2013 Australian Open

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WHAT’S INSIDE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

p.5

AUSTRALIAN OPEN HISTORY

p.8-11 THE WTA AND USANA: A PERFECT MATCH

p.14-17 WHO IS POISED FOR A BREAKOUT IN AUSTRALIA?

p.19-22

WTA DRAW PREVIEW

p.25-29 IT’S OK TO MISS

p.30-31 ATP DRAW PREVIEW

p.32-36 RANKINGS

p.39 CLOSINGS SHOTS

p.40-46

WIN NIKE SHOES! Details on page 37.

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Blogs

Editor

Theodore L. LePak ted@tennisnow.com Erwin Ong Blair Hemley

Letter from the Editor

Contact Us

To advertise with us ads@tennisnow.com General comments or questions media@tennisnow.com

The defending champion Novak Djokovic looks to seal his hat trick with another Australian Open title. Meanwhile, on the other side of the draw, Roger Federer is rested and ready to rumble. However, he will have to slice his way around a motivated Andy Murray who is looking to claim his second Grand Slam title after winning the U.S. Open last year.

Writers

Erik Gudris

Blair Henley

blair@tennisnow.com

As the New Year begins, the tennis world is strapping in for another fantastic Australian Open. One can only hope for another hot year of racquet smashing tantrums and six hour finals!

Chris Oddo

Erwin Ong

erwin@tennisnow.com

Design

Alberto Capetillo Juan Esparza

Photography Mark Peterson

Serena Williams looks to leap past the top two seeds, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, to reclaim her world No. 1 status. Underdog Agnieszka Radwanska is raising some eyebrows having won two titles already in 2013, but to claim her first Grand Slam, she will need to improve her 5-23 record against the top three players.

Everyone is wondering whether Andy Murray is just a one-Slam wonder, which is why we gave him the cover shot. We put Azarenka on the women’s cover because we’re anxious to see if she can beat Serena and keep her title. Inside we explored the history of the Australian Open, who’s ready to break out in Oz, the unprecedented relationship between USANA and the WTA, and finally we learn in our instructional article that it’s okay to miss.

I look forward to working with our photographer and friend Mark Peterson of Corleve again this year. Corleve is constantly looking for new ways to improve, and always brings us the best photos from the Australian Open.

We hope you enjoy this magazine and the tennis coverage Down Under!

TennisNow

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

Theodore LePak Editor, Tennis Now Magazine Ted@tennisnow.com 5

2013 AUSTRALIAN OPEN TV SCHEDULE (Eastern Standard Time Zone) Sunday, January 13

Friday, January 18

6:30pm - 7:00 am: First Round (ESPN2, Live)

7:00 am - 2:00 pm: Third Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

Monday, January 14

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Third Round (ESPN2, Repeat)

7:00 am - 2:00 pm: First Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Third Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: First Round (ESPN2, Repeat)

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Third Round (Tennis Channel, Live)

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: First Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

9:00 pm - 7:00 am: Third Round (ESPN2, Live)

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: First Round (Tennis Channel, Live)

Saturday, January 19

9:00 pm - 7:00 am: First Round (ESPN2, Live)

7:00 am - 9:55 am: Third Round (ESPN2, Repeat)

Tuesday, January 15

10:00 am - 7:00 pm: Third Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

7:00 am - 2:00 pm: First Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Fourth Round (Tennis Channel, Live)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: First Round (ESPN2, Repeat)

9:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Fourth Round (ESPN2, Live)

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: First Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat) 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Second Round (Tennis Channel, Live) 9:00 pm - 7:00 am: Second Round (ESPN2, Live) Wednesday, January 16

Sunday, January 20

7:00 am - 2:00 pm: Second Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

7:00 am - 11:00 am: Fourth Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Second Round (ESPN2, Repeat)

11:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Fourth Round (ESPN2, Repeat)

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Second Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

3:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Fourth Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Second Round (Tennis Channel, Live)

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Fourth Round (Tennis Channel, Live)

11:00 pm - 7:00 am: Second Round (ESPN2, Live)

9:00 pm - 6:00 am: Fourth Round (ESPN2, Live)

Thursday, January 17

Monday, January 21

7:00 am - 2:00 pm: Second Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

6:00 am - 7:00 pm: Fourth Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Second Round (ESPN2, Repeat)

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Quarterfinals (Tennis Channel, Live)

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Second Round (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

9:00 pm - 6:00 am: Quarterfinals (ESPN2, Live)

7:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Third Round (Tennis Channel, Live) 11:00 pm - 7:00 am: Third Round (ESPN2, Live)

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Tuesday, January 22

Friday, January 25

6:00 am - 2:00 pm: Quarterfinals (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

3:30 am - 6:00 am: Men’s Semifinal (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Quarterfinals (ESPN2, Repeat)

6:00 am - 1:00 pm: Men’s Semifinal/Women’s Doubles Final (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Quarterfinals (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

1:00 am - 4:00 pm: Men’s Semifinal (ESPN2, Repeat)

7:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Quarterfinals (Tennis Channel, Live)

4:00 pm - 2:00 am: Men’s Semifinal/Women’s Doubles FInal (Tennis Channel, Live)

9:00 pm - 6:00 am: Quarterfinals (ESPN2, Live) Wednesday, January 23

Saturday, January 26

6:00 am - 2:00 pm: Quarterfinals (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

3:00 am - 5:30 am: Women’s Final (ESPN2, Live)

2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Quarterfinals (ESPN2, Repeat)

5:30 am - 7:30 am: Quarterfinals (Tennis Channel, Live)

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Quarterfinals (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

7:30 am - 9:00 am: Women’s Doubles Final (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

7:00 pm - 9:30 pm: TBA (Tennis Channel, Live)

9:00 am - 11:00 am: Women’s Final (ESPN2, Repeat)

9:30 pm - 2:00 am: Women’s Semifinals (ESPN2, Live)

11:00 am - 10:00 pm: Men’s Doubles Final/Men’s Semifinals/Women’s FInal (Tennis Channel, Repeat) 10:00 pm - 12:00 am: Women’s Final (ESPN2, Repeat)

Thursday, January 24

Sunday, January 27

3:30 am - 6:00 pm: Men’s Semifinal (ESPN2, Live)

12:30 am - 2:30 am: Mixed Doubles Final (Tennis Channel, Live)

6:00 am - 1:00 pm: Semifinals (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

3:30 am - 6:00 am: Men’s Final (Tennis Channel, Live)

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Men’s Semifinals (ESPN2, Live)

7:00 am - 9:00 pm: Women’s Final (Tennis Channel, Repeat)

4:00 pm - 11:00 pm: Semifinals (Tennis Channel, Live)

9:00 am - 2:00 pm: Men’s Final (ESPN2, Repeat)

11:00 pm - 3:00 am: Mixed Doubles Semifinal/Women’s Doubles Final (Tennis Channel, Live)

2:00 pm - 7:30 pm: Women’s Final/Men’s Final (Tennis Channel, Repeat) 7:30 pm - 12:30 am: Men’s Final (ESPN2, Repeat)

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Australian Open History: Major Change ­– Erik Gudris

Out of the four majors, none has undergone more changes than the Australian Open. From being held in different cities and contested on different surfaces, the event has grown into the favorite tournament of the year for many fans and players. Find out more about the history of the event affectionately known as the “Happy Slam.”

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Early History It may be surprising to find out that the Australian Open was once held in a different country. In 1905, Australian state tennis associations and a sporting body based in New Zealand sponsored the Australasian Men’s Championships. As a result, the first event was held in Melbourne and then the following year in Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1922, the New Zealand body split off to form its own separate group and thus the original men’s event remained in Australia.

Major Breakthrough In 1922, a women’s championship was held side by side with the men’s event. After the International Lawn Tennis Federation declared the combined event to be a “major” in 1924, the tournament was renamed the Australian Championships. Despite its enhanced status, very few players outside of the country competed in the event because travel to Australia was still difficult.

In 1928, France’s Jean Borotra became the first European to win the title.

Continental Shift Melbourne may have been the birthplace and now the current home of the Australian Open, but the event itself has been staged all across the continent. Adelaide, Brisbane Perth and Sydney have all hosted the tournament multiple times. In 1972, the tournament relocated to Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club in Melbourne and remained there until 1987. The next year, the event moved to Flinders Park, later renamed Melbourne Park, where the tournament has been held ever since.

Aussie Legends Rod Laver Arena is named for the Australian tennis legend who won two calendar year Grand Slams. Laver won three times at his home event, twice when it was called the Australian Championships and once, in 1969, when it was renamed the Australian Open.

Margaret Smith Court is Australia’s greatest female tennis player.

Not only did she win a record 11 Australian Open titles, she won a calendar year Grand Slam in 1970 and also holds the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles for any women at 24.

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Shifting Surfaces Though the Australian Open was played on grass for most of its history, it has changed surfaces several times primarily to better deal with the intense heat of the Australian summer. From 1988 to 2007, the event was played on Rebound Ace. From 2008 through today, the event is now contested on Plexicushion.

Mats Wilander is the only man to win the event when it was held on grass and hard court.

Changing Times From the 1970’s through the early 1980’s, the event suffered a variety of setbacks and problems. Low prize money, its position on the tennis calendar at the end of the year, and conflicting issues within the men’s tour prompted many players to skip the event altogether.

In an effort to elevate its status and encourage players to attend, the tournament shifted its dates on the calendar to mid-January starting in 1987.

Recent History Since its rebirth, the Australian Open has been the site of several historical moments for the sport in recent years.

In 2011, Francesca Schiavone defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in a record four hours and forty-four minute battle that became the longest women’s singles match in Grand Slam history.

Last year, Novak Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal in an epic five-set five-hour and 53 minute men’s final that went down as the longest Grand Slam singles final ever.

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The WTA and USANA: A Perfect Match ­– Blair Henley

Traveling the world as a professional tennis player has its perks.

The continuous cycle of airports, hotels, foreign food, and germ exposure is not among them. Then, of course, there’s the constant wear and tear on a player’s body and the psychological fatigue of competing day in and day out.

You see, for most of us, staying healthy requires eating a balanced diet, popping the occasional multi-vitamin, and exercising every day (one can dream, right?). It’s not so easy for players on the WTA Tour, where extreme travel and physical exhaustion are a part of everyday life. That’s where USANA Health Sciences enters the picture.

While the team of physicians and dieticians that make up the WTA’s well-respected Sports Sciences and Medicine department has always been effective in identifying player needs, their hands have long been tied in terms of prescribing specific products given the possibility of a player ingesting, and testing positive for, a banned substance.

“We had no answer for them,” Kathleen Stroia, the WTA’s senior Vice President of Sports Sciences and Medicine, told Tennis Now. “We would say, ‘Well, take this, but you are on your own to determine whether or not it’s safe.’ Supplements in the U.S. do not have to be FDA approved, which allows for a lot of leeway.”

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So Stroia, along with a team from the WTA, began looking for a company that could provide quality products adherent to the ITF’s anti-doping rules and regulations. USANA quickly became the logical choice thanks to their likeminded philosophy toward health, prevention, and education. Founded 20 years ago by worldrenowned microbiologist Dr. Myron Wentz, USANA also had a reputation for staying on the cutting edge of research in its field.

“In our sport, I’ve seen nothing like USANA’s Athlete Guarantee.”

But there was one added benefit that made the partnership a proverbial slam-dunk: their Athlete Guarantee Program. It’s an unprecedented agreement stating that USANA will compensate a player “two times their current annual earnings up to $1 million” should they test positive for a banned substance as a result of taking USANA products. The company currently spends over $100,000 annually to test those products, assuring the safety of the approximately 600 professional athletes who use them.

The WTA Sports Sciences and Medicine department decided on eight USANA products that they felt addressed the issues facing female tennis players, including a specialized multi-vitamin, a joint health supplement, and a Vitamin C booster. Players also use USANA’s Nutrimeal drinks and nutrition bars to refuel.

The WTA’s Director of Sales and Sponsorship Marketing, Jill Hausler, explained the rarity of such an arrangement.

USANA and the WTA made things official in 2006, entering into a partnership that is still going strong today. Though no such affiliation exists on the men’s side (yet), reports that American John Isner recently signed on as a representative for Anatabloc suggests ATP players share a desire for the benefits of safe supplements.

Several times per year, the WTA’s sports dieticians meet with tour players to determine their specific needs. Vitamins are then prescribed and distributed in personalized, daily-dose packets, making them much easier for players to pack and to remember what they’ve taken. Rumor has it that even WTA CEO Stacey Allaster uses

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“In our sport, I’ve seen nothing like USANA’s Athlete Guarantee” –Jill Hausler, WTA’s Director of Sales and Sponsorship Marketing

The partnership has been so successful simply because it makes sense, explained USANA Public Relations Specialist Allie Henderson.

“It’s a great fit because the WTA has over 2,000 players in 92 nations,” said Henderson. “Given that USANA has 18 different international markets, we’re able to reach our international associates and employees through the WTA. It’s the perfect common ground.”

Even Billie Jean King has gotten in on the act, speaking at USANA’s 2011 International Convention. She captivated the audience of over 5,000, wrapping things up by – what else? – hitting signed tennis balls into the audience.

With 242,000 distributors selling USANA products worldwide, the company truly has a global presence. In addition, they have placed a high priority on giving back; a philosophy the WTA also embraces.

During the 2011 season, the two joined forces for the Ace Out Hunger program. USANA pledged $10 to the Children’s Hunger Fund for every ace hit at premier events during the second half of the season, while the WTA followed suit with a $25,000 donation.

USANA’s latest brand ambassador, Sloane Stephens Photo Credit: Getty Images

USANA products. Her packets are appropriately inscribed with one word: Chairman.

Currently there are around 200 WTA players benefitting from USANA supplements; a number the WTA expects will continue to rise as new generations of players join the pro ranks. Plus, the rookies can look at the veterans for inspiration. Last year, six WTA players were named product ambassadors for the brand, including Sam Stosur, Liezel Huber, and the recently-retired Kim Clijsters (who will likely be selling USANA products at the tennis club she’s renovating in Belgium). Today USANA announced American up-andcomer Sloane Stephens as their latest star endorser.

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USANA has since founded the True Health Foundation, which aims to aid underserved populations worldwide. In 2012 alone, they donated thousands to the flood relief efforts in the Philippines as well as victims of Hurricane Sandy.

USANA will hold one of its distributor “celebrations” in Melbourne during the Australian Open, featuring retired Aussie tennis star Alicia Molik as one of the speakers. They’d love to get Sam Stosur as well, but that will depend on how she performs at her “home” Grand Slam event.

Going forward, the WTA will continue to educate its players on the best ways to keep their bodies -- their most valuable assets healthy. Through its partnership with USANA, the Tour can provide a tangible means to support the highest levels of performance.

Kathleen Stroia summed up the relationship perfectly: “There area a lot of choices out there, but USANA and the WTA are -- no pun intended — a perfect match!”

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Gear Guide Serena Williams

No doubt Serena Williams will be sizzling Down Under thanks her latest Nike collection. Her violet vibe is eye-catching, sophisticated, and fun – the fashion trifecta!

Nike Air Max Cage A brand new addition to Serena’s wardrobe can be found on her feet. She’ll hit the court in the brand new Nike Air Max Cage Tennis Shoes. Featuring a flexible one-piece upper and a highpressure Max Air unit, this durable shoe delivers great ventilation, lightweight support and Nike’s highest level of impact protection.

Wilson BLX Blade 104

Nike Pleated Knit Dress

Using the Wilson BLX Blade 104 Serena looks to conquer the court with the perfect mix of power and control. With Amplifeel and BLX technology working in tandem to provide improved feel minus harsh vibrations, the BLX 104 guarantees both comfort and performance for champions.

Serena will appear in a royal ensemble this year, sporting the Nike Pleated Knit Dress in Grand Purple. Sphere mesh panels at the waist add a stylish pop of color, while greatly enhancing ventilation and providing a figure-flattering fit. This dress also features Serena’s signature scoop neckline, paired with a pleated skirt for added texture and a full range of motion.

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Who is Poised for a Breakout in Australia? ­– Chris Oddo Heading into the 2013 Australian Open, there are a lot of things we already know: Serena Williams is the heavy favorite on the women’s side, and either Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or Andy Murray is likely to takes the men’s singles title. There isn’t a whole lot of mystery at the top of tennis right now -- just awe-inspiring brilliance -- but there is a lot of mystery a few rungs down where the search for the breakout stars of 2013 will begin in earnest in Melbourne.

Australia has always been a great place to host a coming out party.

Pick a year and there’s a breakout story that goes with it: Alexandr Dolgopolov captured the imagination of tennis fans everywhere

when he raced to the quarterfinals in 2011 and nearly upset Andy Murray. Li Na famously reached her first Grand Slam final and belittled her husband, whose snoring kept her awake at nights, in that very same year.

In 2012 it was Kei Nishikori and Sara Errani, as each reached their first Grand Slam quarterfinal and went on to have career-best years.

Who’ll make a run for it this year? Here are the names we’re looking at:

Sloane Stephens (USA) — BREAKOUT The 19-year-old American climbed to a career-high ranking of 29 after reaching the quarterfinal in Brisbane, where she gave Serena Williams her most competitive match of the tournament. Stephens spent 2012 on the cusp of a breakthrough, reaching the third round in three of four Grand Slam appearances and inching up the rankings all the while. In 2013 she’s off to a flyer, having reached the semis in Hobart this week. She’s got power, poise and precision -- that a tennis trifecta -- and Stephens acts like she’s been there before, even though technically, she hasn’t.

Madison Keys (USA) — MAYBE If you saw Keys push Li Na to three sets in Sydney earlier this week, you know why the explosive American is on this list. Keys beat seasoned veterans Lucie Safarova and Zheng Jie before finally falling to Li, but not before the Chinese was made to struggle. Li later said that Keys would for sure be a “top 20, top 15, top 10” player. We agree. It’s unlikely that Keys is mentally tough or fit enough to make a deep run in Melbourne, but a minirun to the third round is certainly not out of the question.

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Laura Robson (GBR) — MAYBE Expectations grew (and continue to grow) for the soon-to-be 19-yearold after she announced that she’s ready for primetime at last year’s Australian Open. But a slow start to 2013 -- she’s gone 1-2 in two events -might help Robson to remember that she’s got nothing to lose in Australia.

When she plays with courage and goes for broke, she’s at her best. She’ll need to do that, and be fit enough to do that, to have another breakout performance in Melbourne.

Urszula Radwanska (POL) — MAYBE Now that Agnieszka’s little sister is all grown up and playing her first Grand Slam as a seed, we’ll get a chance to see how the 22-year-old responds to the pressure. ‘Lil Rad had a fantastic 2012, but she’s yet to get beyond the second round of a Grand Slam in 11 tries. Could the 12th be a charm?

Mona Barthel (GER) — BREAKOUT Back-to-back semifinals in Auckland and Hobart paint a pretty promising picture for the 22-year-old German. Barthel had a career-best third-round performance last year in Melbourne, and with a good draw in 2013, she could take it further.

Ashleigh Barty (AUS) — NOT QUITE READY This 16-year-old firecracker could be a real player someday. It’s probably too early in her development to expect much next week though.

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Jerzy Janowicz (POL) — MAYBE Janowicz became an overnight sensation with his run to the final in Paris as a qualifier last November. He mowed down five top 20 players, and in the process announced himself as a serious threat to reach the top ten in 2013. But can he survive in the torrid temperatures in Australia? In his first test he dropped a three-setter to Brian Baker in Auckland, but Janowicz is a confident bloke and one loss shouldn’t be enough to derail him. He’ll be ready to play in Melbourne, and if his draw — and the conditions — are right, he could reach the second week.

Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) — BREAKOUT Dimitrov raced out ahead of the pack when he reached the Brisbane final in the first week of the season. He served brilliantly and seemed to have a newfound belief that manifested itself in better movement and concentration. But after falling to Andy Murray in the Brisbane final, Dimitrov turned in a clunker in the first round at Auckland, losing to Fabio Fognini whilst hardly putting up a fight. Which Dimitrov will show in Melbourne? If it’s the one that showed up in Brisbane, he could be in for a deep run, if not, then deep disappointment.

Benoit Paire (FRA) — MAYBE The stylish Frenchman has a smooth, well-rounded game that really shines when he’s doing well. But when things don’t go his way, Paire can become sullen, disinterested, and downright lethargic. His idol? Predictably, Marat Safin. He’s got a long way to go if he wants to play like Safin did in the 2005 Australian Open final, but the World No. 41 can start by making it past the second round in Melbourne for the first time in his career.

Brian Baker (USA) — MAYBE Baker is looking for an encore to one of the most remarkable comeback seasons in recent memory. Now firmly inside the top 100, the mildmannered American can look forward to a few months with no ranking points to chase. He should enjoy it while he can because once May rolls around, Baker will have some very good results to defend.

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Bernard Tomic (AUS) — BREAKOUT Tomic hype is getting out of control, as the 20-year-old has clearly turned a corner in Australia this season. Tomic started the new year with three straight wins at Hopman Cup, and he has since parlayed those victories into a semifinal run at Sydney. He’s serving better, he’s behaving better, and he’s officially the unseeded player that nobody wants to see in the first round.

Milos Raonic (CAN) — NOT QUITE YET Dimitrov raced out ahead of the pack when he reached the Brisbane final in the first week of the season. He served brilliantly and seemed to have a newfound belief that manifested itself in better movement and concentration. But after falling to Andy Murray in the Brisbane final, Dimitrov turned in a clunker in the first round at Auckland, losing to Fabio Fognini whilst hardly putting up a fight. Which Dimitrov will show in Melbourne? If it’s the one that showed up in Brisbane, he could be in for a deep run, if not, then deep disappointment.

Ryan Harrison (USA) — NOT QUITE YET Harrison wants to win so bad, it’s hard not to wonder if maybe he doesn’t want it too bad. Harrison has a very mature game -- big serve, great volleys and a fine understanding of a tennis court’s geometry -- but there is a certain tension that seems to always sabotage his best intentions. Still, at 20, Harrison’s best tennis is still in front of him. His breakthrough will come, but it’s unclear as to when.

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Gear Guide Roger Federer

There aren’t many players on the ATP Tour who could rock the color pink – except for Roger Federer. He may be pushing the limits of tennis fashion with his latest Nike gear, but he’ll be looking cool as a cucumber in the hot Australian sun.

Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tour The latest pair of Nike Zoom Vapor 9 Tours features a bold combination of Anthracite and Polarized Pink. Pink details at the tongue, heel, and laces pop against the dark grey upper.

These kicks may be pretty in pink, but they pack a punch when it comes to performance. The Zoom Vapor 9 Tour is equipped with the latest technologies designed to deliver speed and stability. Adaptive Fit technology provides optimized stability and fit, combined with mesh for ventilation.

Wilson Pro Staff Six-One 90

Nike Premier RF Tennis Polo

Fusing the past and the future, the Wilson Pro Staff Six-One 90 BLX restores the Pro Staff name to the Roger Federer signature line while providing yet another technological advance in feel.

For day matches, we’ll see Roger rocking the Nike Premier RF Tennis Polo in a fresh shade of Pink. Made of stretchy Dri-Fit UV fabric, this cool and classy polo will keep him comfortable and protected. Mesh panels at the sides, back and neck greatly enhance ventilation. And bonded seams reduce irritation while maintaining a sleek fit and a lightweight feel.

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W TA DR AW PRE VIE W ­– Erik Gudris

Remember 12 months ago when eight - yes eight - women entered Melbourne with a chance to become No. 1 in the world? Ironically, the player now considered the overwhelming favorite at this year’s Australian Open wasn’t even on that list. Meanwhile, two young stars, one who reached No.1, the other expected to be the next No.1, may not even get out of the first round as their careers, for the moment, appear to be stuck in neutral.

At the 2013 Australian Open, now only three women have an opportunity to earn the coveted top ranking. But before they can get there, they’ll have to navigate a draw filled with rising stars, late bloomers, and most of all, a former finalist who actually loves the blue courts of Melbourne more than the red clay of her greatest triumph

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Victoria Azarenka’s Quarter Top seed Victoria Azarenka will open up the defense of her title against Romania’s Monica Niculescu. Though seeded players Urzsula Radwanska, Varvara Lepchenko and Roberta Vinci loom here, if “Vika” is on her game early, none of these players are expected to threaten her.

It’s the bottom half of Azarenka’s section that will provide more interest and likely more upsets. No. 10 seed Caroline Wozniacki finds her facing big serving Sabine Lisicki in the first round. Wozniacki may have found domestic bliss, but her game has turned stagnant of late and she is ripe to be upset.

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No. 7 seed Sara Errani is also here, but she could find herself leaving early too, thanks to a pair of Russians in Svetlana Kuznetsova or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who are playing better ball than they have in a long time.

But no matter who fights their way to the quarters, it will be Azarenka who marches into yet another major semi.

Pick: Azarenka

Serena Williams’ Quarter Can anybody beat No. 3 seed Serena Williams? That’s the question everyone is asking as the 15-time Major champion seeks to continue her impressive win streak from last year. She takes on Edina Gallovits-Hall to start and then could face No. 28 seed Yaroslava Shvedova in a rematch of their entertaining battle at Wimbledon last year.

takes on another slumping player in Francesca Schiavone in a first round matchup that could go either way. Kvitova may work her way into the quarters, but look for either Sloane Stephens or Laura Robson to face off against Serena in the last eight.

Like Azarenka’s section, it’s the bottom half here that’s worth paying attention to. No. 8 seed Petra Kvitova, who has been in a slump,

Pick: Serena

Serena might be tested, but she appears more than ready for the challenge as she goes for “sweet sixteen.”

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Agnieszka Radwańska’s Quarter After her double-bagel victory to win the Sydney title, No. 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska looks ready to prove her Wimbledon final run wasn’t a fluke. She might have to face No. 32 seed Mona Barthel who though streaky, can blast anyone off of the court when she’s on.

The top half here features No. 6 seed, Li Na, who reached the finals of Melbourne back in 2011. The veteran Chinese star is playing with more confidence of late and likes playing in Melbourne. Also here is No. 9 seed Sam Stosur who the locals are hoping will just get past the first round.

Radwanska could also face the winner of a potential third round meeting between Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic. But it’s doubtful the winner of that all-Serbian battle would find a way past the Pole.

Radwanska has all of the momentum right now, but how long can it last? She could reach the semis, but Li is not going to forget that loss to Radwanska in Sydney either.

Pick: Li 28

Maria Sharapova’s Quarter If we’re going with the assumption that Sharapova’s recent collarbone issue is behind her, then she’s still an overwhelming pick to reach the semis. Of course, many are hoping she books a third round meeting with No. 25 seed Venus Williams in a classic WTA battle that the elder stateswoman of the tour could win.

But if Sharapova’s survives that, whom could she face in the quarters? No. 5 seed Angelique Kerber has looked shaky in her recent events and could get upset early. Perhaps young American hope Madison Keys will continue her good form out of Sydney?

Pick: Sharapova

Semifinals: S. Williams over Azarenka; Li over Sharapova Final: Williams over Li 29

It’s OK to Miss ­by Ian Westermann USPTA certified tennis professional Ian Westermann is the owner and founder of essentialtennis.com. At a young age, he knew the sport of tennis was for him, and has pursued it relentlessly since.

Ian attended the esteemed Professional Tennis Management program at Ferris State University in MI for a four year Business degree with a minor in Professional Tennis.

While at Ferris he played both singles and doubles for the nationally competitive Division 2 tennis team, earning a national doubles ranking of 19 his senior year.

“It’s OK To Miss!

It’s OK to Lose

There are two very general, main types of tennis players out there.

One group is happy to play for the sheer enjoyment of it. Whether it be the exercise, socializing with friends, or just having something to do to get them out of the house. Group number two plays for the challenge of it. This isn’t to say that they don’t enjoy their time put in as well, however there’s more focus involved, a more serious tone is part of their practice and play. This article is written to group number two.

Did you hear me? Losing is a natural part of competition, it’s a bi-product of putting yourself and your game on the line against an opponent. This risk is necessary, without it winning would be meaningless wouldn’t it? Please take a minute to let that sink in and fully accept it. If you compete, eventually you will lose, it’s just a part of the process. It doesn’t make you a bad player, it doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you a competitor, period.

Ever get angry after missing a shot in tennis? Call yourself names out loud? Have the sudden urge to break the only thing at your disposal (racket)? I can confidently say I’ve done all those things, many times all after the same swing, heh. Why must we take ourselves that seriously, that not hitting a successful shot during an enjoyable, athletic past time should result in such negative emotions?

It’s my goal here at Essential Tennis to not only help you improve your tennis, but learn how to enjoy the process of learning more as well. I’ve personally struggled with lots of negativity in the past, and I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way. Below are four reasons why it’s perfectly OK to miss. Chances are that if you deal with anger on the court, one or two of these will resonate strongly with you. If that is the case, I urge you write the phrases down that do, and keep them in mind the next time you play.

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That means that within every point, every single time you take a swing at the ball there is always a chance that you will win, and a chance that you will lose (miss). Accept this as a fact of tennis, and don’t allow it to bother you and throw you off emotionally when it happens. I guarantee you it WILL happen, so there’s absolutely no sense in getting bent out of shape about it and allowing it to negatively effect your game play. Instead, after a miss quickly critique in your head what the mistake in technique or strategy was, and do your best to improve upon that next time that specific shot occurs.

Accept it: Tennis is Difficult

It’s a Tool for Improvement

This has taken a long time for me to accept personally, and I’ve seen several other players reject this fact as well resulting in anger on the court. Tennis is really hard to be truly good at, if you don’t agree with me get ready for frustration, either that or you need to start playing against higher level opponents. When you’re working on improving an specific stroke or strategy don’t be frustrated when attempts to implement it into point play initially fail. Mastering complicated physical movements like tennis and most other sports takes huge amounts of time and concentration, cut yourself some slack and allow yourself to screw it up at first. Of course if you’re continuing to screw it up the same way over and over then take note and figure out why so that you can fix it either then or later. If you don’t know the answer to the question “why?”, then seek out the council of somebody who does, very preferably somebody who answers such questions for a living so the answer will accurate and relevant to your problem.

That’s right, making errors helps you improve your tennis game, that is if you’re paying attention and keeping a good attitude about it.

This is one of many life lessons that can be learned on a tennis court: every mistake made gives the opportunity for improvement. Every time you strike a tennis ball and miss the court, or even just miss your target by a little bit, there’s a technical reason why it happened.

I find that often times this syndrome is further enhanced by the watching of professional matches on TV. They often times make the game look so easy, in fact more than a few times I’ve heard comments from people who’ve never played before about how easy tennis must be after seeing it on TV. “You just hit it over the net!”

So there you have it. Making errors can either throw you into a poor mood hampering your performance and improvement, or be an aid in the development of your game. With the right attitude mistakes can lead to bigger and better things both in tennis and in life.

I would highly discourage you from taking that statement and analyzing every single shot you hit on the court, however pay attention to patterns of misses. If you miss a short forehand long three times in a row, or four times out of six, there’s a problem there that must be addressed. If you’re smart, you’ll keep a little journal in your racket bag where you can write such things down so that next time you’re on a practice court or taking a lesson the issue can be worked on. In this fashion your game can be continually improved as long as you invest the necessary focus and effort.

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ATP DR AW PRE VIE W

­– Chris Oddo

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The big, burning question was answered when it was revealed that Andy Murray had been drawn into Roger Federer’s half of the Australian Open Men’s Singles draw on Friday.

A new season begins with a renewed sense of hope. Federer, at 31, will look to pad his legacy, while Murray and Djokovic, in their primes, will look to gain the upper hand on one another.

But the puzzle is far from being complete; currently there are just 128 fragmented pieces, all lying in wait to be formed into a coherent narrative. Certainly, the big four minus Nadal will be in the drivers seat, but a host of challengers will look to seize the moment and make names for themselves in Melbourne over the next two weeks, with the door left ajar just a crack by Nadal’s absence from the field.

Meanwhile, 125 other pieces of the puzzle will aim to prove that they too deserve to be recognized as one of the great ones. It may be a longshot, but so early in the season it won’t be hard for some of them to believe that it really is possible.

Novak Djokovic’s Quarter Djokovic has a nice draw, and there’s no other way to say it (well, cupcake is another way). He does have the ever dangerous David Ferrer lurking in his half, and he does have Tomas Berdych in his quarter, but other than that the Serb should have a nice quiet ride to the second week if he is playing even at 90 percent of his potential.

Stepanek, Viktor Troicki and Feliciano Lopez, and possible fourthround opponents include Stan Wawrinka or Sam Querrey.

He’ll open with Paul-Henri Mathieu, then play either Ryan Harrison or Santiago Giraldo. Possible third-round opponents include Radek

Pick: Djokovic

This should be a cakewalk for Djokovic. Even if he does face Berdych in the quarters, he is 11-1 lifetime against the Czech.

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David Ferrer’s Quarter This should be the most interesting piece of the puzzle because while the players in this quarter all respect David Ferrer, they are all less intimidated by his presence than they are by the top three seeds.

that test, Kei Nishikori could be his fourth-round opponent, and if he reaches the quarters he could face Janko Tipsarevic in a rematch of their fantastic U.S. Open quarterfinal from last year.

Ferrer is still the favorite though. But he’ll be challenged as early as a third-round and possibly epic tilt with Marcos Baghdatis. If he passes

Pick: Tipsarevic

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Andy Murray’s Quarter Murray should slide through to the quarters with very little turbulence here. Perhaps Gilles Simon or Alexandr Dolgopolov can test him, but it’s unlikely. But if he should find himself facing Juan Martin del Potro in the quarterfinals then he’d have to bring his A game to advance. Murray’s in great form and he has been in great form ever since his Olympic triumph, but it’s a new season, and a well rested Del Potro could be a dangerous man to face for the Scot.

Del Potro wouldn’t face a top 20 seed until Marin Cilic in the fourth round, if the seeds hold.

Pick: Murray 35

Roger Federer’s Quarter Federer has the death draw, there’s no mistaking that. But before you Federer fans panic, realize that this the guys who have are drawn to play Federer (Benoit Paire in the first round, Nikolay Davydenko in the second round, Bernard Tomic in the third round and Milos Raonic in the fourth round) have far worse draws.Federer is the king of the world and they are but mere pawns in his tennis-chess hybrid.

The one wildcard here is that Roger has not played a competitive match since November, so he’ll have to get his legs beneath him real fast. Paire, a Frenchman ranked No. 43 in the world, is an up-andcomer, while Davydenko and Tomic are coming in extremely hot.

Pick: Tomic

Semifinals: Murray over Tomic, Djokovic over Tipsarevic Final: Djokovic over Murray 36

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RANKINGS As of 01/07/12

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 Federer, Roger Murray, Andy Nadal, Rafael Ferrer, David Berdych, Tomas Del Potro, Juan Martin Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried Tipsarevic, Janko Gasquet, Richard Almagro, Nicolas Monaco, Juan Isner, John Cilic, Marin Raonic, Milos Simon, Gilles Wawrinka, Stanislas Nishikori, Kei Kohlschreiber, Philipp Dolgopolov, Alexandr Haas, Tommy Querrey, Sam Seppi, Andreas Verdasco, Fernando Youzhny, Mikhail

SRB SUI GBR ESP ESP CZE ARG FRA SRB FRA ESP ARG USA CRO CAN FRA SUI JPN GER UKR GER USA ITA ESP RUS

12,920 10,265 8,000 6,600 6,505 4,680 4,480 3,375 3,090 2,720 2,515 2,430 2,215 2,210 2,175 2,145 1,900 1,870 1,770 1,750 1,681 1,650 1,560 1,490 1,335

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 BLR Sharapova, Maria RUS Williams, Serena USA Radwanska, Agnieszka POL Kerber, Angelique GER Li, Na CHI Errani, Sara ITA Kvitova, Petra CZR Stosur, Samantha AUS Wozniacki, Caroline DNK Bartoli, Marion FRA Petrova, Nadia RUS Ivanovic, Ana SER Kirilenko, Maria RUS Cibulkova, Dominika SEK Vinci, Roberta ITA Safarova, Lucie CZR Goerges, Julia GER Makarova, Ekaterina RUS Wickmayer, Yanina BEL Lepchenko, Varvara USA Jankovic, Jelena SER Zakopalova, Klara CZR Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia RUS Williams, Venus USA

10595 10045 9750 7505 5550 5255 5100 5085 4135 3765 3740 3040 2841 2540 2495 2475 2125 1965 1841 1840 1835 1751 1705 1690 1650

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Last year, Roger Federer was knocked out in the semis by his nemesis Rafa Nadal. This year due to Nadal’s absence, Federer will have to deal with Murray instead on his side of the draw.

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Novak Djokovic attempts to serve faster than a speeding Audi R8 race car as it zooms past him. Djokovic is serving with the new Head Graphene tennis racquet at Sandown Raceway.

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CLICK HERE to view video

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2013 Aus tr alian Op en Preview Melbourne, Australia 44