2014 Wimbledon Review

2014 Australian Open Review

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WHAT’S INSIDE

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

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NOVAK’S MAJOR RELIEF

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GENERATION NEXT

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GAINING GROUND: GRIGOR DIMITROV

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NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

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SHOT SPOT: SIMONA HALEP’S FOREHAND

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HIGH–PERFORMANCE TRAINING

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FASHION FILES: NEW BALANCE

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CUSTOM PERFORMANCE

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RANKINGS

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CLOSING SHOTS

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2014 2014 Wimbledon Australian Open Review Review

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2014 Australian Open Review

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2014 Australian Open Review

Editors

Lana Maciel

Contact Us

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

Writers

Erik Gudris

Chris Oddo

Blair Henley

blair@tennisnow.com

Matt Locke

Design

Melinda Ramos Natalia Valenkova Kriss Zambrano

Photography

Kieran Galvin / CameraSport Ashley Locke Getty Images

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Letter from the Editor I have to admit that I was pretty disappointed with the outcome of this year’s Wimbledon championships. Of course, I think it carried a nice symmetry that both Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova notched their second title, after both had won their first Wimbledon together three years ago. But the thought of Roger Federer – the veteran, seven-time champ, 32-year-old father of four – coming so close to winning his 18th major and still dominating the younger generation was just too hard to root against.

Call it what you want – a bit of nostalgia, a dislike for change, or the synonymous pairing of Wimbledon with the Federer name – but it’s still hard to accept the fact that The Swiss Maestro is no longer invincible, especially on grass. It’s been two years since Federer last held the Wimbledon trophy, even longer since he won any other major, but while critics and tennis fans are ready to dismiss the GOAT and say he’s on the decline, he has proved this season that a resurgence and another Slam title are well within

reach. In fact, the fast hard courts of the summer swing could play into his favor, and he’ll be a strong contender for the US Open title.

That is, if Djokovic’s renewed confidence doesn’t propel him to even higher levels.

On the women’s side, it seemed the dominant force of Serena Williams has fallen victim to a mid-season burnout, while Maria Sharapova was overtaken by the next wave of young talent (read more about three of these women on page 10). It’s only a matter of time before the likes of Simona Halep or Eugenie Bouchard wins a major. And they get a few steps closer with every experience of being in the late stages of a Slam.

Expect to see some fresh faces holding the trophies this summer.

But until then, we reflect on the glory of tennis’ most prestigious Slam. With this issue, we’re highlighting all the big moments of The Championships, including a few of the breakout stars of the tournament. I hope you enjoy the magazine!

Lana Maciel Editor, Tennis Now Magazine lana@tennisnow.com 20142014 Australian Open Review Wimbledon Review

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2014 WIMBLE

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2014 Australian Open Review 2014 IW/Miami Review

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EDON REVIEW

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2014 IW/Miami Review

2014 Australian Open Review

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MAJOR RELIEF By winning Wimbledon for a second time, Novak Djokovic reversed a recent trend of disappointment in Grand Slam finals.

by Erik Gudris

Though he did win the Australian Open in 2013, Djokovic fell short at Wimbledon and the US Open last year and then recently at this spring's French Open. Though entering this year's Wimbledon as the top seed, Djokovic looked uncertain in many of his matches. He advanced, but not often on convincing terms.

"I'm working on it," Djokovic said after beating Grigor Dimitrov in the semifinals. "I identified the problem.

I know what's going on. Sometimes it just happens.

It happens not just because you play a bad game but sometimes your opponent plays well. It's important to, even though if you lose a set or two sets, to be able to bounce back and recover from that. I've done that, and that's a positive that I'm taking from these matches."

Djokovic, who led Federer 5-2 in the fourth set, seemed poised to close the match on his terms. But as Federer fought back, Djokovic faltered, allowing the seven-time winner back in the match. Entering a fifth set, no one was quite sure how Djokovic would respond. Would he fade away as he had in recent Grand Slam finals? Or would he rise to the occasion?

Just after winning the final point in the Wimbledon final, Novak Djokovic exhaled.

That noticeable sigh of relief was, in some part, a response to beating Roger Federer in a five-set instant classic on famed Centre Court. But it was also probably a way for Djokovic to release the pent-up tension of having come up short recently in Grand Slam finals.

After an incredible 2011 season where Djokovic won three majors, the last few seasons have seen Djokovic struggle often in the final round of the Grand Slams.

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2014 Australian Wimbledon Open Review Review

His answer? Fight harder. Djokovic swept aside the disappointment of losing the fourth set and played some of his best tennis of the final. With probing returns and pinpoint backhand winners, Djokovic would break Federer's serve in the last game to seal his 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-4 victory, giving him his second Wimbledon title and also sending him back to the No. 1 ranking.

“I could have easily lost my concentration in the fifth and just handed him the win,” Djokovic said. “But I didn’t, and that’s why this win has a special importance to me mentally. Because I managed to not just win against my opponent, but win against myself.”

Now with his seventh career Grand Slam title, Djokovic is once again back on track to perhaps claim

more major titles in the future. It may have been a slippery and unsure path to the Wimbledon title, with Djokovic often fighting himself, but his winning result can only give him more confidence that even more glory is waiting for him.

Djokovic, who said this match was the best quality Grand Slam final he had been a part of, will savor the win that much more. Especially after the up and down results he has dealt with recently.

"At this time of my career for this Grand Slam trophy to arrive is crucial, especially after losing several Grand Slam finals in a row," Djokovic said. "I started doubting a little bit. I needed this win a lot. I'm going to try to use it in the best possible way and for my confidence to grow for the rest of my season and the rest of my career."

With an impending marriage and new baby on the way, Djokovic's life is set to change even more.

After an exhale of relief and triumph at this year's Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic can now take a deep breath of joy and anticipation of what lies ahead both on and off the court. ”I can close the chapter of my tennis career just for a little bit now. I deserve that for a few weeks - to rest, to enjoy, be with my fiancée, my wife-to-be, and my family.”

2014 Australian OpenReview Review 2014 Wimbledon

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Generation Next

Kvitova triumphs, but the future is also bright for Bouchard, Halep

Petra Kvitova, three years removed from her maiden Grand Slam title in 2011, remains the only WTA player born in the 1990s to have won a major, but on the Monday following the Wimbledon fortnight, the real question centers round the Czech’s sudden rejuvenation on the Wimbledon grass and how many majors the now two-time Wimbledon champion might win before it’s all said and done.

Kvitova’s 6-3, 6-0 shellacking of Eugenie Bouchard in the 2014 Wimbledon final solidifies her reputation as one of the greatest grass-court players in the game today, and it also throws the hard-serving lefty’s name back into the mix of players who could supplant Serena Williams as the WTA’s next long-term No. 1 in the not-too-distant future.

With the 32-year-old Williams entering her 196th week at the top of the women’s game, dragging questions about her form and fatigue in her wake, it appears that the WTA might be headed for the true sea change at the top that, up until now, has only been speculated upon.

Kvitova, who makes her top five return at No. 4 in the world after her dizzying and dominant run to her second title at the All England Club, is certainly getting consideration as a future No. 1 who could one day expand her empire from the hallowed lawns of Wimbledon to the more gritty cement of New York and the Plexicushion of Australia.

Though Kvitova has the weapons and the Grand Slam titles, a safer bet for No. 1 might be placed on the only two women who have reached the last eight of all three majors this year – Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and Romania’s Simona Halep.

But before we discount the oft-erratic and disappointing Kvitova as a two-Wimbledon wonder, let’s consider the marked improvements that the Czech has made to her game since her first title in 2011. Though she is an offensive juggernaut, the likes of which the game rarely sees, Kvitova has added elements of margin and defense to her game that could—potentially—make her a more consistent and even more dominant player on tour.

Kvitova isn’t sure where it came from, but she’s hoping she can summon the superpowers that she displayed in her 55-minute thrashing of Bouchard at Wimbledon on a more regular basis.

“Maybe it was magic,” Kvitova said after a final in which she played some of the most remarkable defensive points of her career to keep the young Canadian at bay. “I was really prepared for everything. Yeah, probably when I am in the zone I’m doing these things.”

As far as what the future holds, maybe Kvitova has learned something invaluable at this Wimbledon final. Possessed by positive emotions on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, she seemed to play with a passion and precision that she lacks at other less stimulating venues.

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Open Review 2014 Australian Wimbledon Review

“I mean, it’s Wimbledon,” Kvitova said of the experience. “Tennis here is tennis history. The Centre Court is always great to play on. I can say it’s a little bit like a Fed Cup when I’m playing in the Czech Republic and I feel the crowd. My stomach is a little bit funny. It just [gives me] goosebumps.”

Smiling, as she looked ahead to the challenge of replicating this sparkling title run at other Grand Slam venues, Kvitova adds: “I will just try to be more in the zone then.”

The Next Crop of Rising Talent Spotlight on: Eugenie Bouchard & Simona Halep Eugenie Bouchard, who became Canada’s first Grand Slam finalist and who is now the highest-ranking Canadian ever after reaching No. 7 in the post-Wimbledon rankings, has no problem getting in—and staying in— the zone. The 20-year-old Montreal native is determined, mature beyond her years, and isn’t close to being satisfied with her run to the final this year.

Immediately after the setback in the final, one could already feel that Bouchard was looking forward to using it as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. “I think this was a good experience for me, my first Slam final,” she said. “I’m going to learn a lot from this match and hopefully use it to get much better.”

The thought of Bouchard improving is a scary prospect for the rest of the tour. At 20, she’s compiled a 16-3 record in Grand Slams this year with a relatively raw game that should become more and more fine-tuned in the years to come.

Analyzing opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as adding variety to her game and improving her second serve and footwork could make her exponentially better than she already is. But the one area where Bouchard shines is her mental toughness and her ability not only to deal with, but also to embrace pressure.

“I try not to even think about specifically what the score is,” Bouchard said, after her Wimbledon quarterfinal victory over Angelique Kerber. “I try to go out on each point and play the right way. And, you know, when I try to go for it more usually it works in my favor, so I’m going to always try to do that every single point.”

That Bouchard was able to defeat Simona Halep in the Wimbledon semis was impressive for the Canadian, but it doesn’t do anything to detract from the long-term potential of the rising 22-year-old. The first Romanian in 34 years to reach a major final just barely fell to Maria Sharapova at the Roland Garros final, and though she had never reached beyond the second round at Wimbledon, Halep cruised to the semifinal at SW 19 before being knocked off by Bouchard in two tight sets.

Was her battle with the Canadian the second of many in what promises to be a very entertaining rivalry? Does Halep, who possesses great feel for the game and tactics, have the killer instinct to become a true force at the top of the game?

An effortless mover and a smooth striker of the ball, Halep doesn’t have the knockout punches that Kvitova possesses, nor does she have the fiery, cutthroat mindset of Bouchard, but everything about her results since 2013 point to her becoming a force in the game for years to come.

Wimbledon 2014 was about new faces, but in the end a familiar one regained the form that the tennis world fell in love with in 2011.

2014 Australian OpenReview Review 2014 Wimbledon

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Gaining Ground

By Chris Oddo

With Roger Rasheed at the helm, Grigor Dimitrov is poised to go higher in the rankings, and deeper in the Slams.

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2014 2014 Roland Australian Garros Open Review Review

Grigor Dimitrov had three set points to force a fifth set in the Wimbledon semifinal against Novak Djokovic, and failed to convert all three as he went on to lose to the eventual Wimbledon champion in four sets.

That failure aside, it was a Wimbledon fortnight filled with success for the 23-year-old Bulgarian. He reached his first Grand Slam semifinal, taking out defending champion Andy Murray on his home turf in a dazzling quarterfinal performance. He stretched his career-best winning streak to 10 matches, which included a title at Queen’s Club and a top-three victory over Stan Wawrinka. And, perhaps best of all, he received affirmation that his diligence in the weight room and on the practice court with coach Roger Rasheed is paying off.

It has been a blossoming season, to say the least, as Dimitrov has turned up his intensity in 2014 and appears to have finally arrived as a major threat to tennis’ big four. So, inquiring minds want to know: What is the ceiling on the wildly talented and equally charismatic Bulgarian? Is he destined to be the next multiple Slam winner, or will he remain a puzzling enigma, a highlight reel regular who can’t quite find the consistency to become a tour de force at the big events?

One thing’s for certain: With taskmaster Roger Rasheed as his coach, Dimitrov won’t be satisfied with his Wimbledon performance. In one of the most wise-beyond-his-years decisions of Dimitrov’s career (one that has been praised by many a pundit as the best decision of his life), he elected to sign on with Rasheed last year, knowing full well that the coach would be eager to make him suffer for the cause.

“For me I think it was just a matter of time to learn something about myself more than anything else,” Dimitrov said of his decision to go with the Aussie as his helmsman.

“He brought a lot of discipline, shot selection, all those things.”

In 2014, Dimitrov has finally achieved a level of fitness that allows his brand of tennis to be sustainable. Rasheed’s hardcore methodology is a big reason for that.

“A lot of work. A lot of weights,” Dimitrov told reporters of his routine with taskmaster Rasheed. “You know, he’s a very tough but fair man at the end of the day. And I love to work. I love to give everything from myself every day.”

Dimitrov has long been talented and bursting with promise, but before 2014, his career record of 4-24 against the top 10 told a story of potential yet to be kinetic. This year, with a stiffer skeleton and a more professional attitude, the Bulgarian has won four of nine against the top 10—including two against Murray—as well as notching three titles on three surfaces.

“A lot of work.

A lot of weights…”

Dimitrov, always preternaturally gifted as a shotmaker, has clearly grown under Rasheed’s tutelage in the fitness category. This was a player who had developed a reputation for cramping during the 2013 season that saw him rising in the rankings but still held back by his ability to grind out long matches with the top players.

His newfound fitness is the springboard to better decisionmaking on court. In short: If you can’t breathe or feel your legs after a long string of points, then the odds of choosing the right shot for the right moment dramatically decrease.

In today’s tennis, with slower surfaces, longer rallies, and a gaggle of physically fit performers with a seemingly endless tolerance for suffering, it was necessary for Dimitrov to make the transition from aesthetically pleasing to physically phenomenal.

With shotmaking prowess and on-court movement that has raised eyebrows ever since he was a junior, Dimitrov is now raising eyebrows with his grit and willingness to dig deep to make the extra ball.

Because he’s been willing to go the extra mile off the court, Dimitrov appears ready to compete for tennis’ most coveted prizes on it.

2014 Wimbledon Review

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Swagger and a cool haircut will get you noticed. But beating the world No. 1 player on the biggest stage in tennis will make everyone remember your name.

Just ask Nick Kyrgios of Australia. Though described as a star of the future, the 19-year-old Canberra native proved he is one to watch after his remarkable performance playing in the Wimbledon main draw for the first time.

A former junior No. 1, Kyrgios first gained attention earlier this year with a spirited five-set second-round loss to France’s Benoit Paire at the Australian Open.

Subsequent success on the challenger circuit propelled Kyrgios up the rankings in the spring, earning him a wildcard into this year’s Wimbledon event.

After overcoming a two-sets-to-love deficit against France’s Richard Gasquet in the third round, where he saved nine match points and won, Kyrgios secured a firsttime meeting with world No. 1 Rafael Nadal on famed Centre Court. Asked before the match if he thought he could win, Kyrgios replied with a confident, “Yeah.”

Kyrgios, not looking overwhelmed with the moment or facing Nadal, served like a veteran throughout the match. His powerful, free-flowing athletic game delighted the crowd with several remarkable shots that made it straight into Wimbledon’s highlight reel.

When it was over in four sets, Kyrgios celebrated the tournament’s most surprising upset.

NEW ON KID THE BLOCK 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios of Australia announced himself to the tennis world with his surprise upset win over Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon.

“That’s the biggest win of my career obviously, and that’s something I’m never going to forget,” Kyrgios said. “I’m going to draw so much confidence out of that no matter where I play now. To have that under my belt, it’s massive.”

Kyrgios would end up losing to Canada’s Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals. Yet the Aussie would only look at the positives from his stellar time in London.

“It’s been the best couple weeks of my life. Never did I think that I was ever going to make quarterfinals of Wimbledon and beat Nadal on Centre Court. It’s all happened pretty fast. You know, I don’t think it’s completely sunk in yet, the achievement. I’m just going to reflect on that the next couple days.”

Having already smashed his personal goal of breaking into the top 100, Kyrgios is aiming even higher for the next part of the season. In fact, just as he often ends his Twitter posts with the hashtag #NKrising, Kyrgios is out to prove he will have no problem continuing his rapid rise.

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2014 2014 Wimbledon Australian Open Review Review

By Erik Gudris

“I think I’m always going to have a style of game that’s aggressive, having an aggressive serve, really take control from the baseline. To be able to play my best tennis, that’s how I’m going to have to play. I am going to have to play free, back myself under pressure. That’s going to give me the best chance to win matches.”

I think I’m always going to have a style game that’s aggressive…

With Australian tennis fans eager for the next great tennis champion to root for, Kyrgios is happy to continue that nation’s proud tennis legacy.

“Yeah, you look at the Australian culture of what it was, you know, back when Lleyton (Hewitt) was a champion, Pat Rafter was a champion. They were such fearless competitors. I want to start bringing that back into the sport, especially for Australian tennis.”

2014 Wimbledon Review

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Shot Spot

Simona Halep

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By Blair Henley SIMONA HALEP has been one of the breakthrough stars of 2014 thanks, in part, to picture-perfect technique. At only 5-foot-6, she’s forced to use her athleticism to her advantage in order to match, even exceed, the power of her more imposing counterparts. Take a look at this breakdown of Halep’s forehand, and see why it’s one of the most effective shots on the WTA Tour.

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2014 Australian Roland Garros OpenReview Review

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The first key to Halep’s success is her anticipation and early preparation. She has read the ball off her

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As the ball draws closer, Halep loads her weight on her back foot, preparing for an explosion forward on

opponent’s strings and has immediately

contact. As she continues

reacted by turning her body and initiating

her backswing, she turns her upper body

her backswing. Notice that her arms stay

further, waiting to uncork that stored

parallel as she turns; her right arm is not

energy as she follows through. She must

moving independently of her body.

look over her left shoulder to see the ball.

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Just before contact, Halep drops the racquet head below the level of her hand, her wrist relaxed.

This will allow for extra brush (spin creation) on contact. She continues to drive through with her front leg, and she’s begun to unwrap with her upper body, releasing that energy into the back of the ball.

Halep has begun to transfer her weight into the shot. Note that she is stepping forward, not across her body. Her eyes are trained on the ball and her wrist is relaxed. She keeps her head steady as she sinks into a squatting position, using her textbook knee bend to prepare for contact.

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Here, you can see the explosion from Halep’s legs as she gets maximum push forward and brush up the back of the ball, creating driving spin. Her head still stays steady, decreasing the likelihood of a mishit, while her string face is almost perpendicular to the court.

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Even post-contact, Halep’s body is remarkably steady.

Her arm is relaxed enough to finish naturally once she’s driven up and out on the ball.

Her shoulder finishes near her chin, which is a great checklist item for amateur players looking to ensure a good low-to-high finish.

Only now does Halep swing her back leg around in one fluid motion, making it easy to re-engage the ready position. Her western grip and relaxed wrist result in her racquet head finishing facing downward, but note that she is not forcing the racquet head to finish low – it is the natural result of her swing.

2014 ReviewReview 2014Wimbledon Australian Open

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FASHION FILES: It’s not just for runners anymore!

It has been just over a year since New Balance signed a multi-year contract to be the exclusive footwear and apparel provider for Wimbledon semifinalist and top 10 player Milos Raonic. In that short period of time, the Boston-based company has become a notable new face in pro tennis fashion, outfitting the towering Canadian in classic styles with a modern twist. And their looks are not just for the guys! Women, too, can enjoy everything from sporty separates to vintage-inspired lifestyle tees. New Balance has made a commitment to developing reasonably priced gear with the commitment to comfort and quality that has long made them one of the most trusted brands in the world of running.

Check out some of our favorite tennis picks from their latest collections!

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1. Geospeed Tennis Jacket zip-up, $90. 2. 996 French Open Tennis Shoes with Grand Slam insignia, $109.95. 3. Geospeed Tennis Pant, $65. 4. Geospeed Tennis Polo with 30+ UPF protection, $65; Court Tennis Short with odorblocking technology, $45. 5. 1296 D Width Tennis Shoes with durability guarantee $119.95.

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2014 Wimbledon Review

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1. Speed Tennis Polo with LightningDry technology, $60. 2.Printed Montauk Tennis Dress with UPF 50, $80. 3. Bookstore Tennis Hoody, $75. 4. Sunglasses with polarized lenses, $29.99. 5. 1005 Tennis Shoes built for stability, $114.99. 6. Endurance Medium Duffle Bag, $30. 7. Westside Tennis Pant, $60. 8.

Accent visor, $14.99. 9. Big Brand Tennis Tank with racerback fit, $20. 10. Printed Racerback Tennis Tank with UPF 50+, $50; Montauk Tennis Skort with UPF 50+, $45; Pair of 4-inch wristbands, $6.99.

2014 Wimbledon Review

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CUSTOM

PERFORMANCE Angell Tennis offers full racquet customization in quality frames.

By Matt Locke

T

ennis is a game of personal statements. From the clothes you wear to your style of play, everything represents a piece of who you are. So your racquet shouldn’t be any different, right? Enter Angell Tennis, a company that is perhaps one of the best kept secrets in tennis. Founded in 2012 by Paul Angell, Angell Tennis is devoted to delivering a customized racquet at a reasonable cost. Paul previously served as Head of Design at Dunlop Slazenger and is a pioneer in the use of Cad Cam analysis and software for racquet manufacturing. He oversaw development of the renowned Muscle Weave and Hot Melt ranges of Dunlop frames and the racquet development for their touring pros. In other words, Angell Tennis has very solid credentials in racquet customizing. Other racquet brands have offered small-scale customization before, but Angell takes things to another level with its array of options.

Your order starts on the AngellTennis.com website. Once there, you choose from 4 headsizes (90, 95, 100 and 105). You then select your desired specs from options in the following categories: stiffness, length, weight/balance, handle shape, handle size, grip type/color, bumper color and string pattern (depending on model). All racquets feature Angell’s “D” box section design and are constructed with Japanese High Modulus carbon fiber. The 95” and 100” head sizes are filled with mid-density PU foam for vibration suppression and tighter manufacturing tolerances.

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2014 Wimbledon Review

The customization process is very easy and you can see what the frame looks like with the different colors and grips. I ordered the TC100 model with the following specs: 63RA, 27” length, 310g/315mm weight & balance, 16x19, and neon grommets. With the specs laid out exactly as you want them, the big question is “Do they perform?”

First of all, the frames are terrific looking. The paint job is excellent and has a high quality appearance.

On court, the racquet was very solid on groundstrokes. The racquet has a classic, comfortable feel thanks to the foam fill while still providing connection to the ball. The 16x19 pattern provided excellent access to spin without sacrificing control. My specs were very maneuverable at the net and the racquet volleyed with excellent feel and touch (especially with the 63RA). I found a good balance of power and control from anywhere on court.

Serving was one area I needed more time with. My kick serve had a noticeable increase in movement, with one opponent noting it was “exploding off the court.” However, I could not get my flat serve dialed in. Although the racquet is similar to my most recent frame, it feels like it has a higher swing weight; which I needed more time to adjust to. Overall, the racquet performed very well and was an all-court weapon. It offered a great blend of power and control off the ground, excellent net maneuverability and tremendous feel and response.

Angell Tennis is an excellent option for players seeking a high-quality frame built to the exact specs they want. You probably won’t see any pros using them on the tour but make no mistake; these are well built frames that have something to offer players of any level. Tennis is a personal game, and these frames offer the chance to have a say in the way your racquet looks and performs. At prices that rival major racquet companies, why not explore making your racquet just that: YOURS.

2014 2014 Australian Wimbledon OpenReview Review

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WIN HIGH

A COPY OF THE BOOK!

Check out the Tennis Now Facebook page online and enter to win the e-book version of Philipp Halfmann’s Advanced Concepts of Strength & Conditioning for Tennis. Five winners will be chosen on July 22. Enter today for your chance to win!

If you would like to purchase the book, Tennis Now readers get a special 20% discount off the price! Just visit www.tennis-conditioningbook.com and enter the promo code TENNISNOW-20 when you check out. Happy training!

Performance Training

New book offers tennis training techniques for optimal strength and conditioning.

Being a strong tennis player isn’t just about perfecting your shots on the court. It’s also about how you train your body in the gym to prepare for what you do on the court.

There are a number of tennis-specific movements that require functional training, and it’s important to know how to develop them for optimal tennis fitness.

Enter author and tennis coach Philipp Halfmann’s new textbook, Advanced Concepts of Strength & Conditioning for Tennis, which offers a developmental approach to athletic conditioning that can be easily understood and implemented by tennis players and coaches of all skill levels. Advanced Concepts provides readers with more than 700 pages of valuable tennis training tools, complete with information on nutrition, fitness assessment tests and principles of exercise physiology.

Exercises and activities are broken down into major categories including warm-up and stretching, resistance training, and speed, agility and quickness training, all complete with full-color images and detailed descriptions on how to perform the activities. Most of the exercises are also shown with various degrees of difficulty and levels of progression so that athletes can gradually adapt their training over time.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER 22

2014 Australian Open Review

Overall, Advanced Concepts offers recreational and professional tennis players and coaches alike with a valuable resource tool to enhance strength and conditioning training. The following resistance training activity is a sample exercise from the book, detailing the “reverse lunge to medicine ball diagonal reach,” which mimics complex tennis movements and improves core stability and balance.

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Shop TennisExpress.com 24 2014 IW/Miami Review

RANKINGS 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 Wawrinka, Stan Berdych, Tomas Raonic, Milos Ferrer, David Del Potro, Juan Martin Dimitrov, Grigor Murray, Andy Nishikori, Kei Isner, John Gulbis, Ernests Gasquet, Richard Fognini, Fabio Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried Anderson, Kevin Robredo, Tommy Dolgopolov, Alexandr Cilic, Marin Monfils, Gael Youzhny, Mikhail Bautisa Agut, Roberto Lopez, Feliciano Haas, Tommy

SRB ESP SUI SUI CZE CAN ESP

ARG BUL GBR JPN USA LAT FRA ITA FRA RSA ESP UKR CRO FRA RUS

ESP ESP GER

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

Williams, Serena USA Li, Na

CHI Halep, Simona ROU Kvitova, Petra

CZE Radwanska, Agnieszka POL Sharapova, Maria RUS Bouchard, Eugenie CAN Kerber, Angelique GER Jankovic, Jelena SRB Azarenka, Victoria BEL Ivanovic, Ana SRB

Cibulkova, Dominika SVK Pennetta, Flavia ITA Errani, Sara ITA Wozniacki, Caroline DEN

Suarez Navarro, Carla SPN Safarova, Lucie CZE

Stosur, Samantha AUS

Makarova, Ekaterina RUS Petkovic, Andrea GER Cornet, Alize FRA Stephens, Sloane USA Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia RUS

Vinci, Roberta ITA Williams, Venus USA

13,130 12,670 6,100 5,770 4,410 3,920 3,875 3,360 3,270 3,040 2,780 2,735 2,680 2,370 2,235 1,910 1,835 1,720 1,680 1,665 1,660 1,655 1,625 1,545 1,475 9,510 6,960 6,785 6,070 5,330 4,881 4,460 4,365 3,900 3,812 3,660 3,636 3,168 3,125 2,825 2,695 2,675 2,415 2,380 2,235 2,075 2,050 1,890 1,880 1,726

2014 Wimbledon Review

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Instant Classic: Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer treated us to a true master class on the most hallowed court in professional tennis.

Future Tense: She may not have claimed the title, but Genie Bouchard’s performance at Wimbledon granted her entry into the WTA’s top 10.

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2014 Australian Open Review

Selfie Squeeze: Fan favorite Ana Ivanovic spent some quality time with enthusiastic fans at a meet and greet on the grounds of the Sony Open.

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2014 Australian Open Review

Better Late Than Never: Throughout his semifinal run at Wimbledon, Grigor Dimitrov consistently wowed fans with his exceptional shot-making abilities.

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2014 Australian Open Review

Dreary Drizzle: Rain and Wimbledon go together like strawberries and cream, and this year was no exception.

Taste of Victory: Novak Djokovic nibbled on the Wimbledon greenery following his Centre Court triumph over Roger Federer.

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2014 Australian Open Review

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2014 Australian Open Review

Airborne: Angelique Kerber put her power on full display during her grueling three-set takedown of Roland Garros champion Maria Sharapova.

Double Trouble: Youngsters Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil pulled off perhaps the biggest upset of Wimbledon 2014, beating the Bryan Brothers to claim the doubles title.

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2014 Australian Open Review

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2014 Australian Open Review

Until Next Year: As the sunlight faded over the worn grass of the All England Club, we bid farewell to another memorable Wimbledon fortnight.

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2014 Australian Open Review