Australian Tennis Magazine - June/July 2018

THE

GROW TH EDI T ION

TALL STORIES

GARBINE MUGURUZA

STAR STILL RISING

A HEIGHT ADVANTAGE?

PLUS

FOOTWORK IN FOCUS THE ART OF SELF-ASSESSMENT A ‘NEXT LEVEL’ MINDSET

ASH BARTY

AN INSPIRING JOURNEY

JUNE / JULY 2018 A$7.50 / NZ$8.40 / US$7.50

tennismag.com.au

contents JUNE / JULY 2018 VOL.43 NO.4

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A CHAMPION SPIRIT As her profile rises both on and off the court, two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza has her sights set on more major titles.

FEATURES 22 THEN AND NOW

From promising young players arriving on tour to superstars with many enviable milestones, a flick through the photo archives highlights fascinating progress of many pros.

28 RAFAEL NADAL: AN EXTRAORDINARY EVOLUTION

As he claimed more records on clay, Rafael Nadal underlined his extraordinary evolution as a player and a person.

38 A GREAT UNKNOWN

Former No.1 Andy Murray has successfully navigated many challenges in his stellar career, but a return from hip surgery could prove his toughest test.

51 EXTENDED ENDING TO A TALL STORY

At 39, oldest man in the top 100, Ivo Karlovic has carved out a long career against tall odds.

54 LOVE OR HATE: IT’S A FINE LINE

The world’s best players dedicate their life to tennis, yet many have a complicated relationship with the sport.

Why? It is a simple question, with a complex answer.

70 AN ELITE PROMOTION

Australia’s Fed Cup team is back in the elite eight-nation World Group for the first time since 2015, earning promotion with a 4-1 defeat of the Netherlands in Wollongong.

34

A NEW BEGINNING After the decades-long dominance of repeat champions, potential new stars are preparing to stake their own Grand Slam claims.

JUNE / JULY 2018 VOL.43 NO.4

45 COMING OF AGE

More relaxed, happy and confident than ever, Ash Barty is embracing the opportunity to inspire others in her new role as Tennis Australia’s National Indigenous Tennis Ambassador.

REGULARS 8 10 12 14 16 18 59 72 74 76 78 80 82

FIRST SERVE FAN ZONE BREAKPOINTS ONE TO WATCH 20 QUESTIONS TOP 10 YOUR GAME AUSSIE WATCH RANKINGS SCOREBOARD FROM THE ARCHIVES KIDS’ CLUB LAST WORD

48

ADVANTAGE, HEIGHT?

Never before have top-ranked players been taller. But does increased height bring a competitive advantage?

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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

POWERFUL GROWTH

I

n one sense, it was as if time had stood still when Rafael Nadal kicked off another clay court season with yet more history-making milestones. In another sense, the superstar Spaniard also underlined that such extraordinary career requires constant evolution.

Thirteen years since the then 18-year-old launched his stunning career with a first ATP Masters title in Monte Carlo – soon matched by victories at Barcelona, Rome and on debut at Roland Garros – the prolific Spaniard followed the same title-winning path into his 14th French Open.

But if the titles were the same, the magnitude of Nadal’s achievements was far greater.

Managing many personal and physical challenges in the years between his first and most recent victories, the dynamic champion had also adapted superbly to a tour that’s changed around him.

And Nadal wasn’t the only player to demonstrate such powerful growth – both personal and professional – with repeat titles.

Petra Kvitova has shown endless reserves of character to overcome the effects of the December 2016 attack in her Czech Republic home. Sustaining an injury to her playing hand that required hours of surgery, for a time it wasn’t clear whether the popular competitor would even return to tennis It’s a new Petra, though, who has claimed five titles since that horrific incident, with four in 2018 – at the time of writing – making her the WTA leader. “My 2011 season was a great one, but for me, this one is much more special,” said Kvitova after a gritty three-set win over Kiki Bertens delivered a third Madrid title. “I couldn’t really imagine myself playing tennis again, and now I have five titles after coming back. It’s kind of a dream. I think it’s not real, really.”

But the significance is in fact very real for Kvitova, who at

age 28 and with some tough life experiences endured, understands that her recent growth is even more powerful than in her breakthrough season, when the first of two Wimbledon titles was followed by a rise to world No.2.

“At that time, I was a little bit of a kid, playing without pressure,” said Kvitova, “This time it’s different. I have the experience, I had a tough time in my life. I’m probably more mature now.”

Those powerful performances set a remarkable scene for the French Open, which was due to begin as this magazine went to print.

We review Roland Garros and Wimbledon next issue in a perfectly-timed celebration of role models. As Nadal, Kvitova and others have already shown in 2018, there are many of them in a time of stunning growth for tennis.

“I couldn’t really imagine myself playing tennis again, and now I have five titles after coming back. It’s kind of a dream.”

PETRA KVITOVA

Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au

CHANGING OF THE GUARD Next Gen is increasingly Now Gen in a changing time for tennis. Take these countries for example, where young stars have surged up the rankings in the past year, following the path of some highly credentialled compatriots.

AUSTRALIA

BELGIUM

CANADA

ESTONIA

Ash Barty (age 22)

Elise Mertens (22)

Denis Shapovalov (19)

Anett Kontaveit (22)

follows Sam Stosur (34)

follows Kirsten Flipkens (32)

follows Milos Raonic (27)

follows Kaia Kanepi (32)

FRANCE

GREAT BRITAIN

RUSSIA

RUSSIA

Lucas Pouille (24)

Kyle Edmund (23)

Andrey Rublev (20)

Daria Kasatkina (21)

follows Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (33)

follows Andy Murray (31)

follows Mikhail Youzhny (35)

follows Svetlana Kuznetsova (32)

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

Choose a sport they can play forever‌ Tennis!

SERENA WILLIAMS From a brash outspoken teen to a respected history-breaking champion, Serena Williams has grown in many different ways during her stellar career.

Now a 36-year-old mother of one, Serena’s intense competitive drive remains as strong as ever.

2018

1998

PICTORIAL

: S E R U T C I P IN

AND rs arriving e y la p g n u o y g From promisin enviable y n a m h it w s r a rst albums on tour to supe o t o h p e h t h g ick throu y pros. n a milestones, a fl m f o s s e r g inating pro highlights fasc

ROGER FEDERER

2002

2018

A more attacking backhand that relies less on slice is one of the telling factors in Roger Federer’s late-career resurgence and improved record against rival Rafael Nadal. It has helped deliver a record 20th Grand Slam singles title and return to No.1 so far this season.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

23

RAFAEL NADAL

“These kind of things (are) not going to happen forever. So (I) just try to enjoy and to play with full passion.”

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

FEATURE

RAFAEL NADAL

AN

ex traordinary EVOLUTION

As he followed the same title-winning path that marked his superstar arrival in 2005, Rafael Nadal underlined his extraordinary evolution as both a player and a person.

By VIVIENNE CHRISTIE

T

he hype was already building when an 18-year-old Rafael Nadal – armed with astonishing natural athleticism, intense competitive spirit and a seemingly intrinsic ability to intimidate opponents – stormed into the fi nal at the 2005 Monte Carlo Masters.

He had, after all, only recently become the youngest player to notch a singles victory in a Davis Cup fi nal, overcoming Andy Roddick in four sets as Spain defeated USA for the 2004 title.

And in Miami, Nadal had pushed Roger Federer in a five-set fi nal which suggested that this intriguing young man, fearless and humble in equal measure, would in time prove the world No.1’s most difficult rival.

“We’ll see, of course, very much from him in the future,” noted Federer, who’d won three of the four Grand Slams the previous year. “For me this was a big match because I know what a great player he will be one day.”

That “one day” came quicker than many expected as Nadal stunned older and vastly more experienced opponents in Monte Carlo that year, defeating world No.9 Guillermo Coria in a four-set fi nal for his fi rst Masters 1000 title.

“Yeah, yeah, my fi rst very important tournament, no?” said Nadal, grateful for a breakthrough victory at that level but his fierce ambition by no means sated. “(It) is one title,” he added. “All remember this title, everything.

But my objective is (to) improve my tennis (to) improve some shots, and this is my objective for now, no? I need (to) improve my serve, my volley, my slice.

And if I do, if I improve these shots, I think I can won lot of matches, no?”

Actually, yes. Within weeks Nadal was also the winner of Barcelona, Madrid, Rome and – on debut – had lifted his first Grand Slam trophy at the French Open.

In that glorious season, Nadal would eventually win 11 titles, setting both a personal season high that still stands and a record for any teenager, bettering the nine that Mats Wilander had claimed in 1983. He became the fi rst teenager to fi nish world No. 2 since Boris Becker in 1986, ultimately achieving the highest year-end ranking ever by a Spaniard.

More than a dozen years on, it seemed the script had barely altered. The glittering Monte Carlo event still marked the beginning of something special for Nadal in 2018 as he returned from a near three-month injury absence to triumph there for an incredible 11th time. It once again opened the gates to a stunning clay court season, that win soon followed by an 11th Barcelona title and a record eighth at the Rome Masters.

If tempting to note the “time stands still” element as the Spaniard followed the same titlewinning path he’d tread many years earlier, it would also undermine the magnitude of his achievement. The many personal and physical challenges that Nadal has faced in his lengthy career are intensified by the reality of a tour constantly developing around him, mirroring those results had required an CELEBRATED: An 11th victory at the event he first won in 2005 added to Rafael Nadal’s stunning legacy in Monte Carlo.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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A

CHAMPION

FEATURE

SPIRIT

As her profile rises both on and off the court, twotime Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza has her sights set on more major titles. By MICHAEL BEATTIE

T

he febrile atmosphere was the stuff of Fed Cup dogfights, not fourth-round Grand Slam matches. Yet this is where Garbine Muguruza found herself one sunny Sunday last June: the defending Roland Garros champion desperately seeking calm amid a deafening patriotic din as Kristina Mladenovic, inciting and inspired by the tumult, sealed her exit.

There was little comfort to be drawn in joining the likes of Serena Williams, Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova, each suffering at the hands – and whistles, jeers and soul-sapping cheers – of Parisian crowds in years gone by. In the kangaroo court of Court Suzanne Lenglen, Muguruza’s only crime was taking on the French No.1 for a place in the quarterfinals. The punishment was cruel, but hardly unusual.

Shortly after the loss, the then-23year-old sat in front of reporters in her post-match press conference, fielded a couple of questions, then cried. “I’m not here to create enemies – I mean, I love playing here,” she said. “It’s not a good feeling.”

With that, she left the room for a moment, composed herself, and returned a different person. Gone was the uneasy champion, whose 2016 Roland Garros title proved more of a burden than a breakthrough over the 12 months that followed. Instead,

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PREVIEW

GRAND SLAMS:

A NEW BEGI

After the decades-long dominance of repeat champions, potential new stars are preparing to stake their own Grand Slam claims. VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports

F

or all the inspiration they’ve delivered, there’s a flipside to the epic stories created by the game’s modern-day legends.

As Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and others add chapter after glorious chapter, the suspense of potential new Grand Slam champions can at times seem lost.

But could that narrative at last be changing? After sharing 47 of 53 major titles on offer since Australian Open 2005, the Big Four group of Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray each face individual challenges. It creates the sense of an opening for talented young players hungry to follow.

Federer, who surrendered three match points to Juan Martin del Potro in the Indian Wells fi nal and lost his Miami opener to qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis, is a notable absentee from the clay court season for the second year running. And as Federer’s 37th birthday approaches, there will be inevitable physical challenges when the eight-time champion returns to defend his 2017 Wimbledon title.

Combined with the difficulties that Nadal, Djokovic and Murray are almost certain to face in their return from various injuries, the perspective of young players is naturally altered – as highly-regarded

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

coach Paul Annacone noted during the US Men’s Claycourt Championships in Houston.

“The four great guys at the top – you can throw Stan Wawrinka in there, too – have been so dominant in the majors and the Masters (tournaments) for so long,” said Annacone, whose star charges have included Federer, Wawrinka, Pete Sampras and Tim Henman.

“If you have a couple of them run beyond a third round was to who aren’t there, it creates the final 16 of 2017 Wimbledon – opportunity. And now guys are reduces when you consider he’s starting to see that Father Time only recently celebrated his 21st is wrestling with Roger and birthday. “I’m still young, so I’ve Rafa a bit. So the players in the got time,” the German reasoned. next tier are telling Opportunities have themselves, ‘Hey, also become clear in SOLID FOUNDATIONS: we can get there. the women’s game, With success at every Now we don’t have other level, top-ranked despite the decadesSimona Halep and No.3 to beat Roger, Novak long dominance Alexander Zverev have and Rafa in the same of the younger each established majortournament’.”

Williams. Garbine winning credentials.

Alexander Zverev Muguruza, Caroline is among those who’d Wozniacki and most welcome that plot twist. others having stepped into the The winner of two ATP Masters void created by Serena’s absence 1000 titles at age 20 – defeating when she became a mother to Djokovic for the Rome title baby daughter Olympia in 2017, and Federer for Montreal – the the 23-time major champion is German became the youngest now playing catch-up on the tour world No.3 in a decade when she recently reigned over. he achieved that career-high In the past six Grand Slams, ranking last November. six different women have But while still fi rmly hoisted the coveted silverware entrenched in the world’s top – including three fi rst-time three – helped by another winners in the past four events.

Masters 1000 victory in Madrid Elina Svitolina, who led the and a runner-up performance in WTA Tour with five titles in Miami – the lack of a deep Grand 2017, appears well-positioned Slam run to match his eight to follow that breakthrough career titles is troubling. pattern. Adding titles in Brisbane “I have some fi guring out to and Dubai this season to take do, what happens to me in the her count to 11 in total, there’s deciding moments in (a) Grand also confidence gleaned from a Slam,” Zverev acknowledged career-best quarterfi nal at the after an absorbing third round Australian Open.

Australian Open battle with But the 23-year-old from Hyeon Chung ended with a 6-0 Ukraine notes the pressures fi ft h-set fadeout. “It happened at are far different at a Grand Wimbledon. It happened in New Slam. “From the media, from York. It happened here.” expectations from everyone,” Still, an urgency Svitolina admitted in Melbourne. to notch major “Sometimes you’re not focused milestones – in 11 on your game plan, you’re not Slams, Zverev’s only ready to compete. Yeah, just all

INNING over the place. It can happen.”

Having regularly challenged for the world No.1 ranking over the past season, there’s an increasing likelihood of Svitolina successfully managing those pressures. But like Zverev, she’ll encounter many players armed with their own credentials to achieve a Grand Slam first.

ONE STEP MORE

Is anything more bittersweet than finishing runner-up at a major? On the one hand, there’s the confidence-boosting awareness of outperforming 126 other competitors. On the other, a career-defining opportunity is lost.

But alongside the contrasting emotions of a losing performance in a Grand Slam decider, players also gain priceless experience.

The many players who lost multiple major finals before they at last secured one include Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi, Chris Evert and Kim Clijsters.

Will Simona Halep be the next player to join that category? Given the tremendous battles the world No.1 has staged in three runnerup performances, a Grand Slam title now seems logical, especially on her preferred clay at the French Open.

In 2014, 22-year-old Halep pushed Maria Sharapova to three fiercely-contested sets for more than three hours before the Russian at last secured a second French Open title. Later, Sharapova conceded it was the toughest Grand Slam final of her

career. Jelena Ostapenko needed every ounce of her fearless aggression to claim a comefrom-behind three-set victory in their 2017 French Open final, while Caroline Wozniacki won just two points more in the epic Australian Open 2018 decider.

Many suggested that Halep, who’d played through injury and saved multiple match points in two AO2018 matches, was simply physically spent in Melbourne – for certainly her mentality seemed intact as she talked next steps several weeks later. “I took only the positives and I'm really motivated to go ahead,” Halep noted at her next event in Doha.

Far from feeling pressure to validate her world No.1 ranking with a major title, the Romanian seems empowered by it. And having held that position for the most weeks of any player since Serena surrendered top spot in 2017, Halep arrives with more powerful credentials than other former finalists.

Karolina Pliskova has progressed to a major semifinal only once (at the 2017 French Open) since she was runnerup to Angelique Kerber at the 2016 US Open. Madison Keys has been sturdy yet hardly illuminating, since she was a runner-up at Flushing Meadows in 2017. Eugenie Bouchard, the 2014 Wimbledon finalist, is now outside the top 150 and will battle to gain main draw entry, while 2012 Wimbledon runnerup Agnieszka Radwanska, at world No.28, may lose the luxury of a seeding.

ALEXANDER ZVEREV

“I’m still young, so I’ve got time”

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YOUR GAME

YOURGAME

Boost your on-court performance

60 THE RIGHT MOVE

A focus on footwork is an element that can’t be overlooked as you target the most critical areas for development.

62 GAME, SET, ASSESS

An ability to self-assess not only boosts overall performances but also fine-tunes the mental skills that help under pressure.

64 A STEP AHEAD

How can you maintain the motivation to take your tennis level higher? By learning from the pros who work hard to keep ahead.

66 GROWING PAINS

Young and fit athletes are not always immune from injury, especially as they grow and adapt into their developing bodies.

67 A STRONG FOUNDATION Strength training can help build a solid foundation for winning performances.

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