Australian Tennis Magazine - October 2011

BONUS FOLD-OUT HERO POSTER

OCTOber 2011

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SAM STOSUR US Open Champion 2011

GRAND SLAM EDITION

October 2011 VOL 36 No. 10

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FEATURES

14

Sam, I Can Sam Stosur endured many obstacles in her journey to major success – and overcame them with poise and dignity to become one of the strongest role models in Australian women’s sport.

18

Australia’s

Newest Grand Slam Champion Having joined an elite club as a Grand Slam champion at the US Open, Stosur is determined to add more achievements to her impressive record.

22

The March to Victory Stosur showcased the best of her physical and mental weapons as she achieved seven momentous match wins in New York.

32

Pride and Passion Lleyton Hewitt led a spirited charge and Pat Rafter provided back up spark as the Australian Davis Cup team went down fighting against the highly-credentialed Swiss.

41

28

Doing a Djokovic …

Always Winning

Fashion Forward As an individual sport, tennis practically demands self-expression – and don’t today’s stars manage that well?

Novak Djokovic claimed a third major and 10th title for 2011 at the US Open – strengthening the view he could challenge for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam.

Australian Tennis Magazine | October 2011

3

October 2011 REGULARS

nd Slam queen. mpion. Australia’s new Gra am Stosur, 2011 US Open cha tralian Tennis , if ever, been written in Aus Stronger words have rarely s celebrated as Stosur’s achievement wa Magazine’s long history and – it was also clear that especially here in Australia and – rld wo the out ugh thro mpion. erving, or popular, major cha there couldn’t be a more des tacles, including erous career-threatening obs Stosur has overcome num doubt to simply battles and periods of self major illness, subsequent form stamping her authority s top players – never mind compete among the world’ e’s biggest prizes. in challenging for the gam ’s trademarks as she urprisingly became Stosur Courage and resilience uns rova and recovered marathon against Nadia Pet claimed a history-making ory against Maria reak in women’s tennis hist from losing the longest tieb Kirilenko in New York. of her poise and t would show the true calibre It was the final, though, tha ssed 13-time major simply flawless as she outcla determination. Stosur was erge the champion. s, on her own stage, to em champion Serena William ion to countless , Stosur became an inspirat Already a superb role model s – a fact that delights her true champion qualitie more fans as she showcased who has never been shy Grand Slam winners club, the newest member of the tennis. in her support of Australian er prospective cess provides a fillip for oth As the Queenslander’s suc that have boosted the development programs champions, it also validates m lead by long-time ck to thank the support tea her progress, with Stosur qui coach David Taylor. e Saville, as well as ions Ashleigh Barty and Luk Junior Wimbledon champ ic, are among the quarter-finalist Bernard Tom breakthrough Wimbledon y follow Stosur’s success. players who could potentiall tands the mpion, meanwhile, unders The newest Grand Slam cha onstrated with such biggest prize – as she dem expectation that follows her e subsequent career Open, though, Stosur can fac poise and dignity at the US nd inner strength. challenges with a new-fou

S

7 Topspin 35 Court Talk 47

My Game

54

My Coach

68 Rankings 71

FROM THE EDITOR

Your Serve

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

18

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.

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Australian Tennis Magazine | Ocotber 2011

Sam, I Can Sam Stosur endured many obstacles in her journey to major success but in overcoming them with courage and dignity, the Queenslander became one of the strongest role models in Australian women’s sport. By Vivienne Christie

W

ith a trademark forehand to seize championship point, Sam Stosur secured her place in Australian sporting history. But it wasn’t merely the fact that the Queenslander had defeated Serena Williams to claim one of the biggest titles in tennis – if not in all of sport – at the US Open that made her an instant sporting hero, but the spectacular manner in which she’d set about the task of becoming Australia’s first majorwinning woman in 31 years.

Poise, professionalism and persistence were the themes as Stosur strung seven hard-fought victories together in one of tennis’ most testing settings, the 27-yearold holding her nerve in a history-making marathon, recovering from the longest tiebreak in women’s tennis and finally showing the truth depths of her courage in a flawless final against Serena.

Most describe Serena, a 13-time major winner who was vying for a fourth US Open

Maturity and mobility are among Stosur’s superb strengths.

14

Australian Tennis Magazine | October 2011

title on one of the most emotive days in her country’s recent history, as the best player and biggest fighter of her generation – yet you wouldn’t have known it as Stosur politely but cleverly disarmed the local star of her most effective weapons, including that trademark aggression and her apparent mental edge.

As the elated yet stunned Stosur would recount in her post-match press conference: “I’ve played matches where I feel like I played lights out, can’t miss a ball, and, you know, it’s fantastic, but to do it under these circumstances in this kind of final against a player like Serena, for sure I’m going to think it’s one of the best days of my career.”

If such composure was a surprise to fans who were only just catching on to the devastating efficiency of Stosur’s brand of tennis, it certainly wasn’t to those people who have been watching and supporting Australia’s top female for many years.

A powerful role model makes her biggest breakthrough.

Rennae Stubbs, a close friend and former Fed Cup teammate, had long believed in Stosur’s ability to challenge for such prizes. “The first time I ever saw Sam play was her first ever match at Fed Cup for Australia and I thought to myself, ‘wow, this girl is so talented and she can handle the pressure’,” Stubbs told Australian Tennis Magazine.

“What I witnessed watching her win that US Open was the same young lady I watched years ago, just better in every facet, more mature and composed and a champion.”

Still, it was a long journey to Grand Slam success for Stosur, who started dreaming of such heights shortly after a friend gifted her a tennis racquet as an eight-year-old.

It didn’t take long for the Queenslander’s prodigious talent to become clear but even so, the rewards weren’t necessarily instantaneous.

Brother Daniel, who is nine years Stosur’s senior, would ultimately become one of his sister’s biggest influences after he convinced parents Tony and Dianne that their daughter needed professional guidance in developing her natural weapons into winning ones.

“She didn’t win everything that she played when she was a young kid, she

Stosur becomes the 40th Grand Slam champion in WTA history.

… probably lost a lot more than she actually won,” Daniel said. “That was because she was playing some older girls too, but she just had some technical abilities there that other girls just didn’t seem to have. A much bigger and better forehand and certainly her serve was a standout as well.”

Those powerful weapons provided an edge but perseverance would remain requirements in Stosur’s early years on the WTA Tour. Despite rising to the world No. 1 doubles ranking as she claimed a string of titles (including two Grand Slams with American Lisa Raymond) Stosur’s only standout singles major performance was a fourth round appearance at Australian Open 2006, her record at other events restricted to noteworthy, yet frustrating, runner-up performances at the Gold Coast and Sydney in 2006, as well as Prague the following year.

And then came the much-publicised battle with Lyme’s disease in 2007 – a life-threatening illness for many people and certainly a career-threatening one for Stosur, who was so severely weakened that for a time she couldn’t even push a supermarket trolley.

A seven-month absence from competition obliterated Stosur’s ranking but only strengthened her hunger to compete at the game’s highest level.

“I always tried to believe that it would be possible to come back from that, and I was very lucky that I did recover very quickly and get back on the court and do what I wanted to do,” she said. “So if anything, it kind of made me open my eyes more that you don’t necessarily always get a second chance. I wanted to take every opportunity I had, and I have now been able to fulfill that.”

With coach David Taylor by her side, the hard-working Stosur was committed to the endless hours of training required in creating those opportunities and eventually rewarded with a French Open semi-final appearance in 2009, and then a stunning run to the final in 2010, conquering four-time champion Justine Australian Tennis Magazine | October 2011

15

The world No. 7 is already eyeing success on Australian soil.

Henin, former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic and the seemingly unbeatable Serena in those performances.

However that Roland Garros final would ultimately prove a disappointment, many wondering whether Stosur had surrendered her biggest Grand Slam opportunity when Francesca Schiavone claimed the match in three sets. Any optimism was tested further after Stosur’s lacklustre start to season 2011, where the only high point was a quarterfinal run in Dubai.

As she demonstrated so superbly in New York, though, giving up isn’t part of Stosur’s DNA. While working with AIS sports psychologist Ruth Anderson to build her mental strength, she also set about further finetuning her physical weapons.

Geoff Masters, one of Stosur’s junior coaches, was struck by how beautifully those qualities would merge in New York.

“When you really know you’ve done the work and you can stay in a point longer, you’re a lot calmer. I think she certainly did that,” he said. “Plus of course we know that she obviously lost the final of the French Open. That would have been hard to take but obviously if you learn some lessons from it, it will stand you in good stead in the future.”

Indeed, if the lessons had been hard to learn for Stosur, they had also been well learnt – and as Taylor pointed out, her biggest success was years in the making. “Obviously winning a Grand Slam is the reward and result of working hard for many years, not just the fortnight of the event,” he said. “If I had to point to 16

Australian Tennis Magazine | October 2011

a single overall ingredient of how Sam came to put herself in that position I’d say it’s her professionalism.”

Such professionalism meant that Stosur had barely had a chance to absorb her Grand Slam success before she was looking to add to it, with a short-term priority of achieving her best results on Australian soil.

“Obviously it’s very different being at home now and playing at the Australian Open. I’ve definitely had different pressures playing there in the past and from my success overseas,” she commented after the final. “But I know it’s going to be different, and hopefully I can handle it and learn from everything I’ve gone through over the past years to be able to handle it as best I can … if I can play like I did today, then hopefully it’s all going to be okay.”

It’s unlikely that there would be a player considered more deserving of such success. “This (US Open victory) sets her US Open success could provide a key to an even brighter future.

Stosur’s physical strengths are backed by stronger self-belief.

apart in women’s sport in Australia now.

She becomes one of the icons of women’s sport,” said Todd Woodbridge, Head of Professional Tennis at Tennis Australia.

“When she wins a Grand Slam she moves towards the legendary status as opposed to one of the great athletes in Australia. It sets her a completely different life path basically for the rest of her tennis, and her life.”

If that inspires more young athletes to pick up a racquet, then the biggest prize on offer becomes even more rewarding for Stosur, who doesn’t regret a single sacrifice in her long journey to success. “I have slept in train stations and stayed in dodgy hotels … it all pays off in the end. I would do it all over again if I had to,” she said.

“I didn’t start playing to break records or anything like that. My goal and dream since I started, I’ve said it before, was to win a Grand Slam. Now to actually do it, it’s unbelievable. Being in Australia with that great history and now to break that drought is obviously very special.” n

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3610

2006

2000

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, 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.

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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2007

(Jan) Rafter, Federer, Mauresmo, Stosur.

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

(Mar) Ivanovic, Gonzalez, S. Williams.a (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.

(Sept) 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. (Sept) Federer, Jankovic, Gonzalez, Gear Guide.

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

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

(Dec) Nadal, David Hall, Rising Stars.

(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.

(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.

2009

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(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

JAN 2003

oct 2002

aug 2002

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(Jan) Nadal, Stosur, Clijsters, Hewitt.

(Feb) Clijsters, Djokovic, Australian Open, Henin.

(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.

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