2012 Australian Open Preview

2011 Year in Review 1

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WHAT’S INSIDE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

AUSTRALIAN OPEN WOMEN’S PREVIEW

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TV SCHEDULE

SIX YOUNG PLAYERS TO WATCH FOR

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TENNIS NOW NEWS BRIEFS

RACQUET REVIEWS

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ORDER ON THE COURT

SHOE REVIEWS

AUSTRALIAN OPEN MEN’S PREVIEW

RANKINGS

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p.25-28

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Editor

Ted LePak ted@tennisnow.com

Photography

Andy Kentla Natasha Peterson/Corleve Getty Images

Writers

Robert Martin Ann Stark Dennis Bray

Design

Juan Esparza Alberto Capetillo

TennisNow

200 West 39th Street, Suite No. 11 New York, NY 10018 914-595-4211

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Down Under With the Editor

Can you think of a better way to start 2012 than with the Australian Open? Despite the steamy weather, many players have said this is the most relaxed of all of the Grand Slams.

the deal? With the help of Ivan Lendl, his new coach, the third time may be the charm.

Though the players may be relaxed, the world is buzzing with excitement and anticipation!

women’s tennis. Will she win the Australian Open? If her play at the WTA Championships a few months ago is any indication, she is certainly a favorite.

Tennis fans can try to predict the winners, but with so many quality players no one can really tell who will end the fortnight as champion. Novak Djokovic and Kim Clijsters will have to be on top of their game to defend their titles.

In this issue, we preview the men’s and women’s Australian Open. We also have a special feature about Andy Murray, who will certainly have a chip on his shoulder after falling short in the finals two years in a row now. Could this be the year he seals

We also feature Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, a player with the potential to dominate

This magazine wouldn’t be possible without our stellar photographers Mark and Natasha Peterson, as well as Andrzej Kentla and Tony Chang. They always find a way to be in right place at the right time, and they always get us the beautiful shots that are essential in putting together a quality magazine.

Our page designers and writers deserve a special mention as well for their effort they have taken to make this magazine the eye-catcher that it is today.

And finally, I wanted to thank you, the reader. I hope you enjoy our 2012 Australian Open preview issue.

Ted LePak Editor, Tennis Now Magazine

TV SCHEDULE ESPN2 Australian Open TV Schedule (All times Eastern) Sun, Jan 15 6:30 p.m. – 7 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE Mon, Jan 16 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE Tue, Jan 17 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE Wed, Jan 18 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE Thur, Jan 19 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE Fri, Jan 20 9 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE Sat, Jan 21 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE Sun, Jan 22 7 p.m. – 7 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE, Round of 16 Mon, Jan 23 9 p.m. – 2 a.m., Tue 3:30 – 6 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE, Quarterfinals Tue, Jan 24 7 p.m. – 2 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE, Wed 3:30 – 6 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE, Quarterfinals Wed, Jan 25 9:30 p.m. – 2 a.m. Women’s Semifinals ESPN2 LIVE, Thurs 3:30 – 6 a.m. Men’s Semifinal #1 ESPN2 LIVE Thurs, Jan 26 3:30 – 6 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE, Men’s Semifinal #2 Sat, Jan 28 3 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE, Women’s Final Sun, Jan. 29 3 a.m. – 6:30 a.m. ESPN2 LIVE, Men’s Final

Tennis Channel Australian Open TV Schedule (All times Eastern) Monday, Jan. 16, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM LIVE, First Round Tuesday, Jan. 17, 7:00 - 9:00 PM PM LIVE, Second Round Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM LIVE, Second Round Thursday, Jan. 19, 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM LIVE, Third Round Friday, Jan. 20, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM LIVE, Third Round Saturday, Jan. 21, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM LIVE, Round of 16 Sunday, Jan. 22, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM LIVE, Round of 16 Monday, Jan. 23, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM LIVE, Women’s Quarterfinals Tuesday, Jan. 24, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM LIVE, Women’s Quarterfinals Wednesday, Jan. 25, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM LIVE Thursday, Jan. 26, 11:00 PM - 3:00 AM LIVE, Women’s Doubles Final Saturday, Jan. 28, 5:30 AM - 7:30 AM LIVE, Men’s Doubles Final Sunday, Jan. 29, 12:30 AM - 2:30 AM LIVE, Mixed Doubles Final

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TENNIS NOW NEWS BRIEFS Venus Williams... has withdrawn from next week’s Australian Open. She announced her decision on her web site.

She stated that her training and treatment are helping her comeback yet she is not quite ready to return to competition yet. She plans to return to the circuit next month.

Venus also withdrew from her secondround match at her last tournament, the 2011 U.S. Open, saying that she had been diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome.

Sjogren’s syndrome is a systemic autoimmune disease in which immune cells attack and destroy the exocrine glands that produce tears and saliva. Other symptoms include excessive fatigue and aches and pains in muscles and joints.

Williams is reported to be in good shape, but that she wants to make sure that she’s 100 percent healthy before returning.

Venus hopes to play the United States’ Fed Cup tie against Belarus in early February in Worcester.

Tennis legend John McEnroe... thinks Australia’s Bernard Tomic is the most promising young player on the ATP Tour. “Bernard has got more upside than any young guy I see out there,” McEnroe said. “He has developed a great deal. He’s a very savvy player for a young kid. He’s

going to get stronger. That will help him ... he is right there with the young guys as one who can make the breakthrough and win some majors.”

The Radwanska sisters... are tired of playing each other.

After the elder sister, Agnieszka, routed Urszula 6-1, 6-1 at the Apia International Sydney, she said the next time they face off they may just go home instead.

“It’s just the worst feeling playing against your sister, especially because we’re very close and have been practicing together for 17 years and traveling together,” Agnieszka told the Sydney Morning Herald. “Somehow we play again against each other, the fourth time in a row [in the first round]. We said the next time I think we’re just going to pack and go home because this is ridiculous.”

Besides their match in Sydney, the Radwanska sisters faced off at the 2011 US Open and in Eastbourne and Dubai in 2009. All of their four matches were in the first round.

Victoria Azarenka...

competing with Wilson’s new Juice racket.

“The power and spin that I feel with this racket is insane and I look forward to seeing what I can do with it,” said Azarenka. In addition to the Wilson Juice tennis racket, Azarenka will accessorize with the matching new blue Tour tennis bag and exclusive Wilson Emotisorb shock absorber every time she steps on to the court.

In 2011, Azarenka finished at a career high of number three to become the highest-ranked Belarusian player in history, after reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon and the finals at WTA Tour Championships in November. Azarenka has also begun to distinguish herself off the court as a tennis teen idol with her good looks, fashionista ways and engaging Twitter posts.

Without prior notice, Jankovic took the 2012 courts in Fila and not in Anta which had been her clothing sponsor for three years. “I have always been attracted to Fila’s fashion-forward designs and especially appreciate their commitment to infusing our sport with beauty and fashion,” said Jankovic.

US Open winner Samantha Stosur also made an apparel change and substituted her Lacoste tennis clothes with Asics, whose shoes she has been wearing for two years.

and former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic, have signed new endorsement contracts for 2012.

Azarenka says she is looking forward to

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Gear Guide Roger Federer Best Result: Winner (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010) Roger Federer is the most prolific Grand Slam champion in Open Era history. The 30-year-old father of twin girls holds a number of impressive records and he is still a favorite to win any of the four Grand Slam titles. The hard courts of Melbourne suit his all-court game well, as he’s won four of his 16 major titles in Australia.

Six.One 90 BLX As Federer and others continue the search for more feel the Wilson Pro Staff Six.One 90 BLX offers the ultimate in control for advanced players. The new AmpliFeel system improves this classic racquet by filtering out unwanted vibration for the purest feel. The small head, thin beam, and hefty weight scream control to help the Maestro himself dissect his opponents on the court.

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Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Federer expects perfection in his shoe, so Nike recruited legendary designed Tinker Hatfield of the Air Jordan line to create the Zoom Vapor 9 Tour. Engineered for Federer’s desire for the fit and feel of a running shoe combined with the support and stability needed for tennis, this is the best Vapor yet.

Nike Smash Stripe Polo Style meets function as Federer steps on court in his signature Nike Roger Federer Smash Stripe Polo.

Featuring everything under the sun from side vents to no-sew seams to details cut by lasers, this polo looks to bring back the winning tradition.

Dri-Fit UV material makes sure that its wearer stays cool and collected in the scorching sun.

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ORDER ON THE COURT

Pointers from the Pro

by Ian Westerman USPTA Tennis Professional

Excuses, Excuses What a crippling habit making excuses can be. Essentially they are “get out of jail free” card for not performing at our best. Two years ago, I started keeping track of all the excuses that I hear on and off the tennis court. Once I started listening for them, it amazed me how often excuses were used. By the time I stopped working on it, I had identified three main categories of excuse.

“That shot was too easy.”

Wow, do I hate this excuse. If you’ve used it before, I apologize but come on, really? I understand the premise perfectly well but it’s just not legitimate. What this comes down to is focus, people! The easier the shot the less excuse there should be to miss it. If you find yourself getting to the pay off only to dump it into the net on a regular basis, it’s time you start buckling down and really focusing on only two things: the ball and your target. Do not allow any worries or negative thoughts. Conversely, don’t take the easy shot too lightly either and lose concentration only to look away from the ball and shank it off your frame.

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“You jinxed me!”

I hear this one constantly and it drives me crazy. The scenario typically involves a player hitting great shot or participating in a good rally. The other player compliments said player on their accomplishment. Player misses badly on the very next shot and proclaims “Thanks a lot! You jinxed me!”

Once again, this comes down to concentration and focus.

Perhaps it’s human nature but you have to start building up your tolerance for outside distractions and mental weakness. Next time somebody compliments you on a great shot or rally, instead of expecting the worst tell yourself “Darn right! I’m going to keep it up!” Basically whatever we dwell on is going to have a strong possibility of actually occurring. What do you allow your mind to dwell on?

“I didn’t think it was coming over/going in.”

Make a commitment to yourself every time you step onto the practice or competitive court that you will hustle for every ball.

Did I say hustle after every ball that you “think” will be going in play? No, I didn’t. Hustle after every single ball no matter what the circumstance. One of my coaches during my competitive career used to always say “there are no subjective decisions” when it came to going for a tennis ball. When one of my teammates or myself would stand and watch a ball travel out by six inches

“ It doesn’t mat ter how good you become, you will never leave a tennis cour t without mak ing un forced er rors.”

without having moved for it he would become livid. I know you’ve stood there and watched as a ball landed on the line that you had assumed was going outw. So don’t make any subjective decisions on the tennis court, there’s only one response when the tennis ball is hit by your opponent: you WILL move towards the ball. Don’t hesitate or think it’s over, just move every single time. Not only will you start building better habits but more than likely your reaction time and physical speed will increase as well.

In Conclusion What do all three of these excuses have in common? They’re mental errors that were made and the player using them has refused to take personal responsibility for them. As long as you continue to let yourself off the hook with these excuses and others like them your game won’t advance as far as it possibly could. Start taking responsibility for your actions and mistakes. Your game and mental toughness will be better for it!Heading out onto the court I know that errors will occur, and I want their occurrence to affect my emotions and game play as little as possible. Make a conscious effort to practice being positive on the court. It will improve your game.

Break the Cycle Nobody plays well when they’re angry. Ninety-nine percent of the time, getting angry and frustrated becomes a terrible cycle on the court. An error is made,

your emotions go south, the next point is played with a poor attitude and another error is made furthering that lousy outlook on your game and the match. Break the cycle by forming new habits and keeping a positive attitude about you while on the court.

Making Errors It doesn’t matter how good you become, you will never leave a tennis court without making unforced errors. So many tennis players make those inevitable errors and immediately focus on how stupid they were to make a mistake, as if they’re above it and are too good for such things. This kind of attitude will set you up for frustration and a constant feeling of failure. When errors happen, immediately give yourself positive feedback. Tell yourself specifically what you’re going to do better next time you get that same shot or are in that same situation on the court. It’s not the end of the world. Errors are all just part of the game of tennis.

Nobody plays without them.

“ Er rors are all just par t o f t he game...

Nobody plays wi t hou t t hem.”

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2012 AUSTRALIAN

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N OPEN PREVIEW

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Men’s Preview Will Novak Djokovic defend his title in Melbourne?

One year ago, Novak Djokovic waltzed into Australia and destroyed the competition. He won 19 out of 20 sets, only losing a second-set tiebreaker to World No. 81 Ivan Dodig, in rout to his second Australian Open crown. He then went on to record one of the most unbelievable tennis seasons to date. He wouldn’t lose his first match of the year until the French Open semifinals when Roger Federer finally brought the Serb back down to earth with a four-set victory. That’s five months without losing and reaching 41-0, with seven of the wins in that stretch being against Rafael Nadal or Federer. So, as we look forward to this year’s Aussie Open, are there any signs that lead to someone else raising the trophy come January 29th?

In 2011, Djokovic had outstanding records against the top players including a 6-0 record over Rafael Nadal. All six wins came in the finals of tournaments, including the U.S. Open and Wimbledon majors. If that isn’t enough, The Serb also held a 4-1 record over Roger Federer, dismissing him in the semifinals of both the Australian Open and U.S. Open.

If the field has any hope at all, they’ll need to use Djokovic’s late-year stumble to gain any kind of confidence. The Serbian lost more in his last week of play than he did in the first seven months of the year. With losses to David Ferrer and countryman Janko Tipsarevic at the ATP World Tour Finals, Djokovic seemed to have

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been worn down and just plain tired when the going got tough.

That won’t be the case in Australia though.

After passing up the warm up tournaments to the Australian Open, Djokovic looks ready to go to defend his title. He did play in the exhibition tournament in Qatar, where he looked just as impressive as last year. He defeated Federer and Ferrer easily, taking the title with no problem. If his play in Qatar is any sample of what the year has to bring, we may see the same stellar performance as 2011 carry over into the Australian Open and 2012.

How will Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal respond?

Roger Federer ended the 2011 campaign on a 22-match winning streak and didn’t lose after his gut-wrenching semifinal loss to Novak Djokovic at the U.S. Open. Labeled by many as being too old and out of his prime to compete for the number one spot again, the Swiss has other ideas. Last year, Fed was ousted by eventual champion and World No. 1 Djokovic in straight sets. With his last title in Australia coming in 2010, Federer will be looking to reclaim glory Down Under.

One thing we must watch out for is how his back will respond after dropping out of Doha with apparent back spasms. If hindered by an injury, it isn’t likely Federer will be able to get by a healthy Djokovic or Nadal. Having beaten Djokovic on a big stage

Six Compelling First-Round Matchups Janko Tipsarevic SRB (9) v. Dmitry Tursunov RUS Viktor Troicki SRB (19) v. Juan Carlos Ferrer ESP Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA (6) v. Denis Istomin UZB Mardy Fish USA (8) v. Gilles Muller LUX Fernando Verdasco ESP (22) v. Bernard Tomic AUS Jurgen Melzer AUT (31) v. Ivo Karlovic CRO

on clay at Roland Garros, the Swiss still has big game capability and can certainly beat anyone in the world when playing well.

Rafael Nadal will have both physical and mental obstacles to overcome in order to win in Australia. Djokovic flat out beat the Spaniard like a drum in 2011, winning all six matches in finals.

Nadal admitted that he must get past the mental edge Djokovic has gained, and go back to playing tennis. Always a fierce competitor on clay, Nadal has found it more difficult to win Grand slams on something other than dirt. He currently has won 6 titles at the French Open, 1 at the U.S. Open, 2 at Wimbledon, and 1 in Australia. His Australian Open victory came back in 2009, which was his only major title that year. If he is to return to previous form, he’ll first have to redefine his tennis game and move forward with confidence that he can win another major.

Andy Murray has been on the brink of a Grand Slam title for years now, never breaking through when it mattered most. His career has been tainted with multiple disappointments in big events. The Scot looks to reverse that trend as 2012 gets underway, with his game looking better than ever after having won Brisbane fairly easily. If anything, he should give the top guys a run for their money.

Who are the underdogs?

While most people point to Federer, Djokovic, or Nadal to win the year’s first Grand Slam, we all know dark horses will come galloping into Melbourne with high hopes. A couple players to look for include

the big hitting Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and scrappy Spaniard David Ferrer. These guys had exceptional 2011 campaigns and believe it’s anyone’s match when they step out on court, no matter who is across the net.

Tsonga showed great strength and resiliency as he battled past Federer at Wimbledon last year after trailing two sets to none, showing he has what it takes to win big matches. The Frenchman began the year right with a victory over Gael Monfils in the finals of Doha, winning his first title of 2012. Look for Tsonga to make a huge impact in all of this year’s slams, and don’t be surprised if he makes a run for the title in Australia.

David Ferrer was highly impressive in 2011, especially to begin the year. He won Aukland easily, although he wasn’t ever really tested by a top player. A few weeks later he stepped into the spotlight and played dominantly at the Australian Open, beating Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals in straight sets before being stopped dead in his tracks by Andy Murray in the semifinals. He also won the title in Acapulco and scored wins over Murray and Djokovic at the ATP World Tour Finals late in the year. With a big game and being in great shape, don’t count Ferrer out of the running for the Aussie Open title.

With big names and big hitters galore for this year’s opening Grand Slam, we can expect some great tennis and a few upsets. All we can do is sit back and enjoy the tennis Down Under.

­– Dennis Bray 17

Andy Murra

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ray

At the start of every season, tennis fans wonder if (or when) Andy Murray will win his first Grand Slam title. Just before the 2012 season began, the 24-year-old Scot hired eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl as his coach. This new partnership could bring Murray the major title he’s longed for.

Sometimes it is difficult to believe that World No. 4 Andy Murray is already considered a huge underachiever at the age of 24. In a way, the Scot brought this upon himself by catapulting up the rankings from No. 407 into the top 20 in only 20 months after turning professional in 2005.

Since Murray cracked this barrier in August of 2006, he has not dropped outside of the top 20 even after a major wrist injury the next year.

Showing even more impressive consistency and results, Murray has not been as low as No. 6 in over three years.

Murray has collected 22 titles, including eight ATP Masters 1000 events, but what he is continually remembered for are his three grand slam finals where he has failed to win even a single set. To make matters worse, even though he is from Scotland, he has to contend with the pressure of Great Britain’s lack of a men’s Grand Slam champion since John Lloyd in 1936.

For better or worse, the major events will always be the golden standard of measure when it comes to sport immortality and Murray has fallen short consistently. He has made the quarterfinals or better 10 times in his last 16 grand slams, but has failed to capture that first title.

There are many theories with regards to Murray’s game and why he has not held the trophy so far in his career. These range from mental fragility and lack of fitness to poor shot selection in the big moments.

That’s where a coach comes in, and Murray’s recent coaching agreement with eight-time slam champion Ivan Lendl could be just the thing needed. A few years ago, when Murray teamed up with Brad Gilbert, many expected instant success, but the partnership was not what Murray needed at the time.

Even though no one can argue the strategic genius that Brad Gilbert is, it was never a lack of strategy or finding an opponent’s weakness that hindered Murray. Often times, Murray became his own worst enemy, reverting back into typical patterns and allowing his opponent to dictate the match.

If Lendl as a coach is in any way similar to how he was as a player, this will be an exciting time for Murray as an injection of Lendl’s killer instinct would serve him well. Lendl may not have been the most exciting player, but he was extremely effective in executing his plan.

After watching Murray absolutely destroy Rafael Nadal in the third set of the final in Tokyo last year, I have no doubts that he possesses the physical tools necessary to win. The question is whether or not he has the mentality.

He has shown that he can beat the top three players, with a 17-25 record that is largely skewed by 13 losses at the hands of Nadal. The real problem for Murray is that until he wins a grand slam, he will be labeled as an underachiever, and to date, his slam record of 2-9 against the trio that has captured 29 of the last 32 grand slams is simply not going to get it done.

The Scot has had success in the ATP Masters 1000 events, but winning a Grand Slam is as much about aggression as it is about consistency. The later rounds of a grand slam have been decided by the player willing to take the most risks.

When Murray is able to tap into a more aggressive stance, he is capable of holding the balance of the match in his own hands rather than scrambling to chase an elusive win. If nothing else, Murray should learn the thing that made Lendl a champion; that focused relentless desire to win.

­– Robert Martin

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Gear Guide Victoria Azarenka Best Result: Quarterfinalist (2010) Azarenka is one of the biggest hitters on the WTA Tour. She ended 2011 at a career-high No. 3, which she achieved by winning three titles and reaching the final of the year-end WTA Championships. Much is expected of the 22-year-old Belarusian, who is a top contender to win a Grand Slam title this year.

Wilson Juice 100 BLX Azarenka is known for her heavy topspin ground strokes, which may be why she recently switched to the Wilson Juice 100 BLX. The racquet’s 100 square inch head size and open string pattern provide plenty of power and spin from the baseline, and the head light balance allows for exceptional maneuverability.

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Nike Lunar Speed 3 Azarenka is one of the best athletes on the WTA Tour and her game is well complemented by the lightweight, fast and flexible Nike Women’s Lunar Speed 3. The shoe features Flywire and Lunarlon technology which provides ultra lightweight support and extreme traction and durability.

Tie Break Graphic Tennis Tank The Belarusian will take on all comers in Melbourne in the cool and colorful Nike Women’s Tie Break Graphic Tennis Tank, which features eye-catching graphic side panels and an open back silhouette.

Made with Nike’s Dri-Fit technology, this tennis top is well suited for a champion.

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Women’s Preview

With several of Melbourne’s top contenders plagued with injuries, the women’s draw is wide open for younger players to break through. Injured Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams are hanging in there, but older sister Venus and 10th seeded Andrea Petkovic have withdrawn from the tournament.

Defending champion Kim Clijsters has struggled with injuries in the past year and, until Brisbane, hadn’t competed in over five months. She withdrew from the tournament due to a hip injury forcing her out of the semi finals. Before pulling out of Brisbane though, 28-year-old Clijsters did defeat No. 1 ranked Caroline Wozniacki in an exhibition match in December. Rewind to last year’s Australian Open and it seemed comeback queen Clijsters was on top of her game. She defeated Li Na in the finals to claim her second consecutive Grand Slam title.

Clijsters didn’t compete against the previous year’s champion since five-time champ Serena Williams was forced to withdraw from last year’s Australian Open with a foot injury. And this year, Williams will enter her most successful Grand Slam nursing a separate injury. She withdrew last week at Brisbane with a badly sprained ankle. But 13th ranked Williams has still won more Aussie titles than any other player she’s up against. She’s lost only twice since winning her first title in 2003.

Maria Sharapova, who won her last major at the 2008 Australian Open, also pulled out of Brisbane with an ankle injury. Last year at the Australian Open, the former champ made her exit in the fourth round after a straight sets loss to Andrea Petkovic.

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“(Kvi tova) has t he weapons and a few ex t ra t hings t he o t hers don’t ” Top ranked Caroline Wozniacki, who has yet to win a Grand Slam, plans to compete in Melbourne despite a recently sustained wrist injury. After falling to Agnieszka Radwanska on Wednesday, Wozniacki cited a strained wrist that she will quickly undergo treatment for. Wozniacki, who was also seeded No. 1 at last year’s Australian Open, reached the semi-finals only to fall to Li Na in three sets. Despite being ranked at World No. 1, the highest ranked player Wozniacki has beaten herself is No. 17 Marion Bartoli.

Facing a roster of wounded women, a younger player like Petra Kvitova could be poised for a win. Second ranked Kvitova enjoyed a breakout year in 2011, winning her first Grand Slam title and finishing the year with an impressive 60-13 record. Kvi-

Six Compelling First-Round Matchups Lucie Safarova CZE (24) v. Christina McHale USA Li Na CHN (5) v. Ksenia Pervak KAZ Victoria Azarenka BLR (3) v. Heather Watson GBR Tsvetana Pironkova BUL v. Sania Mirza IND Samantha Stosur AUS (6) v. Sorona Cirstea ROU Petra Kvitova CZE (2) v. Vera Dushevina RUS

tova also won the WTA Championships in Istanbul, led the Czech Republic to a Fed Cup victory, and was named Player of the Year.

Tennis analyst Pam Shriver told ESPN her eye is on Kvitova. “She has the weapons and a few extra things the others don’t,” Shriver explained, “She’s left-handed and has the power. The way she won Wimbledon makes you think she can be a consistent champion.”

Twenty-two-year-old Victoria Azarenka also saw her most successful year in 2011. Although she hasn’t won a major, this year’s Australian Open presents a chance for 3rd ranked Azarenka to continue to prove herself as a player.

2011 proved to be a breakout year for one of the tour’s older contenders as well. 27-year-old Australia native Samantha Stosur captured her first major title at the US Open by defeating heavily favored Serena Williams. But now Stosur will enter Oz after two early exits in Sydney and Brisbane. She’s somewhat optimistic, saying “I’d like to think it’s all going to come together for me…I had two pretty disappointing tournaments, but I’ve also had that in previous years and got to Melbourne and played better and handled it better.”

She may be on the brink of turning 30, but Li Na seems to be in good form after reaching the Sydney International finals with a win over 21-year-old Kvitova on Thursday. Li reached the Australian Open finals last year, and went on to win the French Open. After losing in the second round at Wimbledon Li’s performance hit a low spot, but it seems she may be back in the running. Before losing to Clijsters, Li Na became the first Chinese women to reach

the finals of a Grand Slam at last year’s Australian Open. But Mary Carillo of the Tennis Channel told ESPN that she’s not counting on a win from 5th ranked Li this year. She added, “I’m hoping the younger players will start coming through.”

The Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup is up for grabs at this year’s Austalian Open. With a host of previous years’ champions ailing or out of commission, the first Grand Slam of 2012 presents the perfect opportunity for less seasoned players to make a name for themselves.

­– Ann Stark

“ I had t wo pre t t y disappoin t ing tour namen ts, bu t I’ve also had t ha t in previous years and go t to Melbour ne and played be t ter and handled i t be t ter.” ­– S aman t ha S tosur 23

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Will 2012 be Kvitova’s year?

Winning a Grand Slam title is considered the most important achievement for a tennis player and, for many fans, a requirement for reaching the No. 1 ranking.

Yet in the last four years, women’s tennis has had three No. 1 women (Jelena Jankovic, Dinara Safina and Caroline Wozniacki) who reached the top spot without winning a major title.

This left some fans, including myself, clamoring for a player who has the game to dominate the sport; someone who could be the defining face of this generation of tennis players just as Steffi Graf was in the 1990s and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova were in the 1980s.

At Wimbledon last summer, we may have seen the genesis of a new champion, a player who not only has overwhelming power from the baseline but deft touch at the net as well.

This player is Petra Kvitova, a tall and unassuming 21-year-old from the Czech Republic.

We got an early glimpse of Kvitova’s potential at Wimbledon in 2010 when she beat Victoria Azarenka and Wozniacki en route to reaching the semifinal as the World No. 62. Although she struggled to put wins together for the rest of the year, it was obvious Kvitova was had a lot of upside.

She wasted little time in getting her 2011 season started, as she immediately won the Brisbane International and she beat Samantha Stosur to reach the Australian Open quarterfinal.

She also won her second title of the year in Paris, where she beat Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters in the final.

Kvitova is capable of beating anyone on any surface, as she proved when she took out three top 10 players en route to winning in Madrid on clay.

She did fall to eventual French Open champion Li Na at Roland Garros, but she followed that up by losing two sets on the way to winning her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon.

The burden of being a Grand Slam champion seemed to weigh heavily on her, as she struggled

to win consecutive matches in the American hard court season. But she regrouped in time for the year-end WTA Championships, where she won the title without losing a match.

When she’s on her game, Kvitova is capable of taking the match away from her opponent. In that, I mean that she does an excellent job of putting her opponent on the defensive with her relentless ground strokes. What makes the Czech an anomaly in the women’s game is she excels at moving forward to the net, which allows her to shorten the points by putting away a weak shot with a volley.

That’s not even factoring in the Czech’s lefthanded serve. She does a great job of using her slice serve to open up the court, which she can use to take immediate control of a point.

Don’t get me wrong, Kvitova isn’t a perfect player. Her high-risk game can certainly misfire and she’s prone to lapses in concentration, which is why it’s not unusual to see her lose the second set after dominating the first. At six feet tall, she’s also not the most natural mover.

What elevates her above the “streaky player who could beat anyone when she’s playing her best” category is how she manages her patches of poor play. She doesn’t seem to get discouraged by losing a lead or missing an easy shot. Instead, she sticks to her game plan and continues to hit her shots, which is an asset because she has no room to be passive.

Kvitova has plenty of room for improvement in all parts of her game, and as she continues to mature as a player and a person she will have fewer lapses in concentration.

Sure, the future is always uncertain. But if Kvitova maximizes her talent, she could win multiple Grand Slam titles and claim the No. 1 ranking.

In fact, she could be the kind of No. 1 tennis fans have been waiting for.

­– James Waterson 25

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Young Players to Watch For

Milos Raonic (CAN)

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)

Cedrik Marcel-Stebe (GER)

Age: 21

Age: 20

Age: 21

Current Rank: 25

Current Rank: 76

Current Rank: 83

Titles: San Jose (2011); Chennai (2012)

Titles: None

Titles: None

Raonic earned the 2011 ATP Newcomer of the Year award in November for good reason. He started 2011 as the World No. 156 and has since climbed into the top 30 after only one full year on the tour. The Canadian is already one of the best servers in the world and he plays a powerful style best suited to hard and grass courts. He’s already flexed his muscle against the game’s best, as he’s beaten top 10 opponents five times.

For years, the 20-year-old Bulgarian has been compared to Roger Federer because of his smooth one-handed backhand, tremendous forehand and incredible variety. Last year, Dimitrov reached a career high of No. 52, but he lost compelling matches early at Wimbledon and the US Open to JoWilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils.

The 21-year-old German started 2011 ranked No. 404 and has seen a meteoric rise by the end of the year.

His breakthrough came in Stuttgart, where he beat Nikolay Davydenko, a former top 10 player, and French Open quarterfinalist Fabio Fognini. He beat Davydenko and Juan Carlos Ferrero the next week in Hamburg and he wrapped up the season by winning the ATP Challenger Tour Finals.

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Tennis fans love to ask “Who’s next?” These six young players may very well answer that question, and there’s no better stage to make an impact than at a Grand Slam tournament. These players are some of the most promising youngsters on the professional tour, so make sure to keep an eye on them during the Australian Open and throughout the year.

Polona Hercog (SLO)

Christina McHale (USA)

Laura Robson (GBR)

Age: 20

Age: 19

Age: 17

Current Rank: 36

Current Rank: 43

Current Rank: 133

Titles: Bastad (2011)

Titles: None

Titles: None

Hercog has already found some success on the tour as she’s beaten Andrea Petkovic, Flavia Pennetta and Nadia Petrova, and she reached the final at the WTA Premier tournament in Rome.

At 6 feet tall, Hercog serves well, has a good forehand and can mix in the occasional drop shot from the baseline.

She’s already defeated some of the best and there’s no reason to think she can’t make improve on that record this year.

McHale made headlines during the US Open series, when she beat World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in Cincinnati and Svetlana Kuznetsova in New Haven. She followed that up with a three-set win against Marion Bartoli at the US Open, proving that her earlier success was no fluke. The 19-year-old is an excellent mover and she’s got a powerful forehand, two qualities that will help her continue her ascent in 2012.

The 17-year-old lefty impressed at last year’s Wimbledon when she gave Maria Sharapova all she could handle in the second round. She’s already 5’11” and she excels at taking the ball early and hitting it with authority, especially on her forehand. The youngster has plenty of talent and she’ll only get better as she gets older.

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Stella McCartney Sebellica If the performance of adidas footwear was not enough for Wozniacki, the fashion-forward style of the Stella McCartney Sebellica is sure to impress. Designed to be lightweight and supportive, the top features plenty of mesh to keep the quick Dane cool while the adiPrene+ cushioning in the forefoot provides extra propulsion for even greater speed.

Stella McCartney Performance Dress Wozniacki will be sprinting around Melbourne dressed in the adidas by Stella McCartney dress in Tomato Red. A flounce skirt and meshpatterned bodice keep the dress fun and fashionable while remaining functional for the style-loving player.

With the heat of Australia beating down, ClimaLite fabric keeps Wozniacki fresh and cool.

Gear Guide Caroline Wozniacki Best Result: Semifinalist (2011) The Danish World No. 1 enters the Australian Open seeking her first Grand Slam title. She’s come close in the past, as she reached the final of the US Open in 2009, but she hasn’t reached a major final since then. Wozniacki is known for her consistency and mental toughness, but she is often criticized for her defensive style of play.

Yonex VCORE 100S Three-dimensional control is what Wozniacki’s racquet, the Yonex VCORE 100S, is all about. The 3D Vector shaft is engineered for rigidity and stability and it is designed for players who generate extreme amounts of spin. Perhaps this racquet is just what the World No. 1 needs to win her first Grand Slam title.

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RACQUET REVIEWS As with every year, the new season brings with it new gear, and this year is one of the largest launches that will be seen all over the Australian Open in the hands of the pros. From a new signature Roger Federer frame to new Head weaponry designed for the needs of Andy Murray and Robin Soderling, there is no shortage of

options. These are just a few of the January releases that we tried, and there is plenty to like in each one.

Whether you have a compact swing or you generate pro-level racquet head speed, the right racquet for your game is out there, you just need to find it.

Wilson Pro Staff Six-One 90 BLX Pros: Control, Stability, Look Like Roger Federer Cons: Heavy, Small Sweet Spot, Demands Perfection Rundown: If you want to look like you use the same racquet as Federer, here it is. Of course, chances are that he will be more successful with it, but it is still a good option for stronger players. The high level of control and low power level means it will perform best in the hands of precise ball-strikers that can consistently hit the center. This racquet is balanced well towards the handle, promoting aggressive play and those that attack the net. Fans of the former model should find a comfortable transition as the changes are minimal.

Wilson Pro Staff Six-One 95 BLX Pros: Control, Easy Spin, Moderate Weight Cons: Low Power, Small Sweet Spot Rundown: A friendlier version of Federer signature frame, the larger head size definitely increases the forgiveness, but this is still very much a control racquet. One of the best features of this racquet is the 11 ounce unstrung weight, giving it plenty of room for customization if needed. Wilson finally answered the call to create something lighter and with less power than the Six-One 95 BLX, and it has been receiving great reviews since.

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Head Youtek IG Radical MP Pros: High Control, Moderate Weight, Versatile Cons: Muted Feel, Dense String Pattern Rundown: The Radical line has been around for years, and there’s a good reason for that. Quite simply, this is one of the most versatile racquets around. Sitting around 11 ounces strung, this frame is best known for having a great amount of control without the weight normally associated with it. In addition, the lighter weight results in plenty of racquet head speed for access to power. The denser string pattern inhibits spin a little, but there is a reason that this racquet line is still around after nearly two decades.

Yonex EZONE Xi 98 Pros: Huge Sweet Spot, Spin, Surprising Power Cons: Tapered Beam Not For Everyone Rundown: The new racquet of Ana Ivanovic, this frame offers the greatest amount of control of the EZONE family. The beam width ranges between 19mm in the throat to 24mm at the sides of head which does take some getting used to. The benefit is that you get some extra power and stability from the stiffer section at the head, but with a more flexible throat. At just over 11.5 ounces strung, the combination of control and forgiveness is sure to appeal to a wide variety of players.

Prince EXO3 Rebel 98 Pros: Moderate Weight, Control, Versatility Cons: Same EXO3 Technology, Low Power Rundown: Much more versatile than the EXO3 Rebel 95, this version not only features a larger head, but a significant weight drop, bringing it in line with most tweener frames. Overall the racquet is extremely versatile thanks to the stability at the baseline while remaining maneuverable at the net. One knock against this frame is that it does not promise anything revolutionary. The EXO3 technology is effective in increasing the size of the sweet spot for greater forgiveness and power, so it is tough to argue with Prince’s thinking of sticking with what works.

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SHOE REVIEWS It is barely into the new year and we already have the major players in footwear vying for supremacy. adidas got off to a fast start by releasing their adiPower Barricade 7.0 late in 2011, but most recently, Nike fired back with new shoes for their top stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. As each generation looks to improve on past successes, the manufacturers must take calculated risks with regards to change. While Nike

and adidas fight it out for the top spot on the pro tour, other brands like New Balance are doing an excellent job outfitting the players of nearby courts. The lightest shoe reviewed so far this year, the New Balance 1005 replaces the extremely popular 1004 with even more mesh without sacrificing tour-level stability. There are plenty of footwear introductions still scheduled for 2012, and the first line has certainly set the bar high.

adidas adiPower barricade 7.0 Pros: Stability, Durability, Cushioning Cons: Heavy, Not Very Breathable, Price Rundown: If players were scared away by the narrow fit of the barricade 6.0, the newest 7.0 is sure to bring them right back. Returning to a medium width, a seamless upper results in the most flexible barricade to date, while the new flex point and claw design are specifically engineered for maximum comfort and stability. Backed by adidas’ six-month durability guarantee, this shoe will take a beating and keep your feet feeling great if you can spring the $125 cost.

adidas adiPower barricade 7.0 Team 2 Pros: Cushioning, Affordability, Ventilation Cons: No Durability Guarantee Rundown: It’s not the barricade 7.0, but it’s very close at a lower price point. The upper actually has more mesh, so the Team model is both lighter and more breathable. In order to achieve these, a small amount of stability is sacrificed, but what makes the Team noticeably lighter is the thinner outsole. While it does not come with the same six-month durability guarantee, adidas did make sure to reinforce the high wear areas. For players that want tour-level performance at an economic price, the barricade 7.0 Team 2 could be the shoe of choice.

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Nike Air Max Courtballistec 4.3 Pros: Stability, Support, Durability Cons: Heavy, Price Rundown: Nike must have felt that their previous Courtballistec 3.3 was a good shoe, because they made only minor changes to the newest edition.

The largest, and most noticeable, change was to the Drag-On 2X overlay to a design that allows greater ventilation. The Air Max heel cushioning provides the maximum in comfort in Nike shoes, while Lunarlon remains in the forefoot. A six-month outsole durability guarantee helps to soften the blow of that $130 price tag for the dedicated players.

Nike Vapor 9 Tour Pros: Lightweight, Adaptive Fit, Tinker Hatfield Design Cons: Price, Durability Rundown: When it comes to legends in the shoe world, few are bigger than Tinker Hatfield, the designer of many Air Jordan basketball shoes. In order to keep the weight down without sacrificing stability the previous versions Flywire has been replaced by the adaptive fit system, which offers greater flexibility and customizability for the wearer. The fit is engineered around Roger Federer’s preference for the fit of a running shoe with the stability and support needed for tennis movements. The lack of a durability guarantee in a shoe with a hefty $130 price tag might cause some to shy away, but for lightweight performance, this is tough to beat.

New Balance 1005 Pros: Lightweight, Cushioning, Durability Guarantee Cons: Love Or Hate Appearance Rundown: When the 1187 came out last year as the new flagship shoe, fans of the 1004 were in dismay about what to do. The answer was simply to wait for the update, the 1005. Featuring a super lightweight mesh and synthetic upper, this shoe combines an impressive amount of ventilation with widely surprising stability. At a weight less than even the Nike Vapor 9 Tour, the 1005 gets its stability from a combination of the S-Curve TPU piece, the Stability Web, and the Internal Support System. The result is a fast shoe that offers more durability and stability that one would expect.

One of the most promising shoes of 2012, it is a shame that it may not receive the credit it deserves because of its look.

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RANKINGS

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Djokovic, Novak Nadal, Rafael Federer, Roger Murray, Andy Ferrer, David Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried Berdych, Tomas Fish, Mardy Tipsarevic, Janko Almagro, Nicolas Del Potro, Juan Martin Simon, Gilles Soderling, Robin Dolgopolov, Alexandr Monfils, Gael Roddick, Andy Isner, John Gasquet, Richard Lopez, Feliciano Cilic, Marin Troicki, Viktor Mayer, Florian Wawrinka, Stanislas Verdasco, Fernando Raonic, Milos

SRB ESP SUI GBR ESP FRA CZE USA SRB ESP ARG FRA SWE UKR FRA USA USA FRA ESP CRO SRB GER SUI ESP CAN

13,630 9,595 8,010 7,380 4,925 4,335 3,700 2,965 2,655 2,380 2,315 2,210 2,120 2,030 1,970 1,880 1,800 1,765 1,755 1,665 1,655 1,630 1,615 1,550 1,460

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Wozniacki, Caroline Kvitova, Petra Azarenka, Victoria Sharapova, Maria Li, Na Stosur, Samantha Zvonareva, Vera Radwanska, Agnieszka Bartoli, Marion Petkovic, Andrea Schiavone, Francesca Clijsters, Kim Williams, Serena Jankovic, Jelena Lisicki, Sabine Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia Peng, Shuai Cibulkova, Dominika Kuznetsova, Svetlana Pennetta, Flavia Hantuchova, Daniela Ivanovic, Ana Goerges, Julia Vinci, Roberta Safarova, Lucie

DEN CZE BLR RUS CHN AUS RUS POL FRA GER ITA BEL USA SRB GER RUS CHN SVK RUS ITA SVK SRB GER ITA CZE

7485 7190 6520 6440 5720 5585 5435 5250 4710 4500 4040 3361 3300 3115 2903 2795 2790 2755 2706 2660 2295 2260 2225 2125 2060

Adizero Feather All Court A flashy shoe for a flashy player, the adidas Adizero Feather All Court shoe features an extended Torsion Sysem for midfoot and forefoot stability without weighing the shoe down. The shoe also has adidas’ AdiWear 6 outsole for durability, which will keep up with Tsonga’s dynamic athleticism.

Gear Guide Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Best Result: Finalist (2008) The Frenchman is known as one of the most dynamic players on the ATP Tour for good reason. He has a powerful game and is capable of producing stunning shots from seemingly impossible positions. Tsonga’s style of play is well suited to the hard courts of the Australian Open, as he reached the final in 2008.

adidas AdiZero Tennis Crew

Babolat Aeropro Drive Plus GT

Tsonga will compete in the orange adidas Men’s Adizero Tennis Crew, a top that complements the Frenchman’s flashy style. The shirt features ventilated ClimaCool and ForMotion technology for increased ventilation and a fit designed for an athlete’s movements.

It’s no wonder Tsonga uses the Babolat Aeropro Drive Plus GT as it’s a powerful racquet that helps its user generate plenty of spin. It also has a smooth feel thanks to the racquet’s Cortex shaft and Woofer grommet system. If that wasn’t enough, the aeromodular profile provides increased racquet head speed.

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