Tennishead: Volume 4: Issue 4

WIMBLEDON 2013 CELEBR ATION ISSUE WWW.TENNISHEAD.NET | AUGUST 2013

TH E WORLD’ S B E ST TEN NIS MAGA ZIN E

ANDY’S ROAD TO GRAND SLAM GLORY

WIMBLEDON CHAMPION

Y A R R U ANDY M TICS | PHOTOS IS AT ST | TS OR EP R | S EW VI TER � REACTION | ANALYSIS | IN

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4 AUGUST 2013 £4.50

INTERVIEWS: JUDY MURRAY • SAM QUERREY • TOMAS BERDYCH • CONCHITA MARTINEZ

CONTENTS

08 WIN!

A TOP OF THE RANGE WILSON RACKET PAGE 88

GALLERY 22 Images: A truly memorable Wimbledon

BIG READ 8 16 18 38 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 114

Hawk-Eye: News and views from the tours Inside Out: Umpire Fergus Murphy Hot Stuff: Russian Maria Kirilenko Andy Murray: The making of a champion Road to Glory: R1 - Murray V Becker Road to Glory: R2 - Murray V Lu Road to Glory: R3 - Murray V Robredo Road to Glory: R4 - Murray V Youzhny Road to Glory: QF - Murray V Verdasco Road to Glory: SF - Murray V Janowicz Road to Glory: Final - Murray V Djokovic Action Replay: Conchita Martinez rewinds to '94

ACADEMY 64 66 68 71 72 77 78 81

Technique: Lleyton Hewitt backhand Technique: Marin Cilic serve Junior Academy: The stars share their secrets Psychology: Rituals and superstitions Judy Murray: Why female coaches are vital Mastermind: German coach Mats Merkel Ask tennishead: Our team is on hand Ask Asics: Expert advice on feet and shoes

GEAR 82 86 89 90

News: What’s hot this summer Strings: Type, gauge and tensions explained Me and My Racket: Sam Querrey Junior rackets: Kitting out the kids

TRAVEL

38 RESULTS AND RANKINGS

108

64

94 Tennis Tourist: Algarve, Portugal

THE TOURS 98 100 102 104 106 108 110 111

Roland Garros: The men’s action Roland Garros: The women’s draw ATP & WTA: Round-up and reports from June Wimbledon: Men’s results Wimbledon: Women’s results ATP & WTA rankings: Top 100 singles lists Tramlines: Doubles tour and calendar TV Guide: Where to watch the action

4 W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T

HEAD TO WWW.TENNISHEAD.NET FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS

JIMMY CONNORS AUTOBIOGRAPHIES PAGE 84

VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4

WIN!

46

114

JUNIOR RACKETS

How to choose a junior racket

18

PAGE 90

78 W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T 5

Tiebreak!

LOCKER ROOM

SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW TENNIS...?

TOMAS BERDYCH

1

Which player has reached 13 consecutive Grand Slam semi-finals?

INTERVIEW: LEIGH WALSH

“Once I started to play everyone started comparing me with Lendl but he was way, way farther than I am now”

2

The Czech world No.6 talks cracking the top five, being compared to Ivan Lendl and lifting the Davis Cup title for his country You’ve become somewhat of a Twitter sensation since you joined. People seem surprised that you’re funny, what do you make of that? Ha, yeah. That was kind of my aim to try to come up with something different because really I’m getting basically the same questions for so many years and now I can just bring to the people some different perspectives and a different view of me. I try to really be myself.

What’s been your greatest moment on the tennis court? Well, I might split it between two things. The first one was winning Davis Cup, which was last year, and it was really an incredible moment. It doesn’t happen every year and it was really big. And then from my [individual] career I would say reaching the Wimbledon final. It is really something that still stands up but I hope that will change some day.

What was the reaction back home when you won the Davis Cup? It was really huge because it was [the first win in] 32 years and it was the first time that Czech Republic (since the break up of Czechoslovakia) won the Davis Cup. We were trying for it for so many years and finally we made it. Really, I mean, it was huge and it still is. We are lucky that we can play the semi-final (vs. Argentina), at least, at home this year because it would have been quite sad if we cannot [play] in front of our crowd as the defending champions. The people really love it and I think it’s good for the sport.

Who is more famous in the Czech Republic now, you or [Chelsea goalkeeper] Petr Cech? Well, it’s tough to say who’s more famous in the Czech Republic.

Football is big but he is based in London. But he is a star, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world so I cannot pick. Other people need to judge that.

What’s it like to fly the flag for a country like the Czech Republic that has such a rich tennis history? I mean, it’s actually been kind of a pressure for us because the last Davis Cup winners [included] Ivan Lendl, who is such a star and then of course there’s been great, great results in the past but you know it’s a bit

different this time and for myself I am trying to do the best I can and trying to raise the flag even higher.

Who were your idols growing up? I actually never had one single name that I would follow but I really loved the sport so much that every time I saw the game on TV I would just sit down and watch. And then once I started to play everyone started comparing me with Lendl. I won my first title when he did but he was way, way farther than I am now, winning so many Slams and being No.1. So I’m in no way close to him but it is nice to at least in the small things be compared to him.

If you could change one thing about professional tennis what would it be? Right now I would change the 25-second rule between the points. At least to cancel it to how it was before or make the rule that you can actually prove it. It’s like, imagine you are sitting in the car and you are speeding and you don’t have a speedometer and the police catch you and say, ‘You were 20 miles over,’ and you say, ‘Well how can I know, I don’t have a speedometer!’ How can I know 25 seconds have passed? I don’t have a clock in my mind, I don’t see any clock and then basically the referee can do whatever he wants. I hate this actually.

You’ve been ranked No.6 for a while, what do you think you need to do to break into the top five? Well maybe wait until one of the other guys in front of me gets too old and he is not going to play anymore. Ha. Because I am trying to do that already for three years and it’s a really big challenge because these days the guys who are there, I mean, which one do you want to pick that’s going to go out from those five? It’s really hard. I try to improve every day, I try to improve myself, you know, try to be patient, I think that’s the way to do it and we will see.

Do you think your best years are ahead of you still?

Well, except for one season so far, every single year was better and better in my career so I’m still hoping that I can improve. That’s actually my goal. That’s what I am trying to do every day to be better, to improve, so it’s still to come.

Name the six American women ranked inside the top 50 after Wimbledon?

3

Which top ten seed did Laura Robson beat in the first round at Wimbledon?

4

How many consecutive finals did Rafael Nadal reach before he lost at Wimbledon?

5

Which female player is nicknamed ‘Boom Boom Bine’?

6

Which 42-year-old reached the third round at Wimbledon, becoming the oldest female ever to do so?

7

Who was the last American man to win the US Open?

1. Novak Djokovic; 2. Serena Williams, Sloane Stephens, Jamie Hampton, Varvara Lepchenko, Venus Williams, Madison Keys; 3. Maria Kirilenko; 4. Nine; 5. Sabine Lisicki 6. Kimiko Date-Krumm; 7. Andy Roddick

TOMAS BERDYCH

W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T 13

NEWS

QUIZ

POstCaRds FROM the tOUR

For the latest news from the tour visit

QUICK HITS

ww w.tennishead.net

Andy Murray takes evasive action from BBC interviewer Garry richardson.

‘Hello? No, I feel absolutely fine. The heat out here isn’t affecting me at all’

The new best-of-nine-set finals were beginning to take their toll.

‘I just sorted the practice court.

We’re sharing with Serena...’

It was another calm, english summer’s day...

Scottish tennis has received a £5.8 million funding boost in the wake of Andy Murray’s Wimbledon victory. The four-year investment, announced by Tennis Scotland and sportscotland, will be to improve facilities and recruit local development officers. “Andy’s win was an emotional moment for Scotland and the whole country has been inspired,” Scottish Sports Minister Shona Robison said.

“This money is all about making sure the right facilities are there to help people get more active, as well as helping to create the tennis stars of the future to keep those Wimbledon wins coming.”

Prime Minister David Cameron has backed calls for Andy Murray to be awarded a knighthood following his historic victory at Wimbledon. Murray, who was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list following his US Open victory, had afternoon tea at 10 Downing Street the day after his victory at the All England Club.

“Honours are decided independently but frankly I can’t think of anyone who deserves one more,” Cameron said.

“I JUST GOT UP, WENT DOWNSTAIRS, WALKED THE DOGS AND FED THEM. THEN I WENT TO LOOK AT THE TROPHY” Andy Murray describes a surreal morning routine the day after winning Wimbledon

WHO’S FALLING, WHO’S HOT AND WHO’S NOT TURN TO PAGE 108 W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. n e t 15

neWs

TENNIS NEWS

hawkeye

Log on...

hot stufF

For exclusive player interviews visit

Maria Kirilenko

www.tennishead.net

‘I’m different...’

The Russian explains why she does things her way - and still gets results words: leigh walsh

A player’s box complete with a coach,

physiotherapist, hitting partner, fitness trainer and agent has become a familiar sight on tour in recent times but for Maria Kirilenko, who recently made her top ten debut, the phrase ‘less is more’ has never been more appropriate.

The softly spoken 26-year-old, who has graced the covers of tennis and lifestyle magazines the world over, travels light for a player ranked No.12. Her ‘team’, as she refers to it, consists of herself and dad, Yuri, who acts as his daughter’s coach, travel companion and source of news from the outside world as they tour the globe together for 30 weeks of the year.

Kirilenko’s father first introduced her to the sport when she was seven and since making her WTA main draw debut in Bali at the age of 15 she has gone on to win five singles titles and 12 doubles crowns including an Olympic doubles bronze medal at London 2012.

“I always had my father behind me and he was the one who has motivated me all the time,” said the self-assured Moscow native. “Even though some years it didn’t work for me how I wanted, he was always there. He’s a great person.”

Is it ever difficult to separate the dad from the coach?

Kirilenko shakes her head. “I think we are a really good example because some of the other players, they are working with their dads but sometimes they are not listening to them,” she said. “I have such a good relationship with my dad. I can talk to him about whatever I want and when we finish practice we never talk about tennis.”

The Russian’s consistency this season has been as impressive as her solid all-court game. She has lost just three times to players ranked outside the top 20, one of which was

due to a mid-match retirement, and after making a run to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros she achieved a life-long ambition by taking her position among the game’s elite inside the top ten.

Kirilenko’s mind and movement are the main strengths at her disposal. She’s more likely to outwit than overpower and her hours of work off the court, which she modestly calls ‘nothing special’, are evident as she wears her opponents down.

“Every tournament I’m keeping my level and I’m not losing to anyone below my ranking,” said Kirilenko, who recently became engaged to professional ice hockey player Alex Ovechkin. “Now I am going on court and I feel that I have become a better player. I’ve become more, I don’t know the word, more clever? I’m understanding the game more, of course confidence as well, but there’s a lot of experience I’ve gotten in the years I’ve been playing. I’m now understanding how to play the important points.”

The 5ft 9in right-hander has placed her career upon her own shoulders and admits that, unlike the majority of her fellow competitors, she doesn’t need a team to motivate her.

She prefers to drag herself out of bed in the morning, find her own solutions and pave her own path.

“Me, I’m different,” she said. “I know what I have to do before each practice so it’s all about myself, about my health.

Now I really understand what I have to do and I always [listen to] my body. There is nobody really pushing me and for me it’s better like that.”

So far, Kirilenko has managed to push herself to the quarter-finals at three of the four Grand Slams. Can she go further? Well, that’s up to her. n

kirilenko factfile age: 26 | lives: moscow | height: 5ft 9in 18 W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET

“I have such a good relationship with my dad… when we finish practice we never talk about tennis”

turned pro: 2001 | wta singles titles: 6 | wta doubles titles: 12 W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET 19

hot stuff

hot stufF

G AL LE RY

sergiy stakhovsky / federer and stakhovsky / mikhail youzhny / agnieszka radwanska

roger federer / juan martin del potro

G AL LE RY

david ferrer / steve darcis / lleyton hewitt

kirsten flipkens / ana ivanovic / dustin brown

RIGHT: rafael nadal / laura robson

MUR MAKING THE

RAY DIFFERENCE WORDS: PAUL NEWMAN

Paul Newman is Tennis Correspondent of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday

From Wimbledon tears to Wimbledon wonder. How Ivan Lendl helped Andy Murray grow

the road to glory

THE OPPOSITION → Name: Benjamin Becker → Nationality: German → Ranked: 92 → Age: 32 → 2013 W-L record: 5-12 → Best Wimbledon result: 2R in ‘06, ‘08, ‘09, ’10, ‘12 → ATP titles: 1 → Head-to-head: Murray leads 1-0

MURRAY’S STATS → Aces: 11 → Double faults: 2 → Winners: 38 → Unforced errors: 16 → 1st serves in: 57% → Fastest serve: 133MPH → Break points won: 5/10 → Break points saved: 4/5 → Net points won: 17/23

how andy made history ROUND ONE: Monday 24 June MATCH Murray d. Benjamin Becker 6-4 6-3 6-2 Match Time: 1 hour 53 minutes Venue: Centre Court UMPIRE: Damien Dumusois (FRA)

“ He’s got a very good attitude. He works very hard. He serves well.

He hits the ball pretty flat, which works well on the grass courts” Murray on Becker

4 6 W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET

A

s the home crowd spilled into the All England Club for the 127th chapter of The Championships they brought with them an air of expectation rather than mere hope. Andy Murray had either equaled or bettered his Wimbledon results each year since making his debut in 2005 and after last year’s runner-up appearance there were many flag-wielding fans quietly confident that this could be the year.

The first hurdle for Murray came in the form of Benjamin Becker, a 32-year-old ranked No.92 in the world. The players took to Centre Court for their second meeting in as many weeks after Murray had dispatched the German in the quarter-finals at the Aegon Championships.

After being forced to save two break points in his opening service game, Murray soon settled into his rhythm to open up a 4-1 lead and, despite a slight lapse of concentration when serving at 4-2, which saw the world No.2 suffer his only break of

serve in the match, Murray recovered to take the first set 6-4.

The Dunblane native seized the initiative in the eighth game of the second set when he capitalised on some tentative play from his opponent to break the Becker serve once more before holding comfortably in the next game, sealing the set with an ace. Murray was on a roll now and he cruised through the third set, hitting 12 winners and just three unforced errors to send Becker packing.

“It was a good start,” said Murray, who felt no recurrence of the back injury that kept him out of the French Open. “He’s a tough player. I thought it was a pretty high standard match, apart from a few games in the middle of the first set. We had a lot of good rallies. He served well for the first couple of sets. And, yeah, it was a good start.”

With the victory the 26-year-old officially became the most successful British man in Grand Slam history with 107 singles wins, putting him one ahead of Fred Perry on 106.

“I didn’t know that,” Murray admitted.

© Kirsten Holst

BECKER’S TAKE

“He makes it tough on you. He’s a great grass court player. If he keeps up his game and stays focused, obviously he can go all the way”

Breaking down Murray’s game

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Aces

4

5

2

Double faults

2

0

0

WinnerS

10

16

12

Unforced errors

7

6

3

1st serves in

55%

63%

50%

Fastest servE

133 MPH

133 MPH

127MPH

Break points won

2/5

1/1

2/4

Break points saved

2/3

2/2

0/0

Net points won

5/8

9/11

3/4

DAY ONE ROUND-UP → French Open champion and the No.5 seed Rafael Nadal from Spain suffered an unexpectedly early exit for the second year in a row. The Spaniard was tamed by little-known world No.135 Steve Darcis of Belgium in straight sets. The other seeds to fall in Murray’s half of the draw on day one were No.11 Stanislas Wawrinka (l. to Lleyton Hewitt), No.14 Janko Tipsarevic (l. to Viktor Troicki) and No.30 Fabio Fognini (l. to Jurgen Melzer). The event had begun with a bang.

W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET 47

ACADEMY

Marin Cilic

Big first Serve

The Croatian former top ten star is a danger to anyone on a fast court.

He uses his tall frame and long levers to create big power on his serve

1

Marin Cilic is a 6ft 6in giant on the court with a monster of a serve. Here, he is ready to begin his motion with his weight on his back foot. His first movement is rocking back to coil or “load up� for the serve.

The toss

2

Cilic drops both arms simultaneously, keeping them relaxed. His tossing arm is straight and holds the ball like a wine glass in his hand. This is a key element to enjoying good placement on the toss.

3

Cilic coils his body with a deep knee-bend, a slightly arched torso and an elevated racket. He balances himself with a wide stance prior to the blow. His eyes are focused on the ball and his left arm raised high.

relax your arm

The source of most players’ service problems is the ball toss. From recreational players to the professionals, no one is safe from ball toss woes. The key is to relax your tossing arm and to hold the ball in the tip of 6 6 W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET

your fingers, like Cilic demonstrates above. When players cup the ball in the palm of their hand the toss is more likely to go astray. It should roll off the fingertips.

head up

eyes on impact

Another common source of service troubles is pulling your head down before connecting with the ball. Once you take your eyes off the ball, your body will drag down too and the serve will often end up in the net.

It’s important to keep your eyes focused on the ball through impact and

to keep your arm in the 12 o'clock position in order to keep yourself as tall as possible during the stroke. Sam Stosur is one of the few who can get away with taking her eyes off the point of contact during her kick serve but that's only because she still manages to keep upright.

GOLDEN RULE

Serving involves coiling your body and loading your weight as much as a basketball player does prior to a high leap for a rebound or shot. Once coiled, propel yourself up and forwards into your shot to maximise power.

4

Cilic uncoils his legs by pushing upwards as his torso extends to the ball. His left arm and shoulder are descending while his right arm and racket begin the upward movement towards impact. His eyes are focused on the ball.

knee bend

5

Impact has occurred and Cilic’s arm pronates to the right. Both feet are lifted off the ground, completing his uncoiling movement in the serve. He’s falling into the court which suggests this is a powerful delivery.

6

Cilic lands on his left foot as he tries to gain balance and recover for the next shot. He’s flung his left arm out away from his body. This is not necessarily an efficient use of that arm, but many players today do this.

source of power

Cilic has an exaggerated knee bend and it’s the source of the majority of his power on the serve. A good way to work on explosiveness is with a medicine ball. Hold the ball in your dominant hand and start in the

throwing position with your tossing arm at 12 o’clock. Then really work on getting low before launching into the air, tossing the ball as far as you can. This will improve your power and power is key to a good serve.

W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET 67

academy

frame by frame

ACADEMY

“A big thing is understanding your tennis and your style” Sam Stosur

JUNIORAcademy GUIDANCE FROM THE PROS...

TIPS FROM THE TOP

Tour pros Sam Stosur, Tommy Robredo, Petra Kvitova and Agnieszka Radwanska offer their advice to juniors looking to follow in their footsteps...

PETRA KVITOVA JUNIOR PROFILE

“You have to like tennis because otherwise you can’t do it” PETRA KVITOVA

CAREER-HIGH: No.27 BEST JUNIOR RESULTS: 2007 – 3R Wimbledon (l. to Katarzyna Piter)

SENIOR PROFILE CAREER-HIGH: No.2 SINGLES TITLES: 10 (2011 Wimbledon champion)

PETRA KVITOVA’S ADVICE:

“The most important thing is you have to like tennis because otherwise you can’t do it. You have to like the sport. Try to work hard and, I know it’s quite hard to hear it because someone told me that many times before too, but you have to just try and enjoy it. It’s not very easy but that’s true, you have to enjoy it.”

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA JUNIOR PROFILE CAREER-HIGH: No.1 BEST JUNIOR RESULTS: 2005 – WON Wimbledon (d. Tamira Paszek) 2006 – WON US Open (d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova)

SENIOR PROFILE

CAREER-HIGH: No.2 | SINGLES TITLES: 12

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA’S ADVICE:

“Try to have fun and not really push yourself too much because if you want it too much it’s not good either. It’s too much pressure and I know so many people doing that and it’s not healthy. Of course, you have to be ambitious but there’s a line.”

6 8 W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T

LISTEN AND LEARN

““THE THE DAY YOU DON’T TRY IS A DAY OF ADVANTAGE THAT YOU GIVE TO THE OTHERS OTHERS” TOMMY ROBREDO

TOMMY ROBREDO JUNIOR PROFILE CAREER-HIGH: No.8 BEST JUNIOR RESULTS: 2000 – RUP Roland Garros (l.to Paul-Henri Mathieu)

SENIOR PROFILE

CAREER-HIGH: No.5 | SINGLES TITLES: 11

ADVICE:

“If I have to be honest you can only do it if you really like it, if you have the passion for the sport. It is like a job, you have to work at it every day, if you try hard and you have a good team then [you will do well].

But the day you don’t try is a day of advantage that you give to the others so you have to try.”

SAM STOSUR JUNIOR PROFILE CAREER-HIGH: No.27 BEST JUNIOR RESULTS: 2001 – 3R Australian Open (l. to Jelena Jankovic), 2002 – 3R Australian Open (l. to Maria Sharapova)

SENIOR PROFILE CAREER-HIGH: No.4 SINGLES TITLES: 3 (2011 US Open champion)

SAM SAYS:

“Never give up. I wasn’t the best junior in the world or anything like that. I played the way that I wanted to play and I was very erratic when I was young. Eventually I found a coach that really saw the game that I had and helped me work out the way that I should be playing with my weapons. A big thing is understanding your tennis and your style to then decide how that’s going to become the best weapon for you.”

W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T 69

ACADEMY

JUNIOR ACADEMY

academy

“[Women] have to fight very hard to be heard and to get anywhere” JUDY MURRAY

This Page: Judy Murray Opposite Page (L-R): Lucie Safarova. Denis Istomin, Andy and mum Judy Murray

7 2 W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. n e t

female coaches

academy

“I was always perceived as the mother rather than the coach.

I think it is seen as a man’s world” JUDY MURRAY

A man’s world?

While the number of female coaches on tour is surprisingly low, the importance of their presence shouldn’t be underestimated Words: Leigh Walsh

There was a rare sight at the Aegon International in Eastbourne this summer that greeted fans as they weaved around the practice courts watching the world’s best up close. As each player went about his or her business – being fed balls by coaches, practicing serves or running sprints – there was one court that caught the eye more than the others.

Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin is one of the very few players, male or female, to have a female coach by his side. As the world No.47 hits with fellow pros, his mother, Klaudiya, stands at the back of the court feeding her son instructions, critiquing his technique and analysing his shot selection.

Klaudiya Istomin is one of only a handful of full-time female coaches that can be seen gracing the tour’s practice courts. Her son, along with Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin who lists his wife as his coach, are the only two male players working with women and the WTA doesn’t fare much better.

A flick through its media guide tells you all you need to know with just six of the top 100 women players working with female coaches, the majority of them favouring men who often double up as hitting partner too.

“It’s easier for me now,” says Lucie Safarova, who recently switched from working with a female coach in the form of Biljana Veselinovic to former Canadian Davis Cup player Rob Steckley. “I really liked working with Biljana, it was something different for me because it was my first experience with a woman coach but she was not able to hit with me as [Rob] does. He’s a really good player so that’s easier for me now.”

British Fed Cup captain Judy Murray believes that many players share the same thought process as Safarova when it comes to selecting someone to work with.

“The thing to take into account is that it’s an individual sport and the girls in particular are not great at mixing and hitting with each other,” Murray explained. “They like to have a hitting partner and most of them wouldn’t be able to afford both a coach and a hitting partner so to take on a coach who can also hit well makes a lot of financial sense for them and therefore there are more guys in that role.

“It’s quite a difficult career to develop,” Murray added.

“Because if you start working with any player it requires a significant amount of time on the road and that generally lends itself better to guys simply because it is traditionally the woman who stays at home and brings up the family.”

Unlike other sports, women and men are on a relatively level playing field when it comes to prize money and endorsements in tennis. The money at the top of the women’s game makes it an enticing place to be and for many former male players the WTA Tour offers a chance to continue their careers within the sport. But that brings up the question, for all the developments in the game at the playing level, are female coaches still the victims of prejudice?

“Yeah, there’s no question,” said Murray, who coached both her sons Andy and Jamie. “We have to fight very hard to be heard and to get anywhere. I think from my own experience it’s not so easy being a female coach or a mother of a male player, it’s quite uncommon.

W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET 7 3

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T HE BIG ASK ★ FRENCH OPEN FILA KIT So Rafa Nadal has another trophy and the red clay of Roland Garros begins to fade in the memory. To celebrate, we’re giving away some brand new Fila tennis gear, worn by Fila players at this year’s French Open. Breathable and comfortable on court, they provide substance while you channel classic Bjorn Borg style.

ROLAND GARROS FILA KIT (SEE BOX)

What’s the rule when a player touches the net during a point? I saw Novak Djokovic lose a crucial point at the French Open against Rafael Nadal after his foot hit the net and he didn’t seem too happy about the decision.

Scott, Bath Here’s what the ITF rulebook says, Scott.

“A player loses the point if the player or the racket, whether in the player’s hand or not, or anything which the player is wearing or carrying touches the net, net posts/singles sticks, cord or metal cable, strap or band, or the opponent’s court at any time while the ball is in play.” Here’s what Djokovic said about that particular scenario and why he challenged it: “I know the rule is if you touch the net before the second bounce then you’re losing the point. I didn’t know if it’s taken into consideration if the ball is already out of [the] dimension of the court.” So it would appear the umpire made the right call in awarding Nadal the point.

78 W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T

We turned this question over to Clifton Bradeley, a podiatrist with the ASICS PRO Team. “The best advice I can give is to see a specialist like myself and have an assessment to find out if your legs are the same length and if your pelvis is symmetrical. We know that most people have got one leg longer than the other and to some extent people have a slightly twisted pelvis. If you have those things you are increasing your risk of injury. An athlete who wants to improve their performance or who gets recurrent injuries will have a biomechanical assessment and gait analysis. We will find those asymmetries in the skeleton and what is going to increase the risk of injury and we will make a special device known as orthotics, which go inside the shoes and help to align the body.”

Masterminds of tennis

academy

Mats Merkel The 29-year-old German spends 20-30 weeks a year coaching as part of the adidas player development programme. He runs clinics for 9-14-year-olds in his home town and also has his fingers in a few other pies.

Follow Mats on Twitter @matsmerkel or check out www.matsmerkel.com

Expe rt a dvice

Masterminds of tennis After helping stars such as Caroline Wozniacki, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Andy Murray in the past, the tennis expert shares his wisdom Interview: Bridget Marrison

What made you make the move into coaching?

I was supposed to play college tennis in the US, and unfortunately it did not work out with a scholarship. Before going to the US I had spent two-and-a-half years doing an apprenticeship with the German coaching federation. I passed that and I had done some coaching with the best juniors in the area already. I got offered a job at adidas in the product marketing

able to be there for the player and to give them the feeling that he or she is important.

You always have to have an open ear for them. There are no egos involved as a coach. You have to be able to adjust. Tennis is an individual sport; you always have to be able to give your player energy to help him or her to go out there and to give his or her best every single day. The chemistry between a player and coach has to be good.

Do you participate in any formal training to develop as a coach?

The degree I am currently studying helps me a lot, particularly when it comes to time or relationship management. I have enrolled into two coaching organisations GPTCA and the PTCA. They are both recognised global associations. I am trying to go to seminars when I have time and I am trying to learn from the player. That’s where I believe you can learn the most – from the player.

Do you have an example of something that you have said or has been said to you that has made a big difference?

Statistics. If you are travelling alone as a player you would probably not think of looking at your opponent’s stats. When I was travelling there was one particular match where I looked at the statistics for the opponent of my player. I told the player, this is what you have to expect, and this is what is going to hit you, now be ready and fight back. After the match the player came to me and gave me a big hug and it was very rewarding. I felt very happy, so I do think giving guidance is crucial.

“You have to be there for the player and to give them the feeling that he or she is important” tennis business unit and within that period I was approached to help re-build a tennis club in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where adidas has its headquarters. I am currently finishing my bachelor’s degree in business and management. My move to coaching was not intentional. I've enjoyed it hugely, however, particularly in the last two years.

What are your recent highlights as a coach?

I have done more on my own, travelling with players. For example, in 2010, I did the preparation with Caroline Wozniacki. She had a great six months in the first half of 2011. I hope I can share some of the credit for that! I travelled with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and have worked with Andy Murray. I enjoy working with different personalities.

What do you think makes a great coach?

I think it’s being open, being able to listen, being able to understand your player, being

How hard is it to make a living from tennis these days and how difficult is it to make the transition from junior to senior tennis?

I was reading some statistics on how many of the ITF top 10 juniors in the world make it into the ATP World Tour top 100 and how long that transition takes. It is very difficult to become a professional and earn enough money to make a living from it. Last year, I went to two of the biggest junior tennis events in the world – the Eddie Herr tournament and the Orange Bowl junior tournament that are held in the US every year. It is crazy how many young kids are playing there. But not a lot of those kids will actually make a living from tennis.

What else are you involved with when you're not working with the adidas team?

I have a couple of other projects that I'm involved in that occupy my time when I'm not coaching – the app (see Gear News on page 85 for more information) and a website called www.Becoacht.com, which is an online platform where you can enrol yourself as a tennis player, skier, coach, instructor in anything and it’s about getting a connection with other people who share the same passion. The site won an award last year for being an innovative start-up and I am helping as ambassador of the tennis element of that. So many times as a tennis player you go to different countries and you want to play tennis – this connects you. My own company, Made to Measure Sports, is a service I am also delivering, tailored to the needs of the customer. I help with events such as tennis clinics and present at conferences on a range of subjects. n W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET 7 7

INGEAR

KIT BITS

TAKE YOUR KIT AS SERIOUSLY AS YOUR GAME

World No.1 Novak Djokovic announced he had extended his footwear deal with adidas at the start of June. “The adidas Barricade is my favourite shoe,” the Serbian star said.

JIMMY CONNORS GIVEAWAY! THE TENNIS WORLD has been abuzz with comment surrounding the contents of eight-time Grand Slam champion Jimmy Connors’ recently-released autobiography ‘The Outsider’ and five lucky readers can find out what all the fuss is about. tennishead has teamed up with the publishers of the book to offer five winners a free copy.

All you have to do is to visit www.tennishead.net to enter.

Connors writes in the same way he played the game that delivered him fame and fortune and a staggering 109 singles titles during an illustrious career – with no holds barred. The American sets the record straight about what really happened on and off court, revealing the secrets behind his rivalries with fellow legends John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Ivan Lendl. He talks about his romance with fellow tennis star Chris Evert, and also spills the beans on his partner in crime, Ilie Nastase.

For the chance to win a copy of ‘The Outsider’ visit www.tennishead.net.

WHAT’S HOT

HEAD TO WWW.TENNISHEAD.NET FOR ALL THE LATEST NEWS

STARGAZING WITH MAUI JIM If you play regularly in strong sunlight a pair of shades may improve your game – and protect your eyes

IF YOU’VE GOT a pair of cheap shades that you wear for tennis, you could be doing your eyes more harm than good.

Low cost sunglasses with no UV filters are even more dangerous than wearing none at all because they allow the pupils to dilate and let more light and harmful rays into the eye.

Renowned for its PolarizedPlus2 lens technology that eliminates 100 per cent of UV rays and 99.9 per cent of glare, many Maui Jim sunglasses are designed specifically for sport.

They may lack the reputation of rival premium sunglasses brands, but Maui Jim was listed in Forbes Magazine as one of “100 Things Worth Every Penny” and is regarded by those in the know as the industry’s best kept secret.

With lightweight frames, hypoallergenic rubber

nose pads and a variety of lens colours to suit every playing condition, it’s no wonder that the likes of David Ferrer, Sabine Lisicki and Benoit Paire sport the shades.

The Maui HT performance lenses – designed for low light conditions – provide greater visibility and increase light and colour contrast and were used by line judges at last year’s Valencia Open.

The officials said they could see the balls and lines more clearly.

There’s no hiding the fact that Maui Jim sunglasses aren’t cheap – they are a high-end premium product, but next time you’re thinking about splashing out on some new tennis gear, think about what price you’d put on your eyesight.

Visit www.mauijim.com

DAVID FERRER SABINE LISICKI

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gear

Me and my racket

Sam Querrey

Babolat AeroPro Drive

interview: leigh walsH

“In a match I won’t really [smash my rackets], but sometimes on the practice court I’ll hit one over and over and over until there’s nothing” Sam Querrey

So do they kind of mold your grip? Yeah, they took a grip I used years ago, that I’ve used really now for eight years. I don’t know really how they do it or what they do, but they mold it to that exact grip.

What strings and tension do you use? I use Luxilon Alu Power and I am usually between 55 and 66lbs depending on where I am and the weather. Like it’s 55 degrees [in the UK during the grasscourt season] so I’m using 55-56lbs but during the US summer when it’s 90 degrees I’ll be up at 60, 61 or 62lbs so for me it’s all about the weather.

Do you ever get involved in the design process? Never! I don’t know how that works or if they ask players. I just use what they give me.

Any superstitions when it comes to your racket? No, not really. Sometimes I’ll grip it, sometimes I’ll let the stringers grip it.

I’m not picky at all.

Do you smash your rackets often? No, not often. In a match I won’t really do it but sometimes on the practice court I’ve hit one over and over and over until there’s nothing.

What do you do with your old rackets? I give a lot of them to charity, to friends, you know. There are probably a lot in my garage. They’re floating around everywhere.

Babolat AeroPro Drive

Tech specs

What was your first racket? I had an Andre Agassi HEAD racket, it was like black and yellow and I got it for Christmas when I was six or seven years old.

What do you look for in a racket? I look for a racket that has a lot of pop because I like to hit the ball big. And also, for me, I’ve got a sensitive elbow so whatever really just feels good on my elbow and, you know, the Babolat feels unbelievable. It’s kind of easy power so it doesn’t hurt my arm at all.

Do you look for a racket that’s a little lighter then? Yeah definitely in the head of the racket I like it a little lighter because I’m pretty wristy and handsy so I need it to kind of whip through the air.

How long have you been playing with Babolat? About a year and a half now. The main reason I chose them was it just felt good on my elbow. I felt like I was getting a lot of pop and it was just so easy on my arm, which was nice.

Is it ever tempting for players to go with the better sponsorship deal rather than the best racket? Yeah I think so. I mean, with clothing it’s one of those things, you know, a shirt is a shirt but a racket I think is something that needs to feel better rather than using a racket because a company is paying you more money.

I think with the racket you really need to go with what feels right.

Do you customise your racket at all? I do.

I put a little weight in the head and the grip has also got some weight in there.

The handle is kind of formed to my hand how I like it.

© juergen hasenkopf

The big-hitting US No.1 has been playing with Babolat for just over a year. Here’s why he made the switch to the French manufacturer…

head size

100 square inches length 27 inches unstrung weight 300 grammes string pattern 16 x 19 balance point 320 mm W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET 8 9

GEAR

JUNIOR RACKETS

KITTING OUT KIDS THE AGE, SIZE AND ABILITY OF A YOUNG TENNIS PLAYER WILL AFFECT WHICH RACKET THEY SHOULD BE USING

WORDS: LEE GOODALL

For more features, news and reviews...

KIDS THESE DAYS don’t know they’re born. A visit to a well-stocked sports shop for the average tennis-obsessed youngster must be heaven. When I started playing, aged three, my family lived in Africa – Zambia to be precise. The only choice of racket available to this budding tennis player – who had admittedly fairly low standards when it came to the quality of his sports equipment – involved a heavy wooden imported Chinese racket, my dad and a saw. You get the picture.

Fast forward to 2013 and almost every one of the well-known racket manufacturers has its own extensive range of junior frames aimed at the smallest of beginners all the way up to young professionals in the making. And over the next three pages we’ll attempt to de-mystify the decision making process when parents are faced with handing over their hard-earned cash.

Junior rackets can be sorted into many different categories, but perhaps one of the most uncomplicated ways of doing that is to group the frames on offer by the material they are made from.

The most basic – and normally the least expensive – are those constructed using aluminium and are aimed at beginners. Juniors who can play a bit and need a little more from their racket can then move to a graphite composite frame. And performance players and the more serious competitors out there can choose a 100% graphite construction.

Each junior racket is also clearly marked with its length, which will determine the age of child that frame is designed for, and some manufacturers will use the Mini Tennis colour-coded grading system to help parents make the right choice, grouping rackets as to whether they are aimed at youngsters playing ‘red’, ‘orange’ or ‘green’ tennis. The theory behind youngsters playing the sport on smaller courts with slower and lower-bouncing balls and with rackets that are an appropriate size for their body is that they can learn correct technique easier. And better technique generally means success in getting the ball in court – and therefore greater enjoyment.

The final piece of good news is that kitting out your mini Murray shouldn’t break the bank. Some of the smaller frames aimed at under 10s can be picked up for as little as around £20, while 100% graphite models fall into the £60-80 range.

9 0 W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T

www.tennishead.net

JUNIOR RACKETS

GRAPHITE COMPOSITE

SLAZENGER SMASH COLLECTION

Frame sizes: 23-26 inches

YONEX VCORE XI COLLECTION

TECNIFIBRE BULLIT RANGE

CONSTRUCTION:

ALUMINIUM Frame sizes: 17-27 inches → Aluminium rackets are lightweight, easy to handle and sturdy so should last a reasonable amount of time regardless of how they’re treated! The smallest frames begin at 17 inches in length and aluminium rackets are available in two-inch increments all the way to 27 inches depending on the child’s age and size.

Babolat’s Ballfighter range offers all these sizes, while its B’Fly range is more girl-friendly with its pink and yellow cosmetics (19-25 inches). The Babolat Nadal Junior is another option and is available in 19 inches all the way up to a 26-inch model. Yonex also offers small aluminium frames, its VCORE Xi collection comes in 21, 23 and 25-inch sizes.Slazenger’s Smash collection is another option with all their frames from 19-25 inches priced at £23.99 and the 27-inch model just a pound more expensive.

Tecnifibre is updating its aluminium Bullit range in August with frames that are said to be 20 per cent more durable – good news for parents with mini tennis players with a temper. Tecnifibre is another brand that boasts a collection aimed at young girls – the Rebound range, which has ultra slim grips that are 30 per cent thinner than normal junior grips for easier handling.

→ A graphite composite frame is designed for a youngster who is playing regularly, developing their game and technique and demands a bit more from their racket. The blend of aluminium and graphite will increase feel and power for a young player but still shouldn't break the bank. These frames will be less expensive than a 100% graphite construction. Babolat boasts two models with a graphite composite construction – the Pure Drive Junior (23 and 25 inches) and the Babolat Pure Junior (25 and 26 inches). Tecnifibre has its Fight collection to tick this box – the 63, 65 and 67 that go from 24.5 to 26.5 inches – as well as the Rebound 62 with its more female-friendly cosmetics for girls from ages 6-9.

“THE BLEND OF ALUMINIUM AND GRAPHITE WILL INCREASE THE FEEL AND POWER BUT STILL SHOULDN'T BREAK THE BANK”

RACKET-BUYING BASICS How to make sure your junior champ is playng with a racket that is the correct length, weight and size First, make sure your child can comfortably hold the racket out to their side at a right angle to their body. If they can’t the racket may be too big or heavy.

• Ideally, when the player stands up straight with the racket hanging by their side the top of the racket head should be just scraping the floor.

• Similar to buying an adult racket, make sure there is room for a little finger to fit between the player’s thumb and forefinger when gripping the handle.

“TECNIFIBRE IS UPDATING ITS BULLIT RANGE IN AUGUST WITH FRAMES THAT ARE SAID TO BE 20 PER CENT MORE DURABLE” W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T 9 1

GEAR

CONSTRUCTION:

TRAVEL

tennis tourist

Resident coach, VASCO

JONATHaN MARKSON

need to know Where: Rua Alfredo Nascimento Batista, LT 35 8600-152 Lagos Algarve, Portugal Travel: Faro airport is an hour’s drive from the resort FACILITIES: •3 tennis courts • S wimming pools •B ar and restaurant • E strela Health & Beauty gym and spa • 5 minute walk from the beach • Free wifi website: www.marksontennis.com

Net profits Head to Portugal to meet a tennis coach who can improve your game – and catch you a fish for supper words: jo carter

As the British summer threatens to disappear without ever really making an appearance this year, the selling points for a tennis holiday in the Algarve, with its golden sandy beaches and sunshine by the bucketload, are pretty obvious.

Jonathan Markson Tennis may be best known for its UK-based tennis camps, but their holidays offer the same attention to detail, quality of coaching and passion for tennis, only with the sunshine virtually guaranteed.

Back by popular demand, 2013 sees the return of the single-player weeks and advanced player weeks at the charming Praia da Luz resort in the west of the region.

To clarify, anyone booking the holiday in the hope of finding love on the tennis court 9 4 W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. NET

will probably leave disappointed. You’re more likely to find a doubles partner than a potential life partner; the single-player weeks offer the opportunity to improve your tennis with like-minded individuals.

That said, you don’t have to travel alone to attend – couples and groups of friends are welcome – the only requirement is a passion for tennis and a desire to play socially and meet new people.

Targeted at players of an ‘intermediate social’ level, the price includes welcome drinks, three hours of coaching each day and free court time in the afternoon, a tournament at the end of the week as well as a prizegiving and dinner on the final evening.

Something for everyone: First-rate tennis, drinks at the bar, sandy beaches and culture too

“AFteR tHRee HoURS’ CoACHInG In tHe MoRnInG, tHe BeACH BeCkonS AFteR LUnCH, BeFoRe tHe CHAnCe to UnwInd At tHe SPA”

ACCOMMODATION

A TYPICAL DAY

One, two and three-bedroom self-catering apartments including satellite TV, air conditioning, dishwasher and washing machine at Baia da Luz. Studio apartments for single travellers available at nearby Estrela da Luz.

8am 9-12am 12:30pm 2-5pm 5pm 7pm 10pm

Breakfast Tennis Coaching Lunch Tennis / Pool / Beach / Golf A glass of wine or the gym?

Dinner Bed!

DATES FOR THE DIARY Single-player week: 10-17 November Advanced player week: 6-13 October

The Baia da Luz resort provides flexibility for holidaymakers with self-catering apartments that sleep up to six people, but just ten minutes’ walk away is the Estrella da Luz resort which offers studio apartments, ideal for those travelling solo.

While the Algarve is perhaps best known for being a popular British tourist resort, Praia da Luz still has a distinctly local feel with plenty of nearby restaurants serving fresh fish and native Portuguese cuisine.

Outside of the school holidays, Praia da Luz feels very much off the beaten track, and regular visitors to the resort are keen to preserve it as a secret unspoilt corner of Portugal. With a Romanesque character – the Roman baths just off the main promenade are free to visit – the area offers plenty for the adventurous to explore for those not content to just soak up the sunshine on the beautiful beaches.

Coaches Luis and Vasco, who have worked for Jonathan Markson Tennis for over 15 years, offer a personal touch. Tailoring each training session to the individual, they provide a satisfying mix of drills and matchplay. For the dedicated tennis nut there is unlimited court time in the afternoon and free access to the gym facilities at Estela da Luz. But after three hours’ coaching in the morning, the beach beckons after lunch before the chance to unwind in the spa before dinner.

A short walk into the centre of the town is a supermarket with an amazing selection of cheese and wine, which makes eating in just as appealing as dining out.

With satellite TV and a well-equipped kitchen with dishwasher, knocking up some pasta and chilling out in the air-conditioned apartment is a seriously tempting option after a hectic day of tennis, sunbathing and sightseeing. After a tournament on the final day, dinner and a prizegiving on the final evening is held in coach Luis’ restaurant, where he often serves fish caught by his own fair hands earlier that day.

Baia da Luz does not offer the five-star luxury and boundless facilities that are on offer elsewhere, but if you want to return home having taken your tennis up a notch and feeling like you’ve had a proper holiday, then this is the break for you.

Where else could you play tennis with the coach who also caught your dinner? ■ Email: info@marksontennis.com Tel: +44 (0)20 7603 2422 W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. n e t 95

traVeL

TENNIS TOURIST

RESULTS

JUNE-JULY 2013

MARION’S MONTH...

'MARION BARTOLI 2013 Wimbledon champion' isn’t something we thought we’d be writing come the end of The Championships but it brings a smile to our face as we type. The Frenchwoman was as impressive off the court as she was on it, charming the press with her charisma and good humour as she got her hands on the prize she coveted the most. Fellow Wimbledon winner Andy Murray said he was really happy to see Bartoli triumph after everything she’s been through. “She's a very, very nice girl,” said the Scot. “I've spent little bits of time with her over the last few years.

She works extremely hard. You know, a lot of people kind of questioned her methods, the ways that she plays. I was really, really happy for her that she managed to win.”

Elsewhere, we wrap up the clay season and bring you the remaining action from the grass.

For up-to-the-minute rankings and results visit www.tennishead.net

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ROLAND GARROS

NADAL WINS AGAIN

MURRAY AT QUEEN'S

BARTOLI SHINES

HISTORY MAKER

ATP & WTA RANKINGS W W W.T E N N I S H E A D. N E T 9 7

WIMBLEDON

“Winning Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis” ANDY MURRAY

men’s, ladies and miXed dOuBles

eAsTeRn PRomise

turns intO GlOrY

gloRY FoR mURRAY AFTeR

‘hardest POints Of mY life’ ANDY MURRAY BT NOvAK DJOKOvIC 6-4 7-5 6-4 ANDY MURRAY says he will probably never play a more difficult game of tennis than the final few points he produced to clinch victory over Novak Djokovic and become the first home-grown male champion at Wimbledon for 77 years.

With the first two sets in the bag, Murray came out to serve for the title and a place in history at 5-4 in the third set and he quickly opened up a 40-0 lead with some nerveless tennis. But Djokovic responded, like the world No.1 that he is, saving three Championship points before letting slip three break points of his own. When Murray got a look at a fourth Championship point, however, he didn't falter, firing down a big serve and following it up with a mid-court forehand that Djokovic failed to get back in play.

"I think just how that last game went my head was kind of everywhere," said Murray, who struggled to remember how the final point played out. "I mean, some of the shots he came up with were unbelievable.

"Winning Wimbledon I think is the pinnacle of tennis," he added. "I mean, the last game almost increased that feeling.

I worked so hard in that last game. It's the hardest few points I've had to play in my life. I still can't believe it. Can't get my head around that. I can't believe it."

After stumbling around the court in disbelief, Murray made the famous climb up to the players' box, saving his first hug for coach Ivan Lendl, who he credits with helping him make that final push for glory.

“I think he's always been very honest with me,” Murray said. “He's always told me exactly what he thought. And in tennis, it's not always that easy to do in a playercoach relationship. The player is sometimes the one in charge. I think sometimes coaches are not always that comfortable doing that.

"If I work hard, he's happy," Murray added. "If I don't, he's disappointed, and he'll tell me. And when I've lost matches, last year after the final he told me he was proud of the way I played because I went for it when I had chances. He's got my mentality slightly different going into those sort of matches. He's made me learn more from the losses that I've had than maybe I did in the past.” ■

THERE WAS NO THIRD time lucky for Casey Dellacqua as she suffered her third defeat in a women’s Grand Slam doubles final. Dellacqua and fellow Australian Ashley Barty knocked out fifth seeds Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears and second seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka en route to the final, where they lost to Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai.

The eighth seeds took the first set tiebreak before romping through the second to claim their first Grand Slam title with a 7-6(1) 6-1 victory.

Dellacqua fell at the final hurdle in the 2008 French Open final alongside Francesca Schiavone as well as losing to Italian top seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci with Barty at this year’s Australian Open.

"It's very special because I don't think tennis is popular in Taiwan," said Hsieh. "I'm very proud that I can win this tournament together with my good friend. It's first title for me, for Taiwan, so I think it's big thing [back home]."

In the men’s doubles Bob and Mike Bryan completed the ‘Golden Bryan Slam’ as they beat Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4 in the men’s doubles final. The American twins are the first men in the Open era to hold all four majors.

Meanwhile in the mixed doubles, Canada’s Daniel Nestor won his third Grand Slam mixed doubles title – his 11th in total – with 20-year-old partner Kristina Mladenovic. Playing in only their second tournament together after reaching the French Open final, Nestor and his partner defeated top seeds Bruno Soares and Lisa Raymond 5-7 6-2 8-6.

HSIEH SU-WEI AND PENG SHUAI

“iT’s VeRY sPeCiAl beCAUse i don’T THinK Tennis is PoPUlAR in TAiWAn” hsieh su-Wei

W W W.t e n n i s h e a d. n e t 107

results

final

NEW

INSPIRING THE TENNIS GREATS Every summer brings another exciting Championship at Wimbledon, so why not visit the amazing award-winning Museum, which has a complimentary audio guides in 10 languages, and learn more about the history which inspires the great players, and see John McEnroe’s ‘ghost’ and the original tournament trophies. You may also take the behind the scenes tour of the grounds and explore the home of tennis, including Centre Court, for a truly inspirational experience.

Open Daily 10:00am until 5:00pm Nearest Underground: Southfields Telephone: 020 8946 6131 The Museum Building, The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, Church Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 5AE WIMBLEDON.COM/MUSEUM SUPPORTED BY