Australian Tennis Magazine - May 2011

MAY 2011

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• Jankovic • Wilander • Sharapova

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

A trivalry begins

Print Post Approved PP 349181/00187

• Schiavone

floods focus:

Your Game •T he truth about unforced errors • Battle of the backhands • FindiNg Roger Federer’s form

rafael nadal

clubs rally to recover

french forecast

a class of his own

French Open Preview: men t0 watch andy murray Age: 24 Current ranking: 4 Best Roland Garros result: Quarterfinalist 2009 In 2010: Lost fourth round to Tomas Berdych

Soderling’s back-to-back runner-up performances included wins over defending champs Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. While most players would covet such successes, coming so close has only made the towering Swede determined to claim a bigger breakthrough. Nobody doubts his potential, but a knee injury has marred preparation. The wait to emulate the French Open feats of countrymen Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander may continue.

For the second consecutive year, Murray struggled to win a match after his Melbourne Park runner-up result, but don’t dismiss his French Open chances completely. He spent his teenage years fine-tuning skills in Barcelona, has trained with former champ Alex Corretja and has the fitness that’s so necessary for clay. The mental battles are a hurdle but the absence of serious expectation could suit.

Age: 29 Current ranking: 6 Best Roland Garros result: Quarter-finalist 2005, 2008 In 2010: Lost third round to Jurgen Melzer

Age: 26 Current ranking: 5 Best Roland Garros result: Finalist 2009, 2010 In 2010: Lost in final to Nadal

robin soderling

david ferrer juan martin del potro

tomas berdych

Age: 22 Current ranking: 46 Best Roland Garros result: Semifinalist 2009 In 2010: Did not play

Age: 27 Current ranking: 7 Best Roland Garros result: Semifinalist 2010 In 2010: Lost in semi-finals to Soderling The big-hitting Czech is returning to the scene of his biggest Slam success, after last year’s semi-final run ended deep in the fifth set against Soderling.

Berdych followed that breakthrough with an upset of Federer en route to the same result at Wimbledon and although he’s been erratic at times since then, he’s also shown that a Grand Slam title is a dream that’s within reach.

This flamboyant Spaniard seems so unsuited to living in the shadows – yet that’s been the theme of his career, Verdasco seeming like a permanent support act to superhuman Nadal.

Still, the hard-hitting lefty is a solid member of the world’s top 10 and while Roland Garros hasn’t been his best Grand Slam, regular fourth round appearances provide a solid base for a potential breakthrough.

Age: 27 Current ranking: 8 Best Roland Garros result: Fourth round 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 In 2010: Lost fourth round to Nicolas Almagro

fernando verdasco 20

Australian Tennis Magazine | May 2011

If his Australian Open semi-final appearance seemed like a fluke, then a repeat performance in Paris wouldn’t be. Clay favours the most clever and resilient players and even at age 29, the superbly-fit Ferrer can claim both qualities. Five of his nine career wins have occurred on clay; claiming the actual title seems unlikely but we can realistically expect his best Roland Garros run.

Still on the comeback trail after his long lay-off with a wrist injury, del Potro seems an unlikely title contender.

Yet the recent Delray Beach title and Indian Wells semis show that the Argentine, the only man besides Djokovic to wrestle a ma jor from Federer or Nadal in recent years, is returning to top form. Ominously, he also took Federer to five sets in their 2009 semi-finals.

French Open Preview: women t0 watch vera zvonareva Age: 26 Current ranking: 3 Best Roland Garros result: Quarterfinalist 2003 In 2010: Lost second round to Anastasia Rodionova

The best player without a Grand Slam title suddenly finds herself in a superb position to claim one. Serena Williams remains sidelined; the injured Kim Clijsters is almost certainly a nonstarter. More importantly, Wozniacki recently showed her credentials in winning her first career title on clay in Charleston. Can the young Dane bring the weapons to take the biggest step in her career?

The teenage Vera Zvonareva was the talk of Paris when she ousted Venus Williams en route to a quarter-final appearance in 2003. There have been few high points since but reaching two ma jor finals in 2010 might have marked a turning point for the passionate Russian, who competes with the spirit befitting a Grand Slam champion. After last year’s early exit she’ll be out to make amends.

Age: 20 Current ranking: 1 Best Roland Garros result: Quarterfinalist 2010 In 2010: Lost in quarter-finals to Francesca Schiavone

Age: 21 Current ranking: 5 Best Roland Garros result: Quarterfinalist 2009 In 2010: Lost first round to Gisela Dulko

caroline wozniacki

victoria azarenka maria sharapova

samantha stosur

Age: 24 Current ranking: 9 Best Roland Garros result: Semifinalist 2007 In 2010: Lost third round to Justine Henin

Age: 27 Current ranking: 6 Best Roland Garros result: Finalist 2010 In 2010: Lost in final to Schiavone Stosur’s many fans would love to see her competing in Paris without the pressure of matching her 2010 result, when she became the first Australian woman to make a ma jor final in 30 years. Stosur doesn’t have that luxury, but she does have the power and conditioning that’s so important to clay court success. While she’s struggled for consistency in 2011, Stosur remains a strong contender.

The Belarusian is among the potential titlists in Paris. She’s strong, determined and after back-to-back tournament wins in March and April, she’s poised to pounce at a bigger level. While her game seems more suited to hard court, Azarenka has been working tirelessly on building strength; with the confidence of a first clay court title in Marbella, she only needs to maintain momentum.

Can new coach Andrei Pavel turn things around for Jankovic? She’s been steady yet unspectacular in the world’s top 10, an assessment that must rile somebody so clearly born for the spotlight. Pavel, untested as a coach but a former top 20 player, will be looking to add consistency to Jankovic’s cunning style. We can’t guarantee success but we can at least bank on entertainment.

You could argue that Sharapova has thrived in every major except Roland Garros, but that’s exactly the point – the fiercely competitive champion is determined to fill the gap in her CV and her recent return to the world’s top 10 showed she’s finally finding her old form at just the right time. The Russian is long overdue for a strong showing at a major; don’t be surprised if it’s this one.

Age: 26 Current ranking: 8 Best Roland Garros result: Semifinalist 2007, 2008, 2010 In 2010: Lost in semi-finals to Sam Stosur

jelena jankovic Australian Tennis Magazine | May 2011

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3605

1994 (Jan) Seles, Wilander, Fitzgerald, Maleeva, Courier.

(Feb) Graf, Edberg, Fraser, Stich, Sampras.

(May) Rafter, Seles, Cash, Alexander.

(Jun) Rafter, Agassi, Woodies, Ivanisevic, Graf.

(Jul) Pierce, Rafter, Sanchez Vicario.

(Aug) Sampras, Martinez, Woodies, Rafter, Agassi.

(Oct) Stoltenberg, Chang, Graf, Edberg, Sampras.

1995 (Jan) Sampras, Graf, Seles, Capriati.

(Mar) Agassi, Sampras, Chang, Rafter, Pierce.

(Apr) Pierce, Sanchez Vicario, Navratilova.

(Jul) Muster, Graf, Navratilova.

(Sep) Graf, Seles, Sampras, Agassi.

(Oct) Seles, Graf, Ivanisevic.

(Dec) Sabatini, Agassi, Krajicek.

1996 (Feb) (Mar) (Apr) (Jun) (Jul) (Aug) (Nov) (Dec)

Agassi, Graf, Philippoussis, Sanchez Vicario.

Seles, Agassi, Becker, Philippoussis, Huber.

Chang, Hingis, Rubin, Muster, Woodforde.

Hingis, Sampras, Rubin, Capriati.

Edberg, Pierce, Graf, Kafelnikov.

Graf, Krajicek, Seles, Woodies.

Philippoussis, Kournikova, Sampras, Edberg, Seles.

Huber, Philippoussis, Fraser, Edberg.

1997 (Feb) (Jun) (Jul) (Oct) (Dec)

Moya, Sampras, Hingis, Woodies, Chang.

Rafter, Majoli, Woodies, Sampras.

Navratilova, Hingis, Woodies, Becker, Graf.

Rafter, Reid, Hingis, Kuerten, Rafter.

Coetzer, Kournikova, Williams, Agassi.

1998 (Jan) Hingis, Rafter, Spirlea, Sampras.

(Feb) Hewitt, Korda, Hingis, Ivanisevic, Lucic.

(Mar) Lucic, Coetzer, Bjorkman, Philippoussis.

(May) Rios, Agassi, Kournikova, Cash.

(Jun) Agassi, Rafter, Philippoussis, Illie, Sampras.

(Jul) Williams, Moya, Lucic, Seles, Dokic.

(Aug) Ivanisevic, Sampras, Novotna, Philippoussis.

(Sep) Kournikova, Graf, Dokic, Agassi.

(Oct) Rafter, Philippoussis, Woodies, Davenport, Ivanisevic.

(Nov) Williams, Pierce, Kournikova, Courier.

(Dec) Sampras, Hingis, Moya, Eagle, Haas.

1999 (Jan) Corretja, Davenport, Rafter, Molik, Fromberg.

(Feb) Hingis, Australian Open, Lucic, Summer Circuit.

(Mar) Hewitt, Corretja, Safin, Schnyder.

(Apr) Draper, Enqvist, Rubin, Woodforde, Korda.

(May) Krajicek, Agassi, Kafelnikov.

(June) Arazi, Schnyder, Philippoussis, Agassi.

(July) Davis Cup, Hewitt, Sampras (Aug) Dokic, Williams, Sampras.

(Sep) Dokic, Rafter, Dokic, US Open.

(Oct) Seles, Steffi, US Open, Authurs.

(Nov) Kournikova, Martin, Davis Cup, Grand Slam Cup. (Dec) Chanda, Davis Cup Final, Laver, Court.

2000 (Jan) 25 Years, Davis Cup, Australian Open.

(Feb) Ilie, Summer Curcuit, Australian Open Souvenir.

(Mar) Capriati, Kiefer, Hewitt, Federer.

(Apr) Williams, Norman, Graf, Rafter, Davis/Fed Cup. (May) Rafter, Davis Cup, Philippoussis, French Open.

(June) Davenport, Woodforde, Wimbledon, Sampras.

(July) Kournikova, Davis Cup, Fitzgerald, Agassi, Sampras.

(Aug) Dokic, Davenport, Navratilova, Lapentti, Woodies.

(Sep) Gambill, Williams, Rafter, Davis Cup, Wilander.

(Oct) Kuerten, Gladiators, Kournikova, Seles, US Open.

(Nov) Pierce, Courier, Dent, Medvedev, Olympics.

(Dec) Sampras, Safin, Pierce, Davis Cup, Dementieva

APRIL 2011

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Del POTRO

Raonic • Roddick •

DeLIVeRINg AgAIN

dELLacQUa •

ReDIScOVeRINg

dokic

lleYTON HeWITT

BATTLINg ON?

Prize moneY Priorities

Your Game Backhands with Bite Volley like stefan edBerg MealtiMe adVice Modelling on djokoVic

• • • •

MARIA SHARAPOVA

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2001 (Jan) Hewitt, Davis Cup, Agassi (Feb) Capriati, Hingis, Hewitt, Aus. Open (Mar) Rafter, IIie, Davis Cup. (Apr) Philippoussis, Mauresmo, Keurten.

(May) Noah, McQuillan, Davis Cup. (June) Hewitt, Williams, Kournikova.

(July) Capriati, Federer, Kuerten, Hingis.

(Aug) Ivanisevic, Capriati, V. Williams, Agassi.

(Sept) Rafter, Hingis, Roddick.

(Oct) Hewitt, US Open Souvenir poster, Molik.

(Nov) Kournikova, S. Williams, Goolagong Cawley.

(Dec) Rafter, Clijsters, Davis Cup, Fitzgerald.

2002 (Jan) Agassi/Hewitt/Capriati, Rafter, Australian Open.

(Feb) Capriati, Aus Open, Hewitt, V. Williams.

(Mar) Agassi, Seles, Philippoussis, Davis Cup. (Apr) Gambill, Gambill, Molik.

(May) Rafter, V.Williams, Hantuchova, French Open (June) Hewitt, Federer, Hingis, Wimbledon Preview.

(July) Williams Sisters, Roddick, Haas.

(Aug) Hewitt, Hantuchova, Hewitt, Wimbledon.

(Sept) Philippoussis, Sampras, Agassi.

(Oct) Sampras, Henman, Safin.

(Nov) Williams Sisters, Siblings, Capriati.

(Dec) Kournikova, Hingis, Philippoussis.

2003 (Jan) Hewitt/Agassi/Pratt, Agassi.

(Feb) Agassi, Rafter, Hantuchova, Australian Open.

(Mar) Hingis, Williams family, Blake.

(Apr) Hewitt/Philippoussis, Davenport, Srichaphan.

(May Moya, Venus, Clijsters.

(June) Agassi, Hewitt, Rubin.

(July) Henin-Hardine, Mauresmo, Harkleroad.

(Aug) Philippoussis, Harkleroad, Federer.

(Sept) Sharapova, Davis Cup, Sampras.

(Oct) Roddick, US Open, Justine Henin-Hardenne.

(Nov) Ferrero, Roddick, Davis Cup. (Dec) Kournikova, Moya, Davis Cup.

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1993 (Jan) Graf, Zvereva.

(Mar) Graf, Courier, Seles, Fernandez.

(Apr) Sabatini, Ashe, Navratilova, Stoltenberg.

(May) Jubilant Aussies Poster, Pierce, Woodies.

(Jul) Pierce, Graf, Sabatini, Seles.

(Oct) McEnroe, Alexander, Newcombe, Seles.

(Dec) Ivanisevic, Majoli, Austin.

JAN 2003

oct 2002

aug 2002

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2004 (Jan) Davis Cup, Clijsters, Young Guns.

(Feb) Aus Open, Tennis Romances.

(Mar) Philippoussis, McEnroe, Myskina.

(Apr) Molik, Woodforde, Blake.

(May) Agassi, Pratt, Zvonareva.

(June) Srichaphan, Nalbandian, Myskina.

(July) Bryan Brothers, French Open, Stefan Edberg.

(Aug) Sharapova, Federer, Olympics.

(Sep) Serena, Steffi Graf, Grassroots.

(Oct) US Open, Safin, Molik.

(Nov) Sharapova, Henman, Grassroots.

(Dec) Srichaphan, Woodbridge, Summer Circuit.

2005 (Jan) Federer, Russian Royalty, Grassroots.

(Feb) Aus Open, Safin, Molik.

(Mar) Molik, Haas, Grassroots.

(Apr) Roddick, Hantuchova, Davis Cup. (May) Hewitt, Dementieva, Grassroots.

(June) Sharapova, Nadal, Henman.

(July) French Open, Coria, Grassroots.

(Aug) Wimbledon, Woodbridge, Vaidisova.

(Sep) Hewitt, V Williams, Clijsters, Robredo.

(Oct) US Open, Sharapova, Federer, Clijsters.

(Nov) Philippoussis, Pierce, Gasquet, Grassroots.

(Dec) 30 year anniversary, Australian tennis special 2006 (Jan) Safin, Ivanovic, Seles, Mirza.

(Feb) Australian Open, Mauresmo, Federer, Dokic.

(Mar) Stosur, Baghdatis, Mauresmo, Grassroots.

(Apr) Sharapova, Haas, Famous Feuds.

(May) Federer, Hingis, David Cup, Grassroots.

(June) Blake, Federer, Sampras.

(July) French Open, Healey, Grassroots.

(Aug) Wimbledon, Ancic, Agassi.

(Sep) Hewitt, Dementieva, Gear Guide.

(Oct) US Open, Murray, Fashion Feature.

(Nov) Safin, Davis Cup, Fed Cup. (Dec) Baghdatis, Roddick, Jankovic.

2007 (Jan) Rafter, Federer, Mauresmo, Stosur.

(Feb) Australian Open, Federer, S. Williams.

(Mar) Ivanovic, Gonzalez, S. Williams.

(Apr) Hewitt, Baghdatis, V. Williams.

(May) Nadal, Petrova, Tennis careers.

(June) Jankovic, Berydch, Agassi, Clijsters.

(July) French Open, Chakvetadze, Grassroots.

(Aug) Wimbledon, V. Williams, Ljubicic.

(Sep) Philippoussis, Bartoli, Molik, Gear Guide.

(Oct) US Open, Golovin, Sharapova.

(Nov) Djokovic, Davis Cup, Aussie juniors.

(Dec) Roddick, Hingis, gambling controversy.

2008 (Jan) Hewitt, Williams, Aussie women.

(Feb) Australian Open, Djokovic, Sharapova.

(Mar) Djokovic, Ivanovic, Davis Cup. (Apr) Dellacqua, Hantuchova, Tsonga, Nadal.

(May) Nadal, Kuznetsova, French Open Preview.

(June) Ivanovic, Federer, S. Williams, Tursunov.

(Aug) Wimbledon, Nadal, V. Williams, Na Li. (Sep) Federer, Jankovic, Gonzalez, Gear Guide.

(Oct) Federer, S.Williams, Molik, Olympics.

(Nov) Murray, Safina, Davis Cup, Sharapova.

(Dec) Nadal, David Hall, Rising Stars.

2009 (Jan) Hewitt, Ivanovic, Aus Open preview.

(Feb) Dokic, Safin, Australian Open.

(Mar) Nadal, S. Williams, Fed Cup. (Apr) V. Williams, Verdasco, Davis Cup. (May) Hewitt, Ivanovic, Safina.

(Jun) Murray, Dokic, Stosur.

(Jul) French Open, Sharapova, Federer.

(Aug) Federer, S.Williams, Wimbledon.

(Sep) Roddick, Federer, Wozniacki.

(Oct) US Open, Clijsters, Laver, Oudin.

(Nov) Sharapova, del Potro, Safin.

(Dec) Molik, Stosur, Luczak.

2010 (Jan) Nadal, S.Williams, Clijsters, Henin.

(Feb) Federer, S.Williams, Australian Open.

(Mar) Tomic, Murray, Henin, Davydenko.

(Apr) Stosur, Baghdatis, Cilic, Davis Cup. (May) Nadal, Roddick, Clijsters, Henin.

(Jun) S. Williams, Verdasco, Wimbledon preview.

(Jul) Stosur, Nadal, Agassi, French Open.

(Aug) Sharapova, Nadal, S.Williams, Wimbledon.

(Sep) Djokovic, Federer, Soderling.

(Oct) Nadal, Clijsters, US Open, Davis Cup. (Nov) Wozniacki, Roddick, Commonwealth Games.

(Dec) Ivanovic, Rafter, 2010 in Review, Summer Preview.

2011 (Jan) (Feb) (Mar) (Apr)

Nadal, Stosur, Clijsters, Hewitt.

Clijsters, Djokovic, Australian Open, Henin.

Djokovic, Williams sisters, Nadal, Vergeer.

Sharapova, del Potro, Hewitt, Roddick.