2011 Year in Review 1
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WHAT’S INSIDE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
FEDERER: THE MAN OF 1,000 MATCHES
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p.30-31
AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY BY DAY
WHAT HAPPENED TO WONDER WOMAN?
p.10-21
p.32-33
DJOKOVIC V. NADAL INSTANT CLASSIC
ORDER ON THE COURT
p.22-23
p.34-35
QUEEN VICTORIA BEGINS HER REIGN
RACQUET AND SHOE REVIEWS
GRADING THE FIELD
RANKINGS
p.24-25
p.38-41 p.42
p.26-28
Editor
Theodore L. LePak ted@tennisnow.com
Photography
Mark Peterson/Corleve
Writers
Dennis Bray Nick Georgandis Erik Gudris Robert Martin Chris Oddo Erwin Ong Elena Scuro
Design
Alberto Capetillo Juan Esparza
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Down Under With the Editor Theodore L. LePak Editor, Tennis Now Magazine
You can say anything you want about the Ausralian Open, but you can’t say it wasn’t entertaining. We had long matches, big upsets, bad calls from the umpires, and a racquet smashing tirade for the ages. In this edition, we have packed in some really good content from down under. We have a recap on the day by day highlights of the tournament, some feature pieces on some of the top players, and at the end we grade the player’s performances throughout the tournament. We have some truly eye catching photographs at this year’s Australian Open, all of which we credit to the gifted eye of Mark Peterson. Mark took well over
2,500 quality photos for us, and we can’t express how grateful we are to have him on board with us. While I’m expressing my gratitude I’d like to thank my writing staff consisting of Rob Martin, Erik Gudris, Chris Oddo, Elena Scuro, Erwin Ong, Dennis Bray, and Nick Georgandis. You guys pumped out a ton of content over the past two weeks, and made my job easier. Also, a big thanks to my graphics team who work wonders to make this magazine so intriguing. I hope the rest of the year will be as exciting as it has been thus far! The team here at Tennis Now thrives on feedback and we appreciate anything you guys have to say. I hope you enjoy the issue, and thanks again for reading!
Behind the Lens Letter from the photographer
The orange Sun is featured prominently in the Australian Open logo - a gentle reminder that it is literally one of the hottest grand slams around not only by a dissection of statistics but also by a climate that translates to searing court temperatures approaching 55 degrees Celsius presenting an unfathomable challenge not only to elite players but photographers alike. If you have a vitamin D deficiency, the Australian Open is the remedy.
belting chants between points. The Djokovic Nadal final was just this moment. It was simply one of the most memorable matches I’ve ever photographed where even a seasoned photographer would not have been able to keep the emotions of this record breaking game from affecting their trigger finger. It was electrical and magical all summed up in those fractions of a second captured before and after championship point.
I’ll be the first to concede there are moments when I feel like resting my camera, painting my face in disorienting colours, a couple of beers in one arm, a random stranger in another
Living in Melbourne, the sports capital of Australia, it is both an honour and special privilege to be part of this grand tournament, down under.
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Gear Guide Andy Murray Best Result: Finalist (2010, 2011) 2012 Result: Semifinalist Armed with new coach, Ivan Lendl, Andy Murray made significant strides towards achieving his potential, improving on his dismal three-set defeat in the 2011 final. One of the best returners in the game, Murray occasionally fails to take advantage of his strengths and remains content to extend points rather than transitioning to offense, a habit that he continues to work on changing.
adidas adipower barricade 7.0 For the latest in performance footwear, Andy Murray kicked off the season equipped with the all-new Adidas Adipower Barricade 7.0 Tennis Shoes. Featuring a fully redesigned upper, and technology like AdiPrene and AdiPrene+, the Adipower Barricade 7.0’s promise to deliver the best in comfort, flexibility and performance.
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Updated for 2012, the Radical line is known as one of the most versatile, a perfect complement to Murray’s constantly changing game. Designed to provide plenty of stability and spin, it allows its user to maximize their strengths. The d3O material and Innegra fibers combine to offer a dynamic feel that matches the needs of the player at that moment, perfect for complete players like Murray.
The Adidas Adipower Crew delivers powerful style, with a two-tone printed design. It’s packed with lightweight performance benefits like ClimaCool and ForMotion technology to help Murray play at his best.
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Day 01 Tomic: The Comeback Kid Each year the first round of a Grand Slam results in at least one intriguing (and unfortunate) match up. This year it came at the hands of Fernando Verdasco, who drew Australian teenager Bernard Tomic in the opening round. Tomic has turned in some solid results in tournaments, making the quarterfinals at Wimbledon last year, but Verdasco was making the match look over-hyped as he captured the first two sets. As the sun of Melbourne continued to beat down on the players, Verdasco began to lose the range on his ground strokes. With surgical precision and cunning play, Tomic took advantage of his opportunity, moving the Spaniard around the court for his first ever victory coming back from two sets down for a 4-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 win. With the career of Lleyton Hewitt winding down, Australia is understandably on the lookout for another star to contend for the highest honors, and while he’s not there yet, Tomic could be the answer that the Australians need on the men’s side.
Day 02 Stosur Cracks Under Pressure If 2011 was any indicator, Samantha Stosur had more than just Australian pressure on her shoulders when she stepped on court against Sorana Cirstea. Of the three previous Grand Slam champions, they went on to win a combined two matches in their following Slam. Unfortunately for Stosur, she was unable to overcome the pressure of her home crowd expectations and a flurry of errors as she fell to Cirstea 7-6 (2), 6-3. She looked sharp with her new clothing and shoe sponsor, Asics, but her ground strokes lacked their typical sting as she sprayed 33 errors. It was a disappointing return to Australia for the woman that made a big impact by becoming the first Australian woman in 31 years to win a Grand Slam title. Cirstea, who has struggled since a quarterfinal appearance at Roland Garros in 2009, improved on her previous best in Melbourne when she fell in the third round this year.
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2012 AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY BY DAY
Day 03 Isner’s Tainted Victory It may not match up with his 2010 epic at Wimbledon, but John Isner had another long day to get into the third round over David Nalbandian. Unfortunately for tennis, this 4 hour 41 minute battle will forever be marred by the damage that chair umpire Kader Nouni inflicted. Serving at 8-8 in the fifth set and facing a break point, Isner rained down another serve up the middle which was immediately called out, only to be overruled by Nouni, bringing the crowd to a roar. When Nalbandian asked what happened and then subsequently asked to challenge the serve, Nouni decided that he was not allowed to challenge because he had not done so in a timely manner. The call stood and Isner went on to win the match. Afterwards, Nalbandian was shown that the serve was indeed out and blasted Nouni in his post-match press conference. Sadly, it was the first of numerous bad calls that plagued the entire tournament.
Day 04 Fish Flops, Serena Stuns While it was a bad day for American tennis on the men’s side with both Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick making exits, it was a historic day for Serena Williams. The winner of 13 Grand Slam singles titles, Serena once again made it look routine in round two as she knocked off Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-0, 6-4. More importantly, the win gave her 500 career singles wins compared to only 105 losses. After turning professional at the age of 14, the now 30-year-old has collected a number of records along an illustrious career that has also been hampered by injury and a frequent lack of dedication to the sport. Surprising some with the admission that she did not love tennis, there is no doubt that two things she craves are winning and attention. This straightforward victory made sure that at least for a day, she was queen of the WTA.
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Day 05 Del Potro Dominates At 6 foot 6 inches tall, one would expect Juan Martin del Potro to crush ground strokes and impose his game, which he does, and does it well. In the third round however, he was a mere spectator while his opponent Yen-Hsun Lu stepped way outside of his comfort zone and tried to be James Blake. A scrambler by nature, Lu went big on the stat sheet, unfortunately it was in the wrong column. In just under two hours, he had amassed 40 unforced errors to hand a 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 victory to del Potro, who seems to be progressing well in his recovery from the wrist injuries that plagued him in 2010. On a collision course with Federer in the quarterfinals, del Potro recovered from a slow start in the first round to showing that his dominating form from the 2009 US Open is just around the corner, promising another contender to the late rounds aside from the four regulars.
Day 06 Lleyton Sends Raonic Home For more than a decade, Lleyton Hewitt has been fighting against players that hit and serve bigger than he does. At the age of 30, with a body ravaged by multiple surgeries and a toe injury that requires routine cortisone injections, he brought that magic back to spoil a repeat performance from last year’s Cinderella story, Milos Raonic. Facing down serves over 141mph, Australia’s national hero fought valiantly against an increasingly agitated Raonic who could not find the answer to Hewitt’s tenacity. Despite hitting 58 winners for the match, Raonic fell to the Australian 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 (5), 6-3, prolonging Hewitt’s exciting run for at least a few more days. When Hewitt arrived in Melbourne, his first worry was whether or not it would be his last Australian Open, but after three victories over tough opponents, Hewitt had gained some of his old confidence back and he showed flashes of the game that led him to two Grand Slam titles and the No. 1 ranking.
2012 AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY BY DAY
Day 07 Clijsters Clings On Kim Clijsters and Li Na found themselves in a rematch at the Australian Open, this time on the middle Sunday rather than the final Saturday. Whether it was last year’s final or the fourth round this year, these champions battled it out. It was a scary moment for Clijsters at 3-3 in the first set when she awkwardly rolled over her left ankle after hitting a return. After receiving medical attention and a sturdy wrap on her ankle, Clijsters fell behind as Li tried to push her and take revenge for last year’s final. With Li up a set, the two fought into a tie break where Li held a handful of match points, only to squander them all, opening the door for Clijsters to take a 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory. It was Li’s match to win, but unlike her French Open final, she let Clijsters hang around just enough to take the advantage back.
Day 08 Nishikori Nails Tsonga While Hewitt’s magic ran into the wall that has been Novak Djokovic, a rising star in Japan’s Kei Nishikori was doing something special of his own. His previous nickname, Project 45, was to always remind him of his goal of reaching World No. 45, which would make him the highest ranked male Japanese player ever. That goal has been surpassed as he climbed to No. 20 thanks to his efforts in Melbourne, which included a 3 hour 30 minute win over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory certainly will not rank as Nishikori’s best, but it showed the world that he has more than just a forehand. Nishikori did well to fight off the aggressive patterns of Tsonga, who engineered his own defeat by hitting 70 unforced errors to Nishikori’s 30. The win also brought the Japanese star to his best result in a Grand Slam to date, the quarterfinals.
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Gear Guide Petra Kvitova Best Result: Semifinalist (2012) 2012 Result: Semifinalist Trying to supplant World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki following her impressive indoor season to end 2011, her power game was stopped short by an inspired Maria Sharapova in the semifinal. Capable of being incredibly dominant, her volatile game has its ups and downs allowing herself to be the only one that will consistently challenge her results.
Wilson Steam 100 BLX Tennis Racquet Part of Wilson’s new Power and Spin line, the Wilson Steam 100 BLX offers a lighter weight to go with a modern feel. For a power player like Kvitova, this racquet allows both heavy topspin and harder, flat shots to be hit with incredible precision and forgiveness. In addition, the specialized frame geometry offers increased maneuverability to go along with the 100 square inch head size for players that like to move in and 16 points quickly. finish
Nike Zoom Breathe 2K11 Kvitova gets the most out of her footwork with the Nike Zoom Breathe 2K11 Tennis Shoes, which feature some of the best technology Nike tennis has to offer. Equipped with Lunarlon, Drag-On, and Nike Zoom, these kicks pack a punch.
Nike Rally Knit Tennis Tank The Nike Rally Knit Tank keeps Kvitova cool and comfortable with an open back for enhanced ventilation. Paired with the Rally Knit Skirt, she looks bold in purple. A ruffled hem on the Rally Skirt adds a feminine touch to her look, while Dri-Fit technology makes both pieces prime for performance.
©2012 WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO. ©2012 Getty Images | Clive Brunskill / Mark Dadswell
VICTORIA AZARENKA
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Day 09 Federer Reaches Milestone A rematch of the 2009 US Open final being played in the quarterfinal of the Australian Open is usually enough of a story as it is, but the story of this day was Roger Federer’s longevity. After turning professional in 1998, Federer has largely avoided major injuries and the proof stepped out on court as he began his 1000th career match against Juan Martin del Potro. It was over two years ago that Federer opened the door for del Potro to become the only person not named Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic to capture a Grand Slam title since 2005, and he was not about to make the same mistake. Federer never let up the pressure on del Potro, who was starting to find the same dominating form that took him to World No. 4. In just under two hours, Federer had struck 38 winners and dismissed the Argentine 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 for his 814th career win and done his part to set up the dream semifinal with Nadal.
Day 10 Who Wants No. 1? With Caroline Wozniacki falling to Kim Clijsters the previous day, a three way battle started for the World No. 1 spot between Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, and front-runner Petra Kvitova. After finishing 2011 just barely behind Wozniacki, Kvitova looked to take the top spot at the Australian Open, rolling into the semifinal over Sara Errani, a surprise quarterfinalist. It was not her best match of the tournament, but it was an efficient win thanks to 36 winners and six breaks of serve. Kvitova did show chinks in the armor that were not present indoors at the end of last year as she hit 44 unforced errors in the 111 minute match. The Italian had never made it past the third round at a Grand Slam and the pressure of playing the World No. 2 was just too much as Kvitova recorded the 6-4, 6-4 win.
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2012 AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY BY DAY
Day 11 Nadal Continues Dominance It has been almost seven years since Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer met in a Grand Slam semifinal, the first, and only other time, coming in 2005 at Roland Garros, the first year that Nadal dominated the clay. Given the track record between the two, everyone knew what to expect with the two battling with their contrasting styles. Federer made the moves, coming to net 57 times and hitting 46 winners, but the over course of the 3 hour 42 minute contest, Nadal’s defensive skills prevailed. The aggressive Swiss was forced into hitting 63 errors, giving Nadal a hard-fought 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory. The Spaniard continues to enjoy success against Federer, improving to 18-9 for their careers and most importantly, 8-2 in Grand Slam events, with Federer’s last win coming in 2007 at Wimbledon.
Day 12 Mercurial Murray Falls Short in Rematch The men’s final in Melbourne has been decided following the 4 hour 46 minute clash of the 2011 final between Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. In a much more spirited performance, Murray threw everything he could at the World No. 1, but in the end, it was Djokovic who will move on to defend his title with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 7-5 victory. Not wanting to repeat his dismal performance in last year’s final, Murray played a more aggressive style of tennis, likely a product of his new coaching arrangement with Ivan Lendl. In what could only be described as a physically brutal match, it was the emotional ebbs and flows that ultimately decided the outcome. In the end, Djokovic’s fierce offensive play tired out Murray and once again kept him from winning a Grand Slam.
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Day 13 Azarenka Rises To The Top As Victoria Azarenka stepped on court in her first ever Grand Slam final against three-time champion Maria Sharapova, they both knew that the World No. 1 spot was on the line. Never known for her tenacity in trying, Azarenka made sure that it never reached that point, crushing Sharapova in a 6-3, 6-0 rout. Not only did Azarenka capture her first ever Grand Slam title, but guaranteed her place as the top-ranked player for the first time in her career. Azarenka was not the only proud new winner, as the unseeded team of Radek Stepanek and Leander Paes upended the top-ranked team of Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6 (1), 6-2, giving Paes the career Grand Slam. While Paes and Stepanek celebrated, the Bryan brothers were forced to lament on how they narrowly missed history of their own. If they had been able to secure the win, they would have collected their sixth Australian Open crowd, an Open Era record, and 12th Grand Slam overall, which would have tied the all-time record of John Newcombe and Tony Roche, 20a record discounted by the fact that it stretched across the Amateur and Open Eras.
2012 AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY BY DAY
Day 14 Djokovic Makes History Given a full day of rest less than his opponent, Novak Djokovic staggered out in his efforts to repeat as Australian Open champion against his toughest challenge by far, Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard took an advantage by winning the first set, but Djokovic snapped back and looked to be poised to take the match in four. What the two lacked in the unbelievable shot making they have produced in the past, they made up for it in guts. Nadal willed himself to take the fourth set in a tiebreak, guaranteeing that they would break at least one record as the match headed into the early morning. Finally, mercifully, Djokovic stepped up to hit one final serve and forehand winner combination to capture his third Australian Open crown with a 5-7 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 victory after the longest Grand Slam final in history at 5 hours 53 minutes, shattering the previous record by nearly a full hour.
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Djokovic v. Na Instant Clas
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adal ssic
From a ragged start to a classic finish, the Australian Open Men’s Final in Melbourne became part of tennis history as Novak Djokovic defended his title over Rafael Nadal in five extended sets that earned the match the distinction of being the longest Grand Slam men’s final in the Open Era. Momentum shifted multiple times during this instant classic, but it was the first set that provided the clues to what would be the overall narrative in this the 30th meeting between the two men. The two questions asked early on were how would Djokovic’s body hold up after his five set battle with Andy Murray in the semifinals and how would Nadal hold up mentally after losing six straight times to Djokovic. The first set was a mess all around from Djokovic’s sartorial choices (going from a white to a black shirt that didn’t quite match the rest of his kit), seagull feathers falling onto the court and from both men struggling to find their games for the opening 80 minutes. Nadal should have wrapped up the first set early on after Djokovic dropped serve at 3-2 but then Nadal failed to hold serve later allowing Djokovic to catch him at 4-all. Nadal, hitting bigger first serves than he had in previous encounters with Djokovic, broke again and finally closed out the set 7-5 but not without another struggle in his service game. Holding serve for Nadal became his biggest test for the next two sets as Djokovic used his return game to put more pressure on the Spaniard. After going up an early break, Djokovic looked in command of the set as he went up 5-2, but Nadal, after holding serve, responded in the next game with a forehand winner and then a nervy volley to set up a break point which he converted after Djokovic double faulted. But then Nadal returned the favor as he double faulted away the set on his own service game. With Djokovic cutting down on his errors and winning most of the longer rallies, the Serb went up an early break in the third set before racing away with it 6-2. By then, it seemed the match was in Djokovic’s hands. But Nadal responded by playing more aggressively especially with his forehand that saw him smack several 100 mph winners. Despite that, Djokovic punched his way to opening a 0-40 lead on Nadal’s serve at 3-4. But Nadal responded with more aggression to hold for 4-4. After a rain delay forced play to be halted for 15 minutes until the
roof was closed, both men returned and held serve until a tiebreak was necessary to decide it. Even with Djokovic looking slightly fatigued, he surged to a 5-3 lead before Nadal, urging himself on at every point, got even with Djokovic and then served out the fourth set to the delight of the crowd. With Djokovic looking physically done, the momentum now appeared to be on Nadal’s side as he began holding serve with ease while Djokovic continued to spray shots from both sides. After breaking Djokovic to go up 4-2, Nadal had a chance to put the match away almost when in the next game he lined up a backhand down the line pass at 30-0. But Nadal just missed sending the ball wide. This lapse from Nadal revived Djokovic who went on to break Nadal for 4-3. After playing an extended 30 shot rally that earned both men a standing ovation in the next game, Djokovic held for 4-all and now it was Djokovic who once again became the aggressor while Nadal reverted back to playing more defensively. At 5-all, Djokovic capitalized on a second break point when a Nadal slice backhand landed in the net. Now serving for the match after over five hours of play, Djokovic went up 30-0, before tired errors from him brought Nadal back into at 30-all. Nadal forced another break point at 30-40 that Djokovic saved by hitting a huge crosscourt forehand out of Nadal’s reach. At deuce, Djokovic looked up at the sky and crossed himself while begging for two more points. Djokovic got his wish as he won the first off of a Nadal backhand that landed in the net and then finally on match point when Djokovic hit a big serve down the middle of the court setting up a forehand winner for him that sealed the 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-5 victory and his third Australian Open title. For a match that became an instant classic, it seemed appropriate that tennis legend Rod Laver was on hand to present both Djokovic and Nadal their trophies marking a fitting end to a now historic two weeks in Melbourne. Djokovic now joins Laver along with Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in winning three Majors in a row.
– Erik Gudris
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Queen Victoria
Begins Her Reign She may have earned a few nicknames over her career, but “Queen Victoria” seems the most appropriate now after Victoria Azarenka put in a command performance to win her first Australian Open title and with it claim the No. 1 ranking. Despite being a slight favorite over former champion Maria Sharapova, the question going in would be if Azarenka would be able to handle the moment of being in her first Major final. The early answer seemed no as Azarenka looked and played nervous in the opening two games. But after she settled in on her next service game, Azarenka reeled off eight of the next nine points to break Sharapova back and then held again for 3-2. Azarenka began controlling many of the rallies not only with her favorite two-handed backhand but also with her forehand which yielded a surprising amount of winners for the Belarussian. Azarenka broke Sharapova again and then served out the set 6-3. Sharapova was not about to give Azarenka the title, but the Russian’s game was well off its mark as Sharapova began hitting error after error for a total of 30 for the match. Sharapova’s “Plan A” style of attack never worked against Azarenka, a fact shown on the frustration and concern on the Russian’s face as her attempts to outhit or overpower Azarenka had no effect. Azarenka broke early in the first game of the second set after a foray by Sharapova to the net saw her hit right back to Azarenka who passed her with ease. Sharapova had a chance to break back right away but Azarenka fought it off to hold serve and from there nothing Sharapova did could stop
Azarenka’s momentum as she raced ahead to a 5-0 lead. If Sharapova was wishing Azarenka would get tight serving for the title, it was a false hope as Azarenka took advantage of her first match point that she converted after Sharapova netted a backhand giving Azarenka a 6-3, 6-0 win. Sharapova, clearly disappointed by the loss, summed up the match by saying, “Yeah, she did everything better than I did today. You know, I had a good first couple of games, and that was about it. Then she was the one that was taking the first ball and hitting it deep and aggressive. I was always the one running around like a rabbit, you know, trying to play catch up all the time. Yeah, I mean, she was, you know, a step quicker. Her shot was, you know, bigger. First shot was bigger. Just not a good combination, I guess.” When asked later how she was feeling about not only winning her first Major but also achieving the No. 1 ranking, Azarenka said, “Well, emotions is—I don’t know. I kind of have different emotions right now. Right after the win I couldn’t understand what’s happening, you know, and I could not believe the tournament is over because it’s been so long, this road since Sydney. I didn’t have one day off, so it kind of kept going kept going and right now it still hasn’t hit me that it’s over and I won this. I keep enjoying it.”
– Erik Gudris 27
GRADING THE FIELD Now that it’s a wrap, let’s take a peek back at the 2012 Australian Open and see who deserves high marks. And, of course, we’ll hand out a few low ones as well… The Heads of the Class
Novak Djokovic
A
Words fail when trying to accurately summarize the Serbian’s on-court prowess in Australia.
Leander Paes and Radek Stepanek
A
Words fail when trying to accurately summarize the Serbian’s on-court prowess in Australia.
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Victoria Azarenka
A
Winning her first Slam and becoming No. 1. Impossible to do it any better than Vika did in Melbourne.
Esther Vergeer
A
Make it 444 consecutive wins for the Dutch wheelchair legend, who lost only four games in three matches.
Rafael Nadal
A
Rafael Nadal may have lost the epic final to Djokovic, but in the process he won even more of our respect.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands
A
Three cheers for another American mixed doubles title!
Honor Students
Andy Murray
A
Murray gained a lot of belief – and a lot of respect – when he pushed Novak Djokovic to a nail biting fifth set in their semifinal.
Petra Kvitova
A
Kvitova lost a tense three-set thriller to Sharapova in the semis, but she proved over the course of her six matches that she’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
Kim Clijsters
A
Kim scored magical wins over Li Na and Caroline Wozniacki in what might be her last Australian Open appearance.
On Par
Roger Federer
B
The Maestro was flawless through the quarters, but couldn’t solve Nadal, in spite of having numerous chances to extend the match, in the semis.
Juan Martin Del Potro
B
Delpo is making progress, but talks of top 5 seem premature until he can actually defeat a top 5 player. Against Federer in the quarters, he was clearly outclassed.
Maria Sharapova
B
An A quickly changed to a B+ when she was routed in the final, losing 12 of the last 13 games. Because of her classy post-match speech, we brought her up from a B.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
B
The two-time Australian Open semifinalist was bounced by Kei Nishikori in five.
Agnieszka Radwanska
B
She took the first set of her quarterfinal match versus Victoria Azarenka, then won two games the rest of the way.
Sara Errani
B
Errani reached the quarters of a Slam for the first time. And she reached the doubles semis with partner Roberta Vinci
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Teacher’s Pet
Bernard Tomic
A
Bernard Tomic played the match of the tournament against Alexandr Dolgopolov in the third round, and he captivated his tennis-mad nation in the process.
Lleyton Hewitt
B
Hewitt’s win over up-and-coming Milos Raonic was more proof that he’s one of the best returners and biggest fighters to ever play the game.
Kei Nishikori
A
Nishikori became the first Japanese player to reach the quarters of the Australian Open in 80 years.
Detention Center
Serena Williams
D
A very disappointing loss to Ekaterina Makarova casts serious doubts about the future of Serena Williams.
Samantha Stosur
F
When will Stosur stop consistently doubting herself and start consistently imposing herself?
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David Nalbandian
C
Without hard luck losers like David Nalbandian, we’d have no lucky winners like John Isner.
Francesca Schiavone D If there ever was a player badly in need of some clay under her feet, it is Francesca.
Milos Raonic
C
With game like his, losing to Lleyton Hewitt in the third round is just not good enough.
Tomas Berdych
C
He played a fantastic match against Rafael Nadal in the quarters, but it didn’t make us forget about his non-handshake against Nicolas Almagro.
FERNANDO VERDASCO
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Federer: The Man of 1,000 Matches A testament to Roger Federer and his ability to stay healthy throughout a tough season of tennis, his 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 quarterfinal win over Juan Martin del Potro marked his 1000th career ATPlevel match. In what was a display of blistering winners, Federer advanced to face longtime rival Rafael Nadal in the semifinal, who emerged victorious over Tomas Berdych 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-4, 6-3 in 4 hours 16 minutes. While Federer will readily compliment del Potro and speak highly of his potential, that does not mean that he is quite ready to hand over any wins to the Argentine. The two players share a lopsided 8-2 head-to-head record in favor of Federer after today’s win, but one of those wins robbed him of a sixth straight US Open title in 2009. After breezing through the first four rounds (including a second round walkover), Federer stared at a potential gauntlet of competition standing between him and his 17th career grand slam title. The first step was to get del Potro and on this day, he made it look easy. Known for his powerful and flat ground strokes, del Potro seemed helpless on Rod Laver Arena as Federer dismantled him with surgical precision. Federer routinely established a court positioning advantage by pulling del Potro wide with the serve, enabling him to hit a number of his 38 winners into the open court. While Federer maintained his easy path to the semifinal, Nadal was forced to work for it against Berdych. Despite some negative reaction from the fans upon introduction, Berdych certainly did his part to entertain the crowd in his efforts of making the Australian Open semifinal for the first time.
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While the two players competed at an extremely high level from the start of the match, it looked apparent that the lines crew was having plenty of difficulty of their own. A number of incorrect calls had both players upset and taking advantage of the replay system on a regular basis. An important one came late in the first set tiebreak when a Berdych ground stroke sailed long, but was not called. After Nadal had hit his return, he attempted to challenge as a winner went by him, but the umpire deemed that the challenge came too late, a much more appropriate decision than Kader Nouni’s against David Nalbandian in the second round. That point gave Berdych all the advantage he needed to take the first set. The two continued to battle powerful ground stroke against powerful ground stroke, all amidst a sea of poor line calls, through another tiebreak where Nadal saved a set point to eventually level the match. Early in the third, Berdych appeared to be favoring his hip, and his movement to the forehand side appeared to be hampered, but he fought on. Sensing his opponent’s level had dropped just slightly, Nadal began to work Berdych around the court, eventually earning the four set victory. With the dream semifinal set, one would expect Federer to be the fresher player, but he will be working against a 2-7 record against Nadal in grand slam matches. On the side of the Swiss is the fact that of those seven losses, five have come at Roland Garros, a place where Nadal is practically unbeatable.
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What happened to Wonder Woman? After watching Serena Williams fall to Ekaterina Makarova in the round of 16 at the Australian Open, it’s hard not to wonder about her future. Is this the beginning of the end for the 13-time Grand Slam singles champion, or will her listless performance in Melbourne be the final straw, the ultimate humiliation that will cause Serena to rise from the ashes of her own indifference as an even stronger, even more dominating player? To say that she’s done seems harsh, but to expect a return to dominance might be a tad far-fetched. Williams, a woman who has forged a reputation as one of the most invincible, most indomitable players to ever grace a tennis court, has clearly shed some of her mystique over the last year. Gone are the days when Serena could win matches on her reputation alone, and here are the days when the Bartoli’s and Stosur’s of the world see her as ripe for the upset. Some have said that Williams’ mystique alone was good for a few games a set, and now that she’s a lot more beatable in the eyes of her peers, it’s hard not to question how long she can remain relevant in a sport with so much up-andcoming talent. So what must Williams do to capture more Slams? That is where opinions diverge. Sports Illustrated’s tennis seer Jon Wertheim wrote yesterday that Williams can no longer make it as a part-time player. “Her schedule, sparse in the best of times, has been pared to the four majors and the Olympics,” wrote a skeptical Wertheim. “Her chance for redemption won’t come until late spring.” “We will see if today’s dismal result sharpens her resolve, whether it motivates her to make one last, earnest push toward the Evert-Graf-Navratilova corridor. Or whether this defeat further complicates what is already a complex relationship with the sport of tennis. This we know: she can’t get away with doing this halfway anymore.”
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It’s an interesting take on a complicated player, but the truth is that only Serena knows what it will take to get her game back into high gear. Let’s not forget that her earnest attempt to get more matches in before the Australian Open was thwarted by a severe ankle sprain in Brisbane a few weeks ago. And let’s also take into account that Serena is a woman who is still very much on the mend, having gone through a near-death experience due to a pulmonary embolism and related hematoma early last year, and having suffered through the loss of her longtime friend and family advisor Kevin Davis after a long bout with cancer in December. Problems aside, at 30 years of age Serena Williams still has ample time to tack on more Grand Slam titles. And an unexpected disappointment – call it a slice of humble pie – like the loss to Makarova might be the perfect tonic to fuel Williams to another level. To write Williams off now, when she’s still on the mend both physically and spiritually, might be a big mistake. Then again, it might be naïve to think that Williams will ever be the supreme player that she was when she won her 13th Grand Slam on Wimbledon’s Centre Court in 2010. Ultimately, the answers lie with Serena. Whether she plays eighty matches a year or eight, she’ll have to throw her heart and soul into reviving her game in order to have success. She’s past the point where she can sleepwalk through Grand Slam draws or tippy-toe through off-seasons, attending as many celebrity parties as practice sessions. If there ever was one, now is the time for Serena to sever ties with her distracted, immature self, and make a commitment to the singular purpose of cementing her legacy, because as much as she’d like it to be, her work isn’t quite done yet.
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ORDER ON THE COURT
Pointers from the Pro
by Ian Westerman USPTA Tennis Professional
Quality Control In my 40 hours of teaching tennis each week, there is one phrase that I undoubtedly say more often than any other: “Off center!”. By this I mean that the student has made contact with the ball somewhere other than the center of their racket. If you’re a recreational tennis player then I can just about guarantee you this happens more often than you think. After making terrible contact on a certain shot and not even coming close to their target I will often ask my students “so why did you miss that shot?”. If they’ve never had a lesson with me before more often than not they will answer “because I didn’t turn my shoulders”, or “because I didn’t swing up” etc, when in fact the ball didn’t even hit their strings. Why am I spending time writing about what seems to be an incredibly obvious thing that needs to be done in order to be a successful tennis player? Because it’s so important, and because I’m quite convinced most average level tennis players have no idea when they do it correctly or not. When it comes down to it, whenever you attempt any stroke in tennis if you cannot hit the middle of the racket face then nothing else even matters. Did you hear that? Nothing else matters. All those hours you spent working on that new top spin forehand swing, go right out the window. Why? Well, because your strokes
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are all formed based on the premise that you’re going to be hitting your racket face. When good contact doesn’t occur, even the most perfect technique can’t guarantee a successful shot, whereas perfect technique along with correct contact WILL occur in a good shot every time. Hitting off center on your racket will basically bring a random result, based on how far off center you actually are. If any part of your frame is hit you can pretty much forget about making your planned shot most of the time. So how can you tell if you’re hitting off center? This is something every tennis player needs to be conscious of, it’s extremely important. There are three main ways in which you’ll be able to tell if you’ve made good contact on any shot. They are...
The Sound
Pay close attention to this. I hear thousands of contacts per day, and could easily tell you blind folded how good of contact any particular shot has been. In trying to teach this to junior clinics, one of my helpers likes to say that a nice shot will make a pretty “ting!” sound, where an off center hit will create a “thunk!” type noise. There’s many variations of these sounds depending on how closely you get to the exact center of your strings, or exactly how much of your frame you hit, and everything in between. Listen closely and see the resulting shot, and you should be able to start identifying which is which.
“ I like to refer to a sho t where great con tact was made as a “clean hit ”, it will sound and feel nice and cr isp.”
The Feel
This is another big one, in fact, I would say this is probably the biggest indicator. Often times after not even being close to making good contact, a beginner or intermediate tennis player will say to me “wow I need to start gripping my racket tighter, it keeps slipping in my hand”. My reaction to this is “NOOOOO!”. Ok, so I don’t react that strongly, I would have lost my job by now if I did. If the ball hits right in the middle of your racket, your tennis racket will NOT twist or turn in your hand. It will stay stable because where the ball struck the racket face is right in line with the grip of the racket where your hand is holding it. The farther contact deviates from the center of the strings, the more the racket will want to twist in your hand. You will also feel a twinge and vibration caused by the poor hit, more or less depending on how poor contact was. I like to refer to a shot where great contact was made as a “clean hit”, it will sound and feel nice and crisp. Again, if you’re not conscious of these things in the first place then you won’t be able to tell the difference.
The Result
If you had a certain target in mind, were in good position, and made a reasonably good swing only to have the ball fly way off course then most likely your contact was poor. Being just a little bit off center will cause softer touch shots and volleys to fall woefully short of their goal, being very fall off center can cause any shot or swing to miss by large margins. Now, there’s a myriad of different reasons why you can actually miss any given shot, thats why I can actually earn a living as a tennis professional, heh. Therefore, you need to be reasonably sure that your stroke was correct in order to use this indicator for good contact.
So the next time you miss a shot, try to recall the sound, the feel, and the result. If any one of those three things seemed off its quite possible you just hit off center. If you can recall any two, or even all three being off, then you can be 100% certain of it. How can you improve your contact? By watching the ball! I will write on that in a later installment of this column . It’s a whole subject in and of itself. Until then, play well!
“ Hi t t ing o f f cen ter on your racke t will basically br ing a random resul t... I f any par t o f your frame is hi t you can pre t t y much forge t abou t mak ing your planned sho t mos t o f t he t ime..” 37
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Gear Guide
Maria Sharapova Best Result: Winner (2008) 2012 Result: Finalist
Nike Lunar Speed 3 Tennis Shoes Built for speed, the Nike Lunar Speed 3 Tennis Shoes keep Sharapova going with a super lightweight Flywire construction. Lunarlon technology delivers a flexible, responsive step and a full-length XDR outsole with a carbon fiber shank provides stability and traction. Plus, they match her dress with a white and electric green design.
Nike Maria Statement Slam Dress A sleek silhouette and a vibrant new color scheme makes the Nike Maria Statement Slam Dress perfect for this Russian beauty. Cut-outs along either side of the bodice reveal electric green mesh to give Sharapova’s style some edge. She maintains freedom of motion during long matches with a Dri-Fit stretch construction.
Given that her first Grand Slam title came in 2004, it is often forgotten that Maria Sharapova is only 24 years old. Known for her powerful, flat ground game and loud shrieks, Sharapova often provides at least a few stories throughout a tournament, which can range from incredible victories to stunning defeats, and 2012 was no exception. After navigating the likes of Sabine Lisicki and Petra Kvitova to reach the final, Sharapova crumbled in the final, handing the title and the World No. 1 ranking to Victoria Azarenka.
Head Youtek IG Instinct MP A major change from previous versions of the Instinct, the Head Youtek IG Instinct MP offers power with control. Originally designed with the power baseline player in mind, it is the perfect fit for Sharapova as she tries to hit through her opponents from the back of the court. After going through a major shoulder injury, Sharapova is looking for comfort, so the included Innegra fibers help to filter shock, hopefully allowing Sharapova to play more events.
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RACQUET REVIEWS Along with the Australian Open comes a new line of gear, and this year was no different. From seeing a racquet in the hands of players ranging from Kim Clijsters to Zheng Jie, there is a frame out there for just about anyone. While many of the frames released each year are updates of a previous version, sometimes there is good reason for it.
These are just a few of the early season releases that we tested out, and each one will provide an incredible experience for the right player. Whether you have a compact swing and focus on placing the ball on a dime, or take a tour-level swing to hit blistering forehands past your scrambling opponent, we have you covered on finding the right gear for your game.
Babolat New Pure Drive Pros: Power, Moderate Weight, Popular For a Reason Cons: Sometimes Too Powerful, Very String Dependent, Stiff Rundown: Quite simply, there is a reason Babolat has not made drastic changes to the Pure Drive in the 15 years it has been around. It still provides incredible power, with upgraded stability and comfort, but it is not necessarily a comfortable racquet. It still has a fair amount of stiffness to it and when paired with the wrong string can feel downright terrible. Despite its finicky nature with strings, when paired up with the right player, it is incredibly versatile for players seeking easy access to power and spin.
Head Youtek IG Prestige MP Pros: High Control, High Stability Cons: Low Power, Small Sweet Spott Rundown: Another racquet that has been around seemingly forever with only minor upgrade, the Youtek IG Prestige MP provides control in spades for both big-hitting baseliners and all-court players alike. At just under 12 ounces strung, this frame offers incredible stability to allow players to hit with pinpoint control. There is no doubt that a frame like this will perform best in the hands of strong players that need versatility in their games.
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Prince EXO3 Warrior 100 Pros: Good Power, High Spin, Excellent Comfort Cons: EXO3 Feel Not For Everyone Rundown: Replacing both the EXO3 Black and the White, the EXO3 Warrior 100 splits the difference between the two, combining the power of the White with the control of the Black. The result is a traditional tweenerstyle frame accented by the EXO3 technology which offers a larger sweet spot and more comfortable feel. Even at 100 square inches, this racquet plays larger thanks to the expanded sweetspot making it probably the most forgiving 100 head size available.
Wilson Steam 100 BLX Pros: Solid Power, Good Spin, Good Control Cons: Muted Feel, Stiffer Flex Rundown: The new Steam 100 BLX is most likened to a larger version of the Tour BLX, with a slightly larger head size and the same near even balance. The result is a moderate weight frame with plenty of stability that is accented by on-demand power and control. Part of the Power and Spin line, this particular model is designed to compliment both high spin and flatter players like Petra Kvitova who was seen with it in Melbourne.
Yonex EZONE Xi Pros: Large Sweet Spot, Good Spin, Comfort Cons: Some Hot Spots In Stringbed Rundown: Updating the EZONE 100, this larger sibling of the EZONE Xi 98 is designed to provide typical tweener performance with a larger sweet spot and more power. Complete with Xtra Isometric technology, which pushes weight out to the extreme shoulder areas, this frame offers incredible stability for its weight. The very open string pattern offers incredible amounts of spin that will shred through strings for the big hitters.
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SHOE REVIEWS The Australian Open brought with it some incredible action, but also a few new looks on the player’s feet. While Nike and adidas dominate much of the tour, a few other manufacturers are making their way not only to local courts, but to the feet of the professionals as well. From the highly anticipated to the sleeper shoe, there are great options out there for every kind of player.
Whether a weekend warrior or a hardcore professional, brands like Asics, Wilson, Prince, and more offer plenty of options for players of all levels and needs. Five recent shoe introduction all boast excellent stability while remaining ridiculously comfortable for those that live in their tennis shoes. No matter what your needs.
Asics Gel Resolution 4 Pros: Stability, Comfort, Durability Guarantee Cons: Price, Fit Is Different From 3 Rundown: The Asics Gel Resolution family may not have the same kind of TV time as adidas or Nike, but in the eyes of the playing public, it is tough to find a shoe that is more player-friendly than this Asics flagship. The newest version of this amazing shoe, the Gel Resolution 4 keeps many of the popular features like the IGS (Impact Guidance System) that is designed to allow the shoe to move along with the natural gait of the foot for improved comfort. As with every Asics shoe, the GEL cushioning combined with the Personal Heel Fit offers one of the most cushioned rides around. There is a new trusstic system that reduces the weight without sacrificing stability or responsiveness.
Asics Gel Solution Speed Pros: Light Weight, Foot Hugging Feel Cons: No Durability Guarantee, Bright Colors Not For Everyone Rundown: If the light weight of the Gel Resolution still is not good enough, the new introduction, the Asics Gel Solution Speed is designed with speed in mind. A Solyte midsole is lighter than standard EVA materials to keep the player feeling extremely fast on the court. Even with the ultra light weight, Asics did not skimp on the stability by incorporating a Propulsion Trusstic system on the lateral side for responsive support. Still featuring the Impact Guidance and Heel Clutching System, the fit hugs the foot close, ensuring no excess movement within the shoe.
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Prince T24 Pros: Stability, Comfort, Durability Guarantee Cons: Heavier than T22 Rundown: It’s not often when a shoe update results in a heavier shoe, but that is the case with the Prince T24. Incredible comfort and performance are the result of the Shock Eraser cushion in the heel and the Soft Spring forefoot insert. The weight difference is thanks to the addition of some extra synthetic upper material to further increase the stability. The bridge of the foot is supported by a TPU shank while TPU forefoot straps ensure that the foot stays locked in place for all-day comfort.
Wilson Tour Ikon Pros: Stability, Comfort, Durability Guarantee Cons: Graphics Not For Everyone, Price Rundown: Wilson shoes have always been solid performers for the players willing to give them a chance. The Tour Ikon steps up the performance with welded, seamless features at the heel for support and comfort. It is all about comfort and stability with this shoe, which features both the low profile DST midsole and the Reactive Gel inserts at both the heel and forefoot for dynamic comfort. A TPU Stable Wrap holds the foot snug to ensure that you remain stable and on top of your game.
Wilson Tour Vision II Pros: Cushioning, Durability Guarantee, Stability Cons: Breathability, Price Rundown: Taking advantage of the same last from the Tour Vision, this update brings about a new cosmetic look without sacrificing the cushioning that made it popular. The Wilson Tour Vision II features the Reactive Gel technology in both the heel and forefoot for all around dynamic comfort. The synthetic upper provides plenty of stability but does not feature as much mesh as the Ikon, limiting the breathability a bit. A soft-molded TPU Stable Wrap provides extra support to help players recover while they track everything down.
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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 Del Potro, Juan Martin Almagro, Nicolas Simon, Gilles Monfils, Gael Soderling, Robin Lopez, Feliciano Gasquet, Richard Isner, John Dolgopolov, Alexandr Roddick, Andy Nishikori, Kei Mayer, Florian Troicki, Viktor Cilic, Marin Verdasco, Fernando Chela, Juan Ignacio
SRB ESP SUI GBR ESP FRA CZE USA SRB ARG ESP FRA FRA SWE ESP FRA USA UKR USA JPN GER SRB CRO ESP ARG
13,630 10,435 8,010 6,900 4,565 4,425 3,700 2,965 2,700 2,630 2,380 2,005 1,970 1,940 1,890 1,855 1,800 1,760 1,745 1,680 1,585 1,550 1,485 1,380 1,350
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
Azarenka, Victoria Kvitova, Petra Sharapova, Maria Wozniacki, Caroline Stosur, Samantha Radwanska, Agnieszka Bartoli, Marion Zvonareva, Vera Li, Na Petkovic, Andrea Schiavone, Francesca Williams, Serena Jankovic, Jelena Lisicki, Sabine Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia Cibulkova, Dominika Peng, Shuai Ivanovic, Ana Kuznetsova, Svetlana Hantuchova, Daniela Goerges, Julia Pennetta, Flavia Vinci, Roberta Medina Garrigues, Anabel Kanepi, Kaia
BLR CZE RUS DEN AUS POL FRA RUS CHN GER ITA USA SRB GER RUS SVK CHN SRB RUS SVK GER ITA ITA ESP EST
8585 7690 7560 7085 5430 5330 4770 4695 4450 4000 3640 3580 3295 3143 2735 2635 2580 2535 2526 2450 2345 2295 2210 2105 2049
Gear Guide Rafael Nadal Best Result: Winner (2009) 2012 Result: Finalist
Nike Air Max Courtballistec 4.3 With improved fit and enhanced flexibility, the redesigned Nike Air Max Courtballistec 4.3’s promise performance. Lunarlon and Max Air technologies deliver maximum cushioning and impact protection, and a Drag-On 2X overlay provides flexible durability. And with a fresh new color scheme, they look great with his other gear.
At the age of 25, Nadal has already had a career full of Grand Slam titles, and he does not look like he will be stopping anytime soon. Known for dogged determination and his heavy topspin ground strokes, the Spaniard seems to have only two weaknesses to his game; facing Novak Djokovic and keeping his own body healthy. After an injury scare thanks to a chair in his hotel room, Nadal stormed through the draw into a history-making final with Djokovic.
Nike Rafa Finals Tennis Crew
Babolat Aeropro Drive GT
The Nike Rafa Finals Tennis Crew in Action Green features a bold pattern on the sleeves, with mesh insets for plenty of breathability during his match. Equipped with Nike’s Dri-Fit fabric, this super lightweight crew will keep him cool during those hot days on the court.
Known for generating the greatest amount of topspin on the tour with his forehand, Nadal gets even more help from his Babolat Aeropro Drive GT, specially engineered for greater racquet head speed, giving more power and spin. The aeromodular shape cuts through the air while providing a solid feel for players looking for more topspin.
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CLOSING SHOTS
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