Australian Tennis Magazine - November 2011

NOVEMBER 2011

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Roger Federer at 30

PASSION STILL BURNS

NOVEMber 2011 VOL 36 No. 11

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FEATURES

20

A Legend’s View Roy Emerson, who has claimed more Australian Open titles than any other man, keeps a careful eye on today’s top contenders.

23

Guiding Lights Tennis parents are often maligned but many are successfully combining personal and professional relationships with their tennis-playing children.

26

Little Miss Sunshine

13

A Timeless Appeal

18

Top Priorities

With a recent debut in the world’s top 20, the future seems bright for the sunny-natured Sabine Lisicki.

Having celebrated his 30th birthday, Roger Federer can look back with pride and forward with optimism as he targets new highs in his playing career.

As she celebrates the one year anniversary of her world No. 1 ranking, Caroline Wozniacki also understands her career remains a work in progress.

32

The Toughest Test

Players work hard to abide to strict anti-doping codes, but can they guard against accidental exposure?

Australian Tennis Magazine | November 2011

3

NOVEMber 2011 REGULARS

FROM THE EDITOR

Slam ious time. The year’s Grand he late season can be a cur ions experience answered and many champ questions have long been on tired bodies, y. As injuries take their toll an inevitable dip in intensit r completely. others retreat from the tou g point. Just year can also mark a turnin Yet those final weeks of the Davis Cup victor y siders his role in Serbia’s ask Novak Djokovic, who con record-breaking run. ingboard to this season’s last December as the spr to world No. 1 – r-level succes s elevated her mie pre i’s ack zni Wo ne roli Ca best par t of a year. an honour she’s hel d for the him seize the hat-trick of Asian titles saw This season, Andy Murra y’s A Tour, Agnieszka er Federer while on the WT world No. 3 ranking from Rog iming her biggest titles career high No. 8, after cla Radwanska returned to a yet in Tokyo and Beijing. late 2011 season as a yer who’ll likely count the Matt Edben is another pla tralian claimed a October 2010, the West Aus key period in his career. In finishing his season Glasgow, Scotland, before in title s ure Fut 00 15,0 S $U ranked No. 183. for the Shanghai the likable Edben qualified At the same time this year, ore bowing out to of higher-ranked pla yers bef Masters and upset a string now enjoy automatic top-100 ranking, Ebden will Murra y. Armed with a new ing, there’ll also be a 2012. With a sense of belong entry into Australian Open surge in confidence. to seizing on d that timing can be a key As those pla yers understan timelessness of sorts.

Federer, can appreciate a like , ers oth , ties uni ort opp ime ma jor champion d his 30th birthday, the 16-t Having recently celebrate aining career plans. that accompanies his rem shows a sense of freedom r? Roy Emerson, tralian Open title for Federe Aus fifth a e lud inc t tha ld Cou y certainly thinks so. n in that tournament’s histor the most accomplished ma erstand that late in late in a season, others und Just as some pla yers surge rge. time to make one last cha their career is the perfect

7 Topspin 35

Court Talk

43

My Game

48

My Coach

T

66 Rankings 68 Scoreboard 69

Your Serve

71

Tennis Talk

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

7

EDITOR CONSULTING EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER ADVERTISING MANAGER ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER MY COACH CONTENT PHOTOGRAPHS

COVER PHOTO

Vivienne Christie Alan Trengove Daniela Toleski Andrea Williamson Jackie Cunningham Ben Carenco Mark Edney 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.

4

Australian Tennis Magazine | November 2011

TOP

PRIORITIES As she celebrates the one year anniversary of climbing to world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki also understands her career remains a work in progress.

By Kristina Moore

C

aroline Wozniacki is rarely without her trademark smile – and predominately with good reason too. At just 21 years old, she’s already claimed 18 career titles and more than $US 10.5 million prize money. Last month, she celebrated the first anniversary of achieving the world No. 1 ranking – an honour interrupted only briefly when Kim Clijsters rose to top spot in February.

And yet, even as she beams her way through press conferences and generously gives time to her fans, sponsors and tournaments, there’s no denying that not all the news surrounding the top-ranked Dane is positive.

That Wozniacki is yet to claim a Grand Slam title to validate that No. 1 ranking is hardly news – in fact, it’s not even new given that Amelie Mauresmo, Kim Clijsters, Jelena Jankovic and Dinara Safina are other women who earlier reached the top spot without claiming a major first – but after some topsy-turvy late-season results, the pressure may be starting to show for the good-natured Dane.

While premier-level titles in Tokyo and Beijing fast-tracked her rise in 2010, it was unexpected losses at those same events that became the talking point of Wozniacki’s 2011 campaign. Were upsets to world No. 43 Kai Kanepi and the 26th-ranked Flavia Pennetta taking the shine of the world No. 1’s renowned sunny outlook?

“My season has been good: I won six tournaments and I’m still No. 1 in the world,” she insisted in Shanghai.

“No, it’s still a good season.”

18

Australian Tennis Magazine | November 2011

Sweet success for the world No. 1.

As she approached the year-end WTA Championships in Istanbul, though, Wozniacki knew her world No. 1 ranking was technically at risk – and she admitted that surrendering top spot so close to the coveted season-end would be hard to take.

“If you’ve been No. 1 pretty much the whole year, you want to finish the year No. 1 as well. It would be a little bit bitter if you would lose it in the last week of the season,” she said. “We have to see. I mean, what happens is going to happen. 1 or 2, it still has been a good season for me.”

As critics point to the lack of a big weapon in the Dane’s game, it’s sustaining form in the longer term that might be a bigger challenge – particularly amid the pressures of a Grand Slam, when the topname players are so intensely scrutinised.

While semi-final performances at the Australian and US Opens marked progress

Major-winning boyfriend Rory McIlroy provides support.

for Wozniacki in 2011, her collective performances were undermined by a third round loss to Daniela Hantuchova at Roland Garros, which was followed by a fourth-round upset to Dominika Cibulkova at Wimbledon.

Could a packed schedule be partly to blame for those major losses? By mid-October, Wozniacki had already contested 21 events for the 2011 season

An off-court opportunity with punch.

Wozniacki is clearly unafraid of hard work and she’s apparently not afraid to experiment either. Having been coached by her father, Piotr, for years, she was also advised by a more independent figure throughout the US hard court season – a situation shrouded in mystery when that other coaching figure remained unnamed.

If Wozniacki is fretting about any inconsistencies on the court, it’s not

“Pressure is when you’re put in a spot where you feel you don’t belong. I feel like I belong here, and – CAROLINE Wozniacki my time will come.” but she scoffed at suggestions she should put quality ahead of quality. “Everyone is an individual,” she said. “I play the tournaments I feel like I want to play.”

Six career titles mark a career-best season for the 18-time titlist.

affecting her personal life. Shortly after her Wimbledon loss, the rumour mill started buzzing with the news that she was dating PGA golfer Rory McIlroy – which the couple happily confirmed when McIllory supported the world No. 1 in New Haven.

“It’s great to have someone who understands,” Wozniacki said of her relationship with the Irishman. “Rory has achieved something very remarkable and great already, winning the US Open at such a young age in golf. It’s something unheard of … you know, it’s nice to have him here.”

Encouragement from a major-winning boyfriend must surely provide some impetus as Wozniacki works on adding Grand Slam success to her own sporting record – not that she appears to need much assistance in the attitude department.

As recent history shows a trend towards older Grand Slam winning-women, the 21-year-old knows that the one thing she has on her side is time.

“I’ve said it before: pressure is when you’re put in a spot where you feel you don’t belong,” she said. “I feel like I belong here, and my time will come.” n Australian Tennis Magazine | November 2011

19

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3611

2006

2000

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

(Feb) Summer Curcuit, Australian Open Souvenir.

(Mar) Capriati, Kiefer, Hewitt, Federer.

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

(June) Davenport, Woodforde, Wimbledon, Sampras.

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

(Aug) Dokic, Davenport, Navratilova, Woodies.

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

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

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

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

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.

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(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.

SAM STOSUr

2003

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.

(Sept) Serena, Steffi Graf, Grassroots.

(Oct) US Open, Safin, Molik.

(Nov) Sharapova, Henman, Grassroots.

(Dec) Srichaphan, Woodbridge, Summer Circuit.

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(May) Nadal, Petrova, Tennis careers.

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(July) French Open, Chakvetadze, Grassroots.

(Aug) Wimbledon, V. Williams, Ljubicic.

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

(Oct) US Open, Golovin, Sharapova.

(Nov) Djokovic, Davis Cup, Aussie juniors.

(Dec) Roddick, Hingis, gambling controversy.

(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. (Sept) 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.

(June) Murray, Dokic, Stosur.

(July) French Open, Sharapova, Federer.

(Aug) Federer, S.Williams, Wimbledon.

(Sept) 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.

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

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

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

(Sept) Djokovic, Federer, Soderling.

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

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

2011

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.

2007

2008

2002

(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.

(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.

(Sept) Hewitt, Dementieva, Gear Guide.

(Oct) US Open, Murray, Fashion Feature.

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

JAN 2003

oct 2002

aug 2002

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(Jan) Nadal, Stosur, Clijsters, Hewitt.

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(Mar) Djokovic, Williams sisters, Nadal, Vergeer.

(Apr) Sharapova, del Potro, Hewitt, Roddick.

(May) Nadal, Schiavone, Wilander, Jankovic.

(June) Stosur, Murray, Azarenka, Wimbledon preview.

(July) Nadal, Li, Monfils, Troicki, French Open.

(Aug) Tomic, Kvitova, Hantuchova, Wimbledon.

(Sept) Djokovic, Mattek-Sands, Bartoli, US Open preview.

(Oct) Sam Stosur US Open Souvenir Special.

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