo

Celebration Special Australian Tennis Magazine is turning 40! Help celebrate our milestone birthday with a special anniversary issue.

Available from 1 January.

decades at the top of the game.

It’s only fitting, then, that Australian Tennis Magazine’s “endurance” issue also doubles as a tribute to Hewitt’s many achievements as a professional player.

The long-lasting nature of Hewitt’s career has boosted the

I LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM, FROM HIS FIGHTING SPIRIT, FROM HIS WORK ETHIC …

HIS LEGACY IS INCREDIBLE. ROGER FEDERER ON LLEYTON HEWITT.

’

game in countless ways – but interest in the development of arguably the most significant Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios contribution is his profound and Thanasi Kokkinakis. His influence across several value as an informal mentor to generations of stars. those talented young players Despite being of similar is already immense, but age, Roger Federer recently soon Hewitt’s influence will told The Age that Hewitt become even more profound as was an early inspiration in Australia’s Davis Cup captain. his own success.

With his retirement THEN AND NOW: “I learned a lot from professional Lleyton Hewitt clamed from him, from tennis in sight – Hewitt his first career title in 1998 and is still setting his fi ghting spirit, from will play his 20th and a standard almost two his work ethic, from fi nal Australian Open decades later. just how it’s done next month – he is not at a young age,” the Swiss star only leaving a lasting legacy in commented at the ATP World Australian tennis, but is already Tour Finals in London. adding to it.

“It’s like something I couldn’t Tears will inevitably be shed quite comprehend: how to be in the weeks ahead, but any so good so early, you know, but sadness about the 34-year-old he showed the way I guess to professional departure should many of us, the players, and soon pass. Such an enduring that’s why I think his legacy career is one to celebrate – and is incredible, to have been so more heartening still is that the dominant and so consistent at best may still be to come. that early age.”

Vivienne Christie More recently, the prolific editor@tennismag.com.au champion has taken an DECEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

Claiming his first title at age 16 and becoming the ATP’s youngest-ever world No.1 in the years afterwards, Lleyton Hewitt’s champion spirit has been unwavering throughout his enduring career.

JEREMY STYLES reports

DECEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

A GAME FOR LIFE Fans need not wallow as Lleyton Hewitt leaves the professional game; not only will he retain a strong presence as Australia’s Davis Cup captain but his profound influence will also continue in other ways.

LEO SCHLINK reports

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2015

STOP THE

CL CK! Today’s pro players are proving that you can remain in your competitive prime for longer than ever – and potentially even improve with age.

JAMES A CRABTREE explores how attention to health, fitness and the latest technology can help you stop the tennis clock.

A

ge is nothing but a number. Rarely, it seems, has a truer idiom been spoken – especially when it comes to tennis.

Those of us who remember the game of the ’80s will surely recall the onslaught of power and youth. It was an era when 17 and 18 year olds like Boris Becker, Michael Chang, Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario routinely won Grand Slam titles. Players in their mid20s were arguably considered long in the tooth and 30 year olds were all but extinct.

Slowly, those demographics have changed. Players have improved with age and can now cause havoc well into their 30s.

In the men’s game, half of the world’s top 10 players are aged 30 or over, including world No.2 Roger Federer, who at age 34 has just collected his 88th career title. And in the women’s game, a certain 34-year-old named Serena Williams is the winner of

FEATURE

Order was restored in 2015. Gen Next retreated while dominant No.1s Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams reigned uninterrupted, despite shock endings to their Grand Slam dreams. Lleyton Hewitt’s farewell tour, an Italian-flavoured US Open, an all-time sophomore slump, splitsville for a glamour couple, occasional controversies and a flurry of love matches made for another action-packed year in tennisland. By SUZI PETKOVSKI

SUPER NOVAK

H

e still doesn’t get the love but Novak Djokovic owned the 2015 season. For the first time, the super Serb contested all four major finals in a year, joining only Rod Laver and Roger Federer in the Open era. Victory over Federer in the US Open final elevated the 28-year-old to the double-digit club – only six men have won more majors.

Djokovic reigned as No.1 every week of the season, in another career fi rst. He opened the biggest-ever points lead by a No.1 (5460 points ahead of Federer), locked down the

year-end No.1 ranking in September and surpassed Rafael Nadal and John McEnroe for weeks in the penthouse.

But Roland Garros planted a thorny asterisk in Djokovic’s brilliant year. Denied a career Grand Slam in his third Paris fi nal – this time by a blazing Stan Wawrinka – the intrigue will hang even more heavily next May. Is Djokovic destined to be bracketed with fellow No.1s – John Newcombe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Stefan Edberg and Pete Sampras – who popped victory bubbly everywhere but Paris?

DECEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

MATCHES THAT

NEVER END EPIC BATTLES: Stan Wawrinka was on the losing end of the longest Davis Cup doubles match but was a five-set winner over Novak Djokovic at Australian Open 2014.

You hear a lot about “marathons” in tennis … but sometimes it’s not enough to describe the matches that go on – and on. By RICHARD LLEWELYN EVANS

E R U T FU S E C FOR

AUSSIE WATCH

ussie A g n u o y g in Watch acked p e r a o h w s r playe be as n a c l ia t n e t o with p rating b le e c s a g in enlighten s t a rs . d e h s li b a t s e the game’s eye n a s t s a c S R E LEIGH ROG neration Next. over Ge

OLIVER ANDERSON AGE: 17 STATE: Qld

ALEXANDER CRNOKRAK

AGE: 15 STATE: Qld

Crnokrak is a consistent baseliner, with ground strokes equally as good off both sides. A finalist in the 14/u Australian Championships in 2014, he has focused on developing his game at 18/u level in 2015. His best result was a runner-up finish in Queensland in July and he was twice a semifinalist.

JASON LOCKETT

MAE DUMRIGUE

XUE BAI

Opting not to compete in junior tournaments in 2015, Anderson instead entered ITF Future and ATP Challenger events to hone his skills against more experienced opponents. The 17-year-old, who is a great mover on court and has a world-class backhand, was rewarded with a career-high world No.807 ranking in November. Improvements were evident in promising end-of-season form, where Anderson qualified for an ATP Challenger event in Canberra and made the second round.

ALEX DE MINAUR

AGE: 16 STATE: NSW

A semifinal run as a qualifier in the US Open boys’ event saw De Minaur slice his junior ranking from outside the top 50 to No.25. The Australian Junior Davis Cup representative also claimed his first ATP ranking points after progress at Futures level. A clever tactician, De Minaur has a superb ability to adapt to challenges in matches.

BLAKE ELLIS

AGE: 16 STATE: Qld

Earning his first ATP Tour ranking points and making his debut representing Australia in Junior Davis Cup were highlights in a big season for 16-yearold Ellis. With a promising game built around a big strong serve and forehand, he also won his first ITF 18/u title in Fiji in August.

Ages at 1 December 2015 DECEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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