PASSION ISSUE FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
NOVAK AND THE GRAND
SLAM FIGHTERS
STAR GAZING
2014 HOW WILL YOUR FAVOURITES FARE?
BE INSPIRED! TENNIS
HEARTLAND
Alicia Molik’s first club
LLEYTON
HEWITT
Enduring spirit
h COMMON INJURIES h CHOOSE THE PERFECT PARTNER – WITH TODD WOODBRIDGE h LEARNING TO LOVE TRAINING h SERVE SCHOOL
RAW EMOTION
Make it work for you
5
EASY
STEPS
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FIRST SERVE
Playing with Heart
E
stablished champions who refuse to relinquish their place at the top; rising stars who are equally spirited in their fi ght to dethrone the players who inspired them in the fi rst place. Enduring competitors who remain as fierce as ever in their biggest battles and committed grinders who will fi ght to win the last point. As you watch your favourite players compete this month, there’ll be no arguing the fact that tennis passion comes in many forms. It’s not merely entertaining for fans but creates a spirit that’s contagious for many. There’ll be new heroes, the camaraderie of similarly enraptured supporters and if you’re lucky enough to be a part of it, an atmosphere you’ll happily remember for years to come. This special passion issue of Australian Tennis Magazine will
help you build on the unique spirit that’s often sparked during an Australian summer. From the inspiration of enduring champions – take a bow Lleyton Hewitt, who is entering his 18th Australian Open – to the wonderful example that’s set by Roger Federer who is as committed to his personal charity pursuits as he is to his playing ones, we’ve captured a range of aspects that make our game so special. And those who want to emulate heroes by simply playing won’t be disappointed. Whether it’s training with heart, channeling your emotions in the most positive way, choosing a perfect doubles partner, building a better serve, avoiding common tennis injuries or other aspects of your performance, we’ve got your game covered. Among the experts providing advice are record-breaking
doubles champion Todd Woodbridge and the superblytalented Wayne Arthurs, who shows how his booming serve was complemented by a stunning backhand smash. There are many opportunities to learn from the stars. Warm-ups, focus, footwork and aspects of defence are some of the lessons they can provide. For more, see the Lessons from the Pros feature on page 50. If we’re not drawing inspiration from our favourite players, we’re speculating on them. Australian Tennis Magazine has done that too, in our “14 predictions for 2014”. We can’t guarantee that everything we anticipate for 2014 will eventuate, but we can promise it will be a passionate summer of tennis.
18
Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au
Nexnt th mo
THE
BIG GAME
As we review the world’s top players and their star impact at the Australian Open, we also explore how everyday players can build their own big games. February 2014 issue on sale from 5 February.
Passionate players we’ve loved
Pat Cash A champion at Wimbledon in 1987, the passionate Pat Cash created a new tradition with his heartfelt and muchemulated victory climb into the stands. 8
AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014
Goran Ivanisevic All those broken racquets on the court, all those wonderful quotes off it. There were few players who combined passion and personality so superbly.
Marat Safin Speaking of passion and personality ... Australian Open 2005 champion Marat Safin is still the man that many fans remember most fondly.
Lleyton Hewitt Youngest-ever men’s world No.1, Australia most prolific Davis Cup player and a man who keeps playing on – and on – in devastating style.
Serena Williams She’s admittedly taken her competitive drive too far on occasion, yet you can’t deny the passionate spirit of a woman who claimed her first Grand Slam title at age 18 and 17 Slams later, is still making tennis history at world No.1.
JANUARY 2014 VOL 39 No. 1
contents 41 14 PREDICTIONS FOR 2014 Season 2013 offered many surprises; what’s ahead for your favourite players in 2014?
FEATURES 17 LLEYTON: THE LION HEART
As he enters his home Grand Slam for an incredible 18th time, Lleyton Hewitt could well be considered the most passionate competitor ever.
20 A FOR ADRENALINE
Whether you’re a player or a fan, tennis provides endless rushes of adrenaline and many reasons to become involved.
25 RAW EMOTION
Passion is a critical element to success, but too much of it can work against you. Here’s how to find a perfect balance.
48 ROGER FEDERER: THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE
We’ve long been awestruck by Roger Federer’s qualities as a player, but it’s the superb personal ones that make him an enduring hero for many.
70 ALWAYS WELCOME
Alicia Molik’s first club, Seaside in South Australia, provided the balance of fun and competition that would help her develop into a grounded and popular champion.
36
WHAT MAKES YOUR HEART TICK?
Quality nutrition could be the key to top fitness and enduring health.
JANUARY 2014 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
5
JANUARY 2014 VOL 39 No. 1
50
LEARN FROM WATCHING THE PROS You may not be able to play like a pro – yet – but you can learn valuable lessons from watching the pros at tournaments or on TV.
REGULARS 10 BREAK POINTS 14 THE HITTING WALL 31 BE THE PRO 33 GEARING UP 74 FROM THE CLUBHOUSE 84 RANKINGS 86 LOOKING BACK 88 KIDS’ CLUBHOUSE 90 LAST WORD
34
TRAIN WITH HEART
Nathan & Giselle Martin, elite trainers to Lleyton Hewitt and Casey Dellacqua, show you how to keep your passion for training alive. 6
AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE JANUARY 2014
EDITOR Vivienne Christie ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniela Toleski FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrea Williamson ADVERTISING MANAGER Nicole Hearnden
ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Daniel Heathcote PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images, John Anthony, Image(s) licensed by Ingram Publishing COVER PHOTO Getty Images COVER DESIGN Andrew Hutchison
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.
FEATURE
Few players have displayed as much passion on a court as Lleyton Hewitt. As he enters a record 18th Australian Open, the game’s most famous fighter is determined to keep battling on. VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports
JANUARY 2014 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
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>>1 There will be a
first-time major finalist on the men’s side
N
ot since Rafael Nadal won his first major at Roland Garros in 2005 has a man outside the current top eight etched his name in Grand Slam glory. That trend might persist in 2014, for Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray have stayed a step ahead of their pursuers. But Generation Next asserted itself last year after many had despaired of its evolution. Milos Raonic cracked the top 10 with his first Masters 1000 final, while Jerzy Janowicz burst into the Wimbledon semifinals. Much later in his career arc, Stanislas Wawrinka reached his first major semifinal at the US Open, where he extended Djokovic to a fifth set for the second straight hard-court major. The stage seems set for a newcomer to play for one of the sport’s greatest prizes.
FEATURE
Predictions for 2014 From Novak Djokovic’s Melbourne defence to Marion Bartoli’s Wimbledon magic, events foreseeable and unforeseeable spun a tapestry of intertwined narratives in 2013. The 2014 season has a hard act to follow, but CHRIS SKELTON speculates on what it might offer.
>>2 There will not be a first-time major champion on the women’s side
E
ach season from 2010 to 2013 saw at least one woman claim her maiden major title, and 2011 witnessed no fewer than three of those magical fortnights. That stretch owed much of its serendipity to the absence of key contenders, which opened doors for both rising talents and persistent veterans. Now, five of the top six women have won major titles, and no active woman outside that group has won a major since Francesca Schiavone at Roland Garros in 2010. Breakthroughs and resurgences completed, these women should bolster their elite status in 2014. Phenoms such as Sloane Stephens, Laura Robson, and Simona Halep remain too raw to plunge forward into greatness, although their time will come soon.
JANUARY 2014 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
41
AUSTRALIAN O PASSION ISSUE
THE STYLE SPECIAL
FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME
TRANSCENDING
TENNIS
NI CK KYRGIOS
OVAK N AND THE GRAND
M SFIGLA HTERS
AO BLITZ
Is Jerzy Janowicz the new player prototype?
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2014
HOW YOU CAN PLAY THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN
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MIND GAME
emotion Passion is said to be a critical element to tennis success but too much of it can also work against you. DAVID COX explores how players can use high emotion to their advantage.
T
he ability to channel your emotions during the heat of battle has long been a trait that separates the great from the good in the tennis world. In his early days on the pro tour, Andy Murray was well known for his negativity on court. Like many artists, Murray can be an obsessive perfectionist and too often he would become overwhelmed with frustration at his inability to always reach the stratospheres he demanded of himself. Under the guidance of Ivan Lendl, Murray slowly replaced the surly, snarling image of his teenage years with a more resolute focus as he made the transition from contender to champion. By cutting out those lulls in his concentration, he’s been able to beat Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer on the biggest stages of them all. The amount of emotion a player shows on the court really varies between individuals. While Federer is almost always understated, except at the most crucial moments, Rafael Nadal won legions of fans in his youth with his energetic fist-pumping. “I don’t think anyone deliberately sets out to control how they appear on the court,” says Thomas Enqvist, a finalist at Australian Open 1999. “I think more than anything, it gives you an insight into the different characters. If you’re an impulsive person then you tend to show that on the tennis court. I’m not too impulsive, I don’t tend to stress too much about things and that kind of showed during my career. You couldn’t really tell how I was feeling during a match.” But personalities can change as a player matures. The mental side of tennis is more important than ever in this most competitive of eras and it’s
POSITIVE PASSION: Novak Djokovic, arguably the most effective player under pressure, uses emotion to his advantage.
JANUARY 2014 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
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