Australian Tennis Magazine - March 2013

MARCH 2013

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MARIA SHARAPOVA GLAMOUR, GRIT & GRACE

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RAFA’S RETURN DEL POTRO POSTER SERENA WILLIAMS THE BRYAN BROTHERS RICHARD GASQUET

INSPIR ATIONAL SPIRIT

FEATURES

13

Rafa’s Return

16

Sweet Success

Rafael Nadal soon returned to his winning ways in his comeback from injury, however physical struggles may be a permanent part of his playing future.

Maria Sharapova has successfully combined her new business interest with a return to top form, but life hasn’t always been so sweet for the superstar.

20

Li Na: Embracing new Growth As Li Na’s records grow, so too does her natural ability to extend her oncourt achievements to an off-court influence.

22

Top 10 Test How well do you know your favourite top players?

31

A Double Shot of Excitement World No.1 doubles stars Bob and Mike Bryan, talk life, tennis and their fan focus.

40

For the Love of the Game What drives the top players to keep competing at their best?

MARCH 2013 VOL 38 No. 3

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REGULARS 7

Top Spin

12

Your Serve

36

Aces & Places

45

My Game

50

My Coach

58

Rankings

60

Scoreboard

20

FROM THE EDITOR

are racking up e’s superstars when the y t’s eas y to admire the gam rankings. ing at or near the top of the Grand Slam victories or sitt r, eve is how the y asure of a champion, how Occasionally the true me nce is threatened. respond when that domina month talks Maria Sharapova, who this That was cer tainly true for severance that nis Magazine about the per candidly to Aus tralian Ten -threatening her wa y back from a career was required as she fought

I

shoulder injury. accepted tine ma jor victories and an Accustomed to almost rou erienced some echelons, Sharapova exp status in the game’s upper she fought her wa y erous physical setbacks as humbling los ses and num been a confidenceg form. Wh at might have back to Grand Slam winnin Sharapova’s ny athletes simply fuelled sapping experience for ma size abl e ambitions . dal continues his o be required as Rafael Na The same efforts might als s a finalist and a m injury. The Spaniard wa long-awaited comeback fro also warned events in seven months but champion in just his first two competition, there regular accompaniment to that with knee pain now a ightforward future. are no cer tainties for a stra r from difficult not the onl y ones to recove Such pla yers of course, are er this month , has Na, who debuts on our cov physical circumstances. Li s. She recovered elined with various ailment spent months at a time sid , heralding a new er Grand Slam champion to become China’s first-ev era in tennis histor y. who spent close haps, is Serena Williams Even more impres sive, per clots before her ed life-threatening blood to a year off tour and suf fer oldest woman nth. At age 31 Serena is the return to world No.1 last mo lining to earlier gevity might be the silver ever to hol d top spot. Lon e the tennis tour is news for those who believ at gre is ich wh – ity ers adv rring in it. resilient champions are sta a better place when such VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR FOUNDING EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER ADVERTISING MANAGER ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER PHOTOGRAPHS COVER PHOTO

Vivienne Christie Daniela Toleski Alan Trengove Andrea Williamson Breanna Kray Daniel Heathcote 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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Rafa’s Return Rafael Nadal soon returned to his winning ways on his comeback to the tour and while that elated promoters and fans alike, there are still some questions surrounding his long-term future.

JEREMY STYLES reports

C

onsidering he’s so revered as a role model, it’s hard to imagine Rafael Nadal requiring his own sporting hero. And yet that was especially true as the much-loved Spaniard worked hard to return from a seven-month injury hiatus, Nadal admitting he’d turned to Brazilian soccer great Ronaldo as an example in overcoming similar knee problems in his impressive career.

"Ronaldo is an example to a lot of people because of all that he was able to achieve despite what he had to go through with all the knee problems in his career," Nadal said. "He is defi nitely an example to me. He's an example of determination and hard work."

While pointing out that Ronaldo’s injuries, necessitating three surgeries before his retirement in 2011, were far more serious than his own problem of a torn and inflamed tendon in his left knee, Nadal noted the empathy he felt for the soccer star. "I didn't have so many

Adapting to a new tennis landscape is one of many challenges for Nadal to overcome.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE | March 2013

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