SIMONA HALEP A Healthy Outlook
T he
HEALTH ISSUE INNER STRENGTH FIGHT FOR NO.1
COME BACK STRONGER HOW STARS BOUNCE BACK
TENNIS TONICS HOW TO HALT A LOSING STREAK STOP OR PLAY? WHEN INJURY STRIKES PHYSICAL BATTLES MENTAL RECOVERY
APRIL / MAY 2018 A$7.50 / NZ$8.40 / US$7.50
FEDERER FOREVER HEALTH EQUALS LONGEVITY
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contents APRIL / MAY 2018 VOL.43 NO.3
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FEDERER FOREVER Longest reigning and now oldest-ever No.1 at age 36, Roger Federer continues to soar. What are the secrets of his longevity?
FEATURES 26 A HEALTHY OUTLOOK
With a positive spirit to complement her renowned athleticism, Simona Halep is poised to build on her many milestones.
34 STILL REWRITING HISTORY
As Roger Federer adds yet more records, he continues to shape tennis history.
36 PART-TIME PLAYERS
Quality rather than quantity is a key for part-time players achieving longevity.
48 MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
Most players will readily discuss physical ailments but mental health issues are one of the least-discussed topics in tennis.
68 HANDS ON HEART
Australia is verging on a return to the Fed Cup World Group after a win over Ukraine.
70 FUTURE FOCUS
Alex De Minaur’s exciting debut and Nick Kyrgios’ unwavering commitment were among the positives after Australia’s first round Davis Cup loss to Germany.
72 STRONGER THAN EVER
After a prolonged break through injury, Matt Ebden returned both physically strengthened and more determined than ever.
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COMING BACK STRONGER
While many great careers have stalled through injury, other champions have been defined by the inspired way they’ve responded to that physical challenge. AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
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NICE GUY TARGETING NO.1 As amiable off the court as he’s aggressive on it, Marin Cilic has found a perfect balance as he plots a plan to follow his world No.3 peak with even bigger highs.
REGULARS 8 10 12 14 17 18 55 74 76 82
FIRST SERVE FAN ZONE BREAKPOINTS ONE TO WATCH 20 QUESTIONS TOP 10 YOUR GAME RANKINGS SCOREBOARD LAST WORD
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AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH New-age treatments and routines are an increasing trend for health-conscious athletes targeting an extra physical edge. 6
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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
FINE
FETTLE A
mid all the mindboggling statistics in Roger Federer's remarkable career, there is one that is perhaps easily overlooked: In the 1394 matches contested on the ATP Tour until early March this year, the Swiss star had never retired due to injury or ill health. In fact, in close to two decades of tennis Federer has withdrawn only three times ahead of matches, most recently at the ATP Finals in 2014. It highlights that a strategic focus on his health is as much a factor in Federer’s stunning return to world No.1 at age 36 as his endless talent. As Suzi Petkovski explores in a special feature story on the star’s latest record-breaking feats, Federer’s longevity is helped by training smart, adapting the way he competes and continually revisiting his goals in the sport. While millions of Federer supporters consider whether all those factors will combine to see the prolific star compete into his 8
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40s – which is, after all, just a few years away – the wellbeing of his professional colleagues can also be measured in other ways. For Simona Halep, who returned to world No.1 soon after she surrendered it to Caroline Wozniacki at the Australian Open, good health is arguably most evident in her positive state of mind. Few players have displayed such resilience as the Romanian, who saved match points in two separate matches in Melbourne to reach her third Grand Slam final and created one of the most stunning finals in recent memory as she pushed her opponent to three superb-quality sets. From the initial disappointment of her loss in that AO2018 decider, Halep has emerged with the perspective required to triumph in future Grand Slam campaigns. At Indian Wells, the top seed revealed that work with a sports psychologist has helped to soften her often-harsh self-talk.
Even as she absorbed inevitable disappointments, the Romanian could also be proud. “I haven’t used that word before because I was tougher with myself,” said Halep. “Now I’m trying to change that, to be kinder with myself.” Balance is therefore an element as a more self-forgiving Simona targets the major title that would complement her rise to world No.1. A break following Doha was injuryrelated, but there was clearly some value in Halep returning mentally refreshed. It’s an approach that’s increasingly employed by many professionals, particularly
SIMONA HALEP
as successful tennis careers extend to a more advanced age. The emergence of “part-time players” is among the many topics covered in this healththemed edition, with qualityrather than quality proving a smart scheduling strategy for enduring stars. As Federer, Halep and other top players have demonstrated, regular breaks are among the many strategies that combine for overall wellbeing. And with such robust competitors, fans can equally appreciate the good health of our sport. Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au
“(Before) I was tougher with myself. Now I’m trying to change that, to be kinder with myself.”
Choose a sport they can play forever‌ Tennis!
PICTORIAL
E G N O ST R COMING BACK
While many great careers have stalled through injury, other champions have been defined by the inspired way they’ve responded to those physical challenges.
CAROLINE WOZNIACKI When Caroline Wozniacki suffered a serious ankle injury that led to a slump to world No.76 in 2016, she contemplated retirement. Fortunately that plan was never implemented by the Dane, who had a Grand Slam and return to No.1 in her future. Asked time and again what it took to regain those heights, there’s some common threads in Wozniacki's patient responses: perseverance and good health.
R
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO Crippled by wrist injuries that required four surgeries (three on his left wrist, one on his right), Juan Martin del Potro last contested a full season of Slams in 2012. But twice named the recipient of the ATP’s Comeback Player of the Year award (2011 and 2016), del Potro is returned to the top 10 in 2018. Even more encouraging is that soon before he won his biggest title in five years at Acapulco in February, del Potro related his compromised backhand is regaining its sting. Whether the 29-year-old will ever be as physically strong as in 2009, when he memorably triumphed at the US Open, is hard to gauge. What’s clear, however, is that after enduring so many injury challenges, del Potro’s passion to compete couldn’t be stronger.
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FEATURE
SIMONA HALEP
A HEALTHY
K O O L T OU Armed with her trademark fight and a natural positivity, Simona Halep is in the perfect frame of mind as she targets further milestones to accompany her world No.1 ranking. JEREMY STYLES reports
A
ll things considered, Simona Halep was in remarkably good spirits. “I can still smile,” she said, just moments after arriving at her final press conference of Australian Open 2018. “It's fine. I cried, but now I'm smiling. Is just a tennis match in the end” It was a long way removed from the downcast image Halep had presented not even an hour earlier, when just two points had been the difference in Caroline Wozniacki claiming their highstakes encounter. The top seed had not only surrendered her third Grand Slam final to her second-ranked opponent, but had also allowed Wozniacki to reclaim her world No.1 ranking. “It’s not easy to talk now,” the near-tearful Halep admitted as she graciously congratulated the new champion and thanked her many supporters in the trophy presentation. “Of course, I’m sad that I couldn’t win today but Caroline was better than
me and for sure, I will fight. Hopefully I will face another challenge like today.” Not that disappointment was the sentiment that the Australian public would likely remember of Simona. Rather, they would take with them the memories of the gutsy and resilient competitor who had lit up Melbourne Park with her inspired performances. Sustaining an ankle injury in a tough two-set win against local wildcard Destanee Aiava in the first round, Halep saved three match points in a 4-6 6-4 15-13 third-round win over Lauren Davis, which spanned almost four hours and featured the most games ever played in an Australian Open women’s singles encounter. There were also two match points saved in a superb-quality semifinal against 2016 champion Angelique Kerber, before Halep extended the enthralling final on a sweltering Melbourne evening to two hours and 49 minutes. Only later was it revealed that
Halep, who was attended by a trainer during the match, subsequently spent time in hospital receiving intravenous treatment for dehydration. Physically spent and bitterly disappointed at the lost opportunity in a third Grand Slam final to last the full threeset distance, Halep could also recognise the positives. And there were many of them for the 26-year-old, who has long been regarded as one of the WTA’s most popular competitors. “It was really nice to see that the people appreciated the way I fought and the way I played,” said Halep, on her return to the tour in Doha. “They also appreciated my speech, which I was a little bit surprised (about) because I didn't feel that it was something special. But it was nice. “Everything was beautiful that tournament, even if I lost the final, I took only the positives and I'm really motivated to go ahead. So, everything was really good for me. Also the game, I AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
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FEATURE
FEDERER
R E V E R FO Longest-reigning and now oldest-ever No.1 at 36, Roger Federer continues to soar. What are the secrets to his longevity? By SUZI PETKOVSKI
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oger Federer is making himself very unpopular with the youngies on tour. “Roger, relax a little bit,” Alexander Zverev pleaded after losing the Hopman Cup final to the Swiss. "We want to win something as well. It makes us young guys look bad." If it makes Gen Next feel any better, the Swiss maestro never expected to rule the roost again (as of February 19), at a doddering 36 years and six months. Didn’t he all-but apologise for hogging the limelight at the Australian Open, ahead of his successful title defence? “I don’t think a 36-year-old should be favourite of a tournament.” In the afterglow of his 20th major win, Federer pondered retiring to the couch with “Norman” (the AO trophy named for Norman Brookes) and watching the Winter Olympics. Quick change of plans: a lightning raid on Rotterdam and the No.1 ranking. Sorry! “I never imagined this after my knee surgery,” said Federer, after defeating Grigor Dimitrov (the infamously tagged and unfulfilled ‘Baby Fed’) 6-2 6-2 for career title No.97 and a 30
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historic return to No.1. Was that meant to console the young guns? Two years ago almost to the day, Federer was in the operating theatre. A year ago, ranked No.17 and down 5-0 against Kei Nishikori at Melbourne Park, he was bracing
for an early exit and a fall from the top 30. Now he’s aced the game’s ultimate “senior moment”. What are the secrets to Federer’s longevity? Given his affinity for the number eight, here are eight great reasons for the Swiss star’s immortality.
1. AVOIDING INJURY
long-playing greats – Ken Rosewall, Rod Laver and Jimmy Connors – Federer is no bristling physical specimen. There’s no eye-popping musculature or heroic dimensions. The main impression is of lightning quickness and easy movement. Federer is much lighter over the court than the physically intimidating Rafael Nadal, who is the exact same dimensions.
The most miraculous stat of Federer’s career? How about zero 2. GAME STYLE retirements in 1400 professional As an attacking, creative matches? Or one surgery in his player, Federer’s game style 20-year pro career? (On his left puts less strain (and miles) knee, which he injured while on the body than a reactive running a bath for his daughters counterpuncher. But he is in their Melbourne hotel room wary of overstating the point. after the 2016 Australian Open.) “Attacking tennis also has a lot Federer’s physical health and of wear-and-tear durability is often FINE FETTLE: Restored on the body, being cited by peers as at world No.1 after highly explosive.” the most amazing more than 18 years on he noted at feature of his career. tour, Roger Federer’s Melbourne Park. Just twice has longevity is helped by The beauty of Federer withdrawn in attention to his health. Federer’s flowing official events – most game means he doesn’t recently the 2014 ATP Finals decider, with a stiff back that has get enough credit for his competitive grit, physical bothered him intermittently for fitness and tactical acumen. the past decade. The technical soundness of his You wouldn’t guess at game-style is conducive to a this robustness to look at long career because Federer is Federer’s unimposing conventional in his grips and 185 cm, 85 kg frame. (single-handed) stroke-play. No He makes selfextreme grips requiring sudden deprecating jokes adjustment for different shots, about his skinny no excessive swings or wasted arms. Like other
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THE
FEATURE
PART-TIME PLAYER
Quality rather than quantity is an increasing trend in the world game. ALEX SHARP investigates the emergence of part-time players as schedule management becomes the key to long-term success.
“I
t’s nice because I work body and physical capabilities part-time now: work have changed over the years in the morning, off and he adapts his schedule in the afternoon or accordingly. the other way around,” beamed So much so, Federer skipped Roger Federer. the entire clay court season “It’s good doing that – it’s good in 2017, explaining that as the being a husband, good being a surface that troubles his back tennis player. I have the best of the most, it was preferable to all worlds. It’s great.” focus on his quest at SW19. The Swiss maestro had just It certainly worked – with his started the 2018 season with 36th birthday just weeks off, he yet another victory, combining sauntered to an all-time record with Belinda Bencic to claim eighth Wimbledon title without a third Hopman Cup title for the loss of a set. Switzerland. A LONG-TERM PLAN Rewind to January 2017 There has been much and Federer returned from discussion in recent years a knee injury, prompting an about Federer’s calendar unprecedented six-month tweaking, but the 20-time absence, at world No.17. Grand Slam champion insists Within 13 months Federer he has always been astute then lifted two Australian Open at planning and titles and won an QUALITY OVER safeguarding his eighth Wimbledon, QUANTITY: Reduced body with the compiling a supreme schedules have helped support of his 67-5 match record as Serena Williams mainstay fitness he returned to the top and Roger Federer coach Pierre of the rankings with maintain dominance into their 30s. Paganini. his second title for “I’m a big believer 2018 – also his second in taking necessary breaks and tour-level event of the season – making sure I take vacations at Rotterdam. to let inflammations heal, to All of that scintillating give yourself some time. That’s silverware in just 14 tournaments. what we need to do if we want The 36-year-old is the longevity,” Federer declared ultimate part-time player, during that seamless run at cherry picking where and the Hopman Cup, where he when to unleash his all-court won every match contested artilery. He accepts that his
in singles (against Yuichi Sugita, Jack Sock, Karen Khachanov and Alexander Zverev in the final) and mixed doubles. “Longevity has always been a big part of my game. When I became world No.1 for that first time here in Melbourne in 2004, I hoped that I would be able to play for a long time and if that’s
the goal, then I knew I had to approach it this way. “When you’re younger you have to put in the hours to be able to tell yourself ‘I can stay out on a court for four hours and train for 10 days straight.’ It’s more of a mental thing in my opinion.” So, Federer is arguing it becomes more about quality rather than quantity – an approach that is also adopted by the similarly prolific Serena Williams. Before the 23-time Grand Slam champion gave birth to her baby girl in September, the American also utilised a curtailed schedule. After advancing to the Australian Open 2016 final, Serena only played Indian Wells, Miami, Rome, Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the Rio Olympics, and the US Open, before a breathtaking 2017 title run at Melbourne Park.
PRESSURE POINTS
But while contesting less tournaments has ultimately boosted trophy counts for Federer and Serena, not every player has the luxury to be so selective. On his return from the wrist injury that forced him to miss the recent Australian Open, Japanese No.1 Kei Nishikori explains how he feels pressure to continually work harder. AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
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YOUR GAME
YOURGAME
Boost your on-court performance
56 ANATOMY OF A LOSING STREAK Even the world’s best players can become mired in a losing streak – but the way in which they recover from it can provide lessons for all athletes.
58 FINE POINTS
Analysis of Caroline Wozniacki’s victory over Simona Halep in an enthralling Australian Open women’s final shows how not all points are necessarily equal in tennis.
60 THE MENTAL BATTLE Recovering from injury can be more than a physical challenge, as players including Novak Djokovic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Sorana Cirstea have discovered.
62 A HOLISTIC APPROACH
Optimal fitness for tennis is often best achieved through a balanced approach to overall wellbeing.
63 MANAGING NERVES
Not even the world’s best players can escape nerves – but they do provide positive examples of how the right mindset is key to controlling them.
64 TO STOP OR NOT?
When injury strikes, is rest or playing through pain a smarter option?
65 BE THE PRO
Caroline Wozniacki’s on-court style has evolved throughout her years in tennis.
66 PRODUCT WATCH
A range of products can help players maintain high levels of physical and mental health. AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
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