2014 Year in Review

turning back the clock INSIDE LOOK ATP WORLD TOUR FINALS

instruction CONTACT POINT ANALYSIS

FASHION HITS & MISSES

AGELESS FEDERER SILENCED DOUBTERS IN 2014

WHO’S NEXT IN LINE FOR SERENA’S THRONE? MEN’S TENNIS

WHAT WE LEARNED 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 1

CONTENTS

LONDON FINISH A Walk Through the World Tour Finals

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YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

WHO’S 16 WTA: NEXT? WHAT WE 6 ATP: LEARNED

RED 18 WTA CARPET

FINALS: 10 ATP INSIDE LOOK

iDAPT 20 DUNLOP RACQUET REVIEW

SPOT 14 SHOT INSTRUCTION

24 FASHION HITS & MISSES

6 40 32 30

RAFA 30 THE EXPERIENCE KIDS 32 THE ARE ALRIGHT

34

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

FUZZY 36 THE AWARDS

40 CLOSING SHOTS 52 QUIZ 53

RANKINGS

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Live Scores Gossip Draws TV Listings Instruction Results Rankings Player Interviews Editorials Statistics Match Analysis Daily Updates Daily Video News Forums Photo Gallery Blogs 2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 3

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YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

WRITERS

Erik Gudris

Chris Oddo

When your life revolves around the tennis calendar, there are parts of the year that feel like you’re locked in the grind of a five-set match. And inevitably, when the season is said and done, it feels like it lasted no longer than a 6-0, 6-0 rout.

It seems like just yesterday that Li Na was performing standup comedy at the Australian Open, and now she’s comfortably retired. RETIRED! Can you believe it was springtime when Kei Nishikori pulled out of the Sony Open semis, leading many of us to wonder if he’s too physically fragile to live up to his potential? Serena Williams instantly wiped away a season of sub-par Grand Slam results with her performance at the US Open and beyond. And Roger Federer? Well, he used 2014 to successfully turn back his career clock. At this rate, he’ll be with us until at least the Rio Olympics, right?

This year proved that the sport of tennis is a living, breathing organism. We’ve gotten comfortable with several seasons of overall predictability, but those days are likely over for now. I love knowing that anything can happen, and I expect will see lots of “anything” in 2015.

Enjoy this issue, packed full of our favorite moments from the season that was and even a quiz to test your tennis knowledge. We’ll see you in January!

Matt Locke

Nicholas McCarvel

DESIGN Kriss Zambrano Natalia Valenkova

PHOTOGRAPHY Getty Images CameraSport Christopher Levy

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

Blair Henley

Tennis Now Magazine blair@tennisnow.com

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By Chris Oddo

Roger Federer Is Aging VERY Gracefully Roger Federer was a shell of his former self in 2014, but not in the way that many thought he would be. Known to be stubborn and resistant to change, Federer flipped the script on his doubters in 2014 by emerging as a more aggressive player with a beefed up net game, a newer, largerframed racquet and a chip on his shoulder the size of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

1

Instead of dissolving after a 2013 that was marred by back problems, poor form and his first non-top-five year-end finish since 2002, Federer e-v-o-l-v-e-d. In a year that saw the 17-time Grand Slam champion turn 33, he nearly won Wimbledon and made an energized push to reclaim the No. 1 ranking down the stretch.

Even though Federer came up short (just barely) on both counts, the Swiss maestro proved that age is merely a number when it comes to the most decorated tennis player of all-time. What can we expect in 2014? The race for No. 1 will continue into Australia, where Federer will arrive as one of the lead contenders for his 18th Grand Slam title and a chance to be the oldest No. 1 in the history of the ATP. Instead of being the beginning of the end, 2014 ended up being a new beginning for Roger Federer, one that has many thinking his fantastic form could continue on for years to come.

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YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

EIGHT THINGS WE LEARNED FROM THE 2014 ATP SEASON

Rafa Is Still the King of Clay Through all the hardship that Rafael Nadal endured in 2014— losing the Australian Open final due to a badly tweaked back, struggling on the red clay of Europe in decidedly non-Nadal fashion, getting drubbed at Wimbledon by a teenager and missing the US Open due to a wrist injury—Nadal proved, once again and in his typically emphatic fashion, that he is still the undisputed king of clay.

By Chris Oddo

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The Spaniard claimed his ninth Roland Garros crown by whipping Novak Djokovic in the final in 2014, and he’ll head back there next year as the heavy favorite with a chance to win a tenth French Open title. No matter what happens in 2015, Nadal’s domination of the terre battue

will go down as one of the most remarkable achievements in the history not just of tennis, but of all sport. If he can win the 10th, the legend will only grow…

3

Novak Djokovic: No. 1 and Still Very Much in His Prime Say what you will about Novak Djokovic’s relatively slow-growing major title count, but if there is anybody in men’s tennis poised to win multiple major titles in 2015, that man would have to be Nole. Things were good on the professional and personal front for the Serb this season: He won his second Wimbledon title, taking down Roger Federer in the most compelling men’s match of 2014; he then married longtime fiancé Jelena Ristic; plus, he capped off the year by witnessing the birth of his first son Stefan.

Finishing year-end No. 1 for a third time in four years? That was just the icing on the cake for the most consistently dominant player in men’s tennis.

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The Big Four Better Beware, and So Should the Young Guns Milos Raonic and Kei Nishikori are clearly players on the rise and heading into their prime, and both made big waves on the ATP tour this season, notching wins over the top players and going ever deeper into Grand Slam draws. Grigor Dimitrov did the same, and Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka trumped them all by winning major titles and making 2014 the first year since 2003 that the Big Four didn’t win at least three of the four Grand Slam titles on offer. With youngsters such as Nick Kyrgios, Borna Coric and Alexander Zverev on the rise, the future looks bright for the ATP Tour, as these names will continue to try to gain precious ground against the tour’s elite players in 2015.

But don’t expect the Big Four to give up without a fight. With Andy Murray finally starting to show his best form at the end of 2014, Rafael Nadal resting up and hungry to regain his form and Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic showing no signs of slowing down, it’s apparent that these men are not going to give up their stranglehold on the majors without a fight.

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Kei Nishikori Has the Potential to be the ATP’s Next Maiden Grand Slam Champion

Armed with one of the best, most diverse and lethal two-handed backhands in all of tennis, Kei

Nishikori made major strides in 2014. Known formerly for his fragile body and lack of self-belief in the biggest moments, Nishikori came up with a run for the ages at the 2014 US Open. He notched three consecutive top 10 victories, taking out Milos Raonic, Stan Wawrinka and Novak Djokovic to reach the final, and even though he came up short—and flat—in the final against Marin Cilic, the 24-year-old became Japan’s first ever top five player as well as the first player from Asia to reach the ATP World Tour Finals.

What can Nishikori do for an encore in 2015? Given his improved fitness and mental game, coupled with his otherworldly court quickness and explosive shotmaking, one can only assume that the sky is the limit.

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 7

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“Showtime” Not Quite Ready for Primetime

Grigor Dimitrov, arguably in possession of the most jawdropping and aesthetically appealing shotmaking toolbox on the ATP Tour, had a fantastic season. He reached the Wimbledon semifinals and notched two other Masters semifinals (Toronto and Rome) as well, but the question still looms: How can a player as talented, fit and explosive as Dimitrov still not have a Masters or Grand Slam final on his resume? Another question: Does he relish the hot shot at the expense of the big win too often? He made great strides in 2014, but Dimitrov will have to go the extra distance in 2015 or doubts will start to surface.

Fabio, Call Us When You’ve Grown Up

Give Us More Monfils!!!

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When he plays, Gael Monfils is one of the most entertaining and imaginative players on the ATP Tour. Simply put, the man’s capacity to bring a crowd to its feet is unmatched in professional tennis. The Frenchman’s results were once again inconsistent in 2014, and his methods once again mad, but when Monfils was playing at his best—free of injury 8

YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

and fueled by Coca-Cola—there were people in the seats and smiles on their faces.

One can only hope that Monfils can harness his talent in 2015 and push deeper into draws at the majors. Tennis would surely benefit from more headline-generating victories from “LaMonf,” a player that has been referred to many times as the best athlete that the sport of tennis has ever seen.

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On the cusp of the ATP’s top 10 early in the season after some seriously inspired claycourt play, Fabio Fognini’s 2014 devolved into an embarrassing (and viral, “Fognini tantrum” videos are everywhere) series of unnecessary and puerile on-court confrontations with players and umpires alike. It grew tiresome, and by the end of the season even those who were enamored with his impressive clay-court stylings had enough of the not-so-fabulous Fognini.

Our advice? Come back with a better attitude in 2015, stop tanking and starting trouble, and fans will embrace you as one of the biggest turnaround stories of the season. 

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Wimbledon may be the world’s most famous tennis tournament, but it’s the O2 Arena that holds the final men’s event each year, the World Tour Finals.

Here, a closer look at the quirky round robin indoor event.

10 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

A is for Atmosphere

If you’ve never been to an indoor tennis tournament, this one should be your first stop. No brutal sun, no wind, no “Oh man, are those rain clouds?!” Moreover, the production of the stage – in this case, the court – is a sight to see. London has proved it can do the polite tennis scene quite well at its two grass-court events each year, but the fervor of this public is a welcomed change. The place pulsates with the action. Crowds gather at near-capacity numbers for every session (that’s 17,800, mind you) and after his win Tuesday night over Milos Raonic in group play, Murray thanked them for their loudness.

By Nicholas McCarvel

The escalator bank leading up from the underground station at North Greenwich is plastered in grand (though not Wimbledon) purple, all part of an ad featuring a serving tennis player, visible only from the back. It appears to be Andy Murray but, is it? To British fans: Of course it is! To everyone else: Who cares?

North Greenwich is the stop for the O2 Arena and – hence the ad – last week’s ATP World Tour Finals. It’s the sixth consecutive year that London has hosted the men’s year-end championships, a contract that ends next year, making London – already home to Wimbledon and Queen’s – perhaps the current tennis capital of the world.

Make your way out of the tube and weave through concrete columns plastered with players’ images and the O2 hovers like a spider-legged spaceship in front of you. It’s essentially a massive bubble, held up and held together by massive yellow stakes. It’s one of the world’s foremost concert venues. This last week, tennis was the show.

To many, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic really are rock stars, à la the tennis generation of John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors. Here, we take you through a tour of the last tournament of the year.

What is truly a spectacle is the light show, when a darkened arena and spotlight bring the players on stage with a smoke-filled tunnel behind them, then they fade over the bank of arena seats as the court glows an ATP blue for the matches.

There’s a heartbeat sound played on a loop when challenges are made, and screens around the stadium announce “set point” and other moments of intrigue. It’s 21st century tennis-watching. It’s entertainment.

Waiting in the Wings If the tennis is the show, then the alternates are its understudies, waiting to be called up whenever needed. This year, David Ferrer and Feliciano Lopez played those roles, Ferrer having been the first player to miss the cut for London. But Lopez wasn’t the second. In fact, he was the fifth. Grigor Dimitrov controversially turned his alternate spot down, saying he wanted to only to play at the O2 if he was in the main draw himself. It was a decision that – rightfully so – earned the Bulgarian plenty of criticism, particularly when he was snapped spending time in London with girlfriend Maria Sharapova during the event. (Jo-Wilfried Tsonga said no thanks due to Davis Cup, and Ernests Gulbis turned down the spot because… well, he’s Gulbis.)

The alternates are around for daily practice to be ready if they’re needed, meaning Ferrer and Lopez have to stay close at all times. In the end, it was Ferrer who was utilized, playing one match when an injured Raonic was forced to withdraw.

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 11

Under Press-ure

Press rooms at Grand Slams are always bustling, but so was the one at the World Tour Finals, where nearly 200 journalists and 100 photographers worked day in and day out during the tournament.

Nearly 40 of those seats were occupied by British journalists (they do love their newspapers here), the journos watching every Murray move throughout the week.

Perhaps the best bit of the room being the three big screens at its front – a writer’s dream! (We can pretend to be at home watching with you.)

Japanese media was at full throttle because of Nishikori’s appearance and players answered a mix of questions pertaining to the year now almost gone, the tournament at hand and the season to come. Here are a few gems:

Novak on being a dad: “In terms of my approach to the practices and matches, not much has changed, to be honest. I do feel mentally even stronger since we became parents. You know, it’s a huge experience, a huge event in our lives, a blessing. Hopefully that new energy and inspiration can stay for a longer time with me on the court.”

Marin Cilic on if he should let coach Goran Ivanisevic play a few points for him: “His serve is still, I would say, one of the best motions that the game has seen, I would say, for sure. So it would be interesting to bring him [in for] a couple points.”

A young boy got to ask Kei Nishikori a question in press: I really like sweets. If I want to become a professional tennis player, would I have to give up sweets?

“Well, that’s tough question for me because I love sweets, too. [Smiling.] I think little bit is fine.

If you don’t eat in front of your coach, I think that’s fine.”

WHAT HAPPENS IN TENNIS AFTER FEDERER, DJOKOVIC, MURRAY AND RAFAEL NADAL ARE GONE?

12 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Bob and Mike Bryan capped off a tremendous year with their career ATP World Tour Finals title

Mixing in Nicely

For perhaps the first time in a long time, it was a solid mix of the old guard and young guys for the Finals, with Raonic, Nishikori and Cilic all making their debut appearance at the event, which marked the first time three players or more had done that since 2008. It begged the question to be asked: What happens in tennis after Federer, Djokovic, Murray and Rafael Nadal are gone? It’s a long way from happening, sure, but more sessions that don’t include one of those four names are what tennis is headed for.

It turned out to be a week of straight-set shellackings for the most part, but Raonic played two rather competitive matches, Nishikori earned a semis berth in his debut and Cilic, well, Cilic learned plenty of lessons out on court. Who will be back next year? That’s what we have 51 weeks to wait and find out. 

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 13

By Blair Henley

SHOT LLE

YTO

NH

Perhaps the most important moment in any tennis stroke is the instant the ball makes contact with the racquet. Any aberration in focus or positioning can derail a shot beyond repair, which further highlights the skill level and precision of players on the pro tour. We’ve taken a look at some of the best “contact point” photos of 2014 in an attempt to analyze what the professionals do so well.

EWI TT

CONTACT POINT

MILOS RAONIC

ER ROGER FEDE R

IC

ENC AB IND

BEL

14 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

1

Steady Head

While the concept of “watching the ball hit the strings” sounds great in theory, it is difficult in practice. These players’ eyes have already shifted slightly from their contact point, but they all have kept their heads steady rather than jerking as the ball hits the strings. That calm, predictable approach to contact creates consistency.

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Square Racquet Face

Most players fight to keep their racquet faces vertical or “square” on contact to ensure accurate placement and a predictable release.

Players start with a slightly closed face and the strings will gradually turn to face the target during the follow through, increasing the odds of contact in the sweet spot. This allows for control as players accelerate up the back of the ball.

A HAR IA S MAR

SPOT NOV AK

DJO KOV IC

A POV

3

SABINE LISICKI

Racquet Parallel to Ground

Despite their racquet heads starting down low, the racquet is almost always parallel to the ground on contact. It shows how quickly players can accelerate from their starting point to the contact point and beyond.

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The Strike Zone

ENA

SER

Even the best players can’t hit every ball in the strike zone (the distance from the chest to the knees), but they are able to position themselves so they can strike as many balls as possible in their ideal range.

SIM

ONA

HAL

EP

MS

LIA WIL L

ADA

N AEL RAF

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Hip & Shoulder Rotation

Ball contact marks the half-way point of the average tennis groundstroke.

By that time, the large muscle groups in your hips and torso should have begun to “unwrap” in order to maximize power. The trick is to initiate your body’s launch sequence without allowing your head to jerk away from your contact point (see #1).  2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 15

Serena Williams finished this season as the undisputed No.1. Which players could dethrone her in 2015?

In a season filled with highs and lows, Serena Williams once again finished as the WTA’s yearend No. 1 player. But the 18-time Grand Slam champion could find it difficult to maintain her status with the rest of the top 10 nipping at her Nike sneakers. Here are a few players who could challenge the 33-year-old’s stranglehold on the No. 1 ranking.

Maria Sharapova The Russian superstar finished 2014 just missing out on the top ranking. Of all the players, Sharapova is still the most likely to challenge for No.1, especially if Williams repeats her subpar performance in the first three Grand Slams of the year. If the French Open champion can maintain her impressive results on clay and make deep runs at the majors, the crown could be hers. A win over Serena would help, too.

By Erik Gudris

Simona Halep Romania’s finest proved her unique style of placement and power translates well to any surface. Though she surprised many with her sudden split with coach Wim Fissette at the conclusion of this season, she seems to have the foundation in place to do damage going forward.

The 23-year-old’s recent win over Williams in Singapore will only boost her confidence that she can indeed beat the very best.

Ana Ivanovic Playing with more confidence and freedom, Ivanovic, 27, enjoyed one of her best seasons ever in 2014. Now back inside the top five, the Serb needs to make deeper runs at the majors, and possibly a final, if she wants to return to No.1.

How she handles the pressure should she get that opportunity will be key.

Caroline Wozniacki “Sunshine” brightened things up with a transformative second half of the season. Showing more aggression and conviction on court, the 24-year-old tested best friend Serena several times in memorable battles. If this former No. 1 can build on her progress in the season to come, she could be the player to watch for 2015.

16 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

“Sharapova is still the most likely to challenge for No. 1…”

Victoria Azarenka

This two-time Australian Open winner would need to have the season of her life to return to No. 1 next year. Still, if Azarenka, 25, comes back fully healthy and motivated, she could become a serious obstacle for Serena in 2015. We hope to see that rivalry rekindled.

Genie Bouchard

Bouchard is a “dark horse” pick to shake up the top five next season. After a breakthrough year in 2014, she’s become fully acclimated to the pressure that comes with success. That will only help the 20-yearold capitalize going into next year. 

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The WTA’s best go glam.

Serena Williams in Burberry

18 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Style

Maria Sharapova in Antonio Berardi

Ana Ivanovic in Roksanda Ilincic

Stars

Genie Bouchard in Rag & Bone

Li Na in Gucci

Caroline Wozniacki in Michael Kors

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 19

By Matt Locke

Tennis players are always looking for the next big thing, and it appears Dunlop has it – for now, anyway. Their new iDapt series is the culmination of years of testing and innovation, allowing individuals to customize a racquet to their unique specifications. Featuring four heads, each with multiple cosmetic variations, customizable Shock Sleeves for comfort and two handle lengths, iDapt allows players to access a whopping 432 different racquet configurations. We dissected each component of this revolutionary system to help you find the combination that works best for your game.

1 2 3 4 20 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

INTERCHANGEABLE FRAME

BLAST ZONES SHOCK SLEEVE

INTERCHANGEABLE GRIP

HEADSIZE:

Players choose from a 98, 100, 100S or 105 square inch head. Each features a modern, thicker beam and stiffer composition for added power and feedback.

The 98, 100 and 105 Force options feature a 16x19 pattern while the 100S Force uses a 14x18 pattern for increased spin generation.

The 98 Force offers a precise response while providing decent power. It’s quick through the hitting zone, making it a weapon from all areas of the court. The sweet spot was generous, however response was inconsistent on off-center contact. It’s quick to position on volleys and offers solid finishing power.

Both versions of the 100 Force offer more power over the smaller head. They have enough weight to dish out and absorb your opponent’s pace while still being quick through contact. The 100S Force produces impressive spin off the ground, and it would have produced more if strung with full polyester. Keep in mind that you’ll likely break your strings more quickly with the movement resulting from the open string pattern. Both were also capable of quick volley exchanges and felt nimble when transitioning forward in the court.

As you might imagine, the 105 Force offers the biggest sweet spot and the most real estate for contact. I found it easy to accelerate on my groundstrokes, but found it a bit more cumbersome at net compared to its smaller brethren. Overall, the 100 Force will be the most attractive option for a variety of players. It blends power, stability and response in a balanced package.

Best of all, each racquet size and string pattern variation comes with three different cosmetic options to choose from, allowing players to add some personality to their iDapt frame.

BLAST ZONES:

iDapt’s Blast Zones further customize your experience.

These environmentally friendly weighted strips, placed strategically on the inside of your frame, can increase the feel of your sweet spot, add stability or bump up your power potential. I particularly liked the idea of placing the Blast Zones at the 10 and 2 o’clock positions, which added a more solid feel on my (occasional) off-center shots.

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SHOCK SLEEVES:

The Dunlop Shock Sleeve is where customization truly begins with iDapt. Players choose from Firm, Medium or Soft “sleeves,” which connect the handle of the racquet to the head. Players should note that these will not change the stiffness of the frame; they are simply adjusting the level of feedback experienced.

The Firm sleeve offers a raw, connected feel, which I found it slightly jarring at times as it allows more vibration through. The Soft sleeve provides a very dampened and muted feel. I enjoyed this feel off the ground but found it to be more of a challenge to execute delicate touch shots due to the reduced feedback. Thus enters the Medium sleeve. It offers increased feedback over the Soft version, while providing a more comfortable feel than the Firm.

“ OPTIONS FOR POWER, CONTROL, RESPONSE AND COMFORT…”

HANDLE:

Players have two handle choices with iDapt. The standard 27-inch grip is a stock option, but players can also try the extended 27.5-inch version.

The extended handle offers additional power for groundstrokes and serves.

It also helped me to stretch a bit further on defensive shots. Extended frames are also a bit more unwieldy at the net, and have an increase in swingweight that players will need to account for.

The big advantage of iDapt is that most performance shortcomings can be addressed by changing the configuration. While I enjoyed the overall feel of each (the 100 Force with the Medium sleeve was my favorite), I did see one flaw. As of right now, players cannot purchase the tool needed to disassemble and reassemble the racquets. Instead, they must be returned to a dealer for re-configuration. If Dunlop can adapt that portion of the process, the iDapt line that offers versatile options for power, control, response and comfort will truly bring the power to the people. If you want a say in how your racquet performs, be sure to take an iDapt frame with you the next time you step on court. 

22 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

TOMMY HAAS! CHECK OUT OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH ELLESSE BRAND AMBASSADOR AND FORMER WORLD NO. 2 TOMMY HAAS.

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2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 23

FASHION

HITS

Simona Halep Halep’s pink adidas skirt and top combo was athletic, feminine and flattering all at the same time.

Tomas Berdych Berdych caught some heat for this floral H&M number, but we loved the classic navy color coupled with a pop of personal style.

24 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Caroline Wozniacki It’s tough to stand out wearing all white, but this adidas by Stella McCartney dress had just enough detail to help Wozniacki make a statement.

Maria Sharapova

Sharapova’s simple, but bright tunic added an exclamation point to her second career title at Roland Garros.

Ana Ivanovic Though Ivanovic looks great in just about anything, her blue adidas dress with pops of orange was perfect for summer in Australia.

Serena Williams Serena’s safariinspired Nike dress was different without being over-the-top. Plus, the fit was flawless.

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 25

Venus Williams Williams has come a long way from the days of “illusion” underwear.

We loved the print and fit on this EleVen dress.

Roger Federer

Federer’s Nike kit at the Sony Open featured the perfect color combination for a springtime tournament.

Rafael Nadal Nadal’s bright turquoise top and grey patterned shorts were the perfect Nike combo for his ninth win at Roland Garros.

Grigor Dimitrov Dimitrov usually sticks to collarless crews, but he definitely meant business in this twotoned polo from Nike.

26 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW

FASHION

MISSES Svetlana Kuznetsova Shredded pleats. Mesh. This dress from Chinese outlet Qiaodan is all sorts of wrong.

David Ferrer David Ferrer gave new meaning to the term Pepto Pink in this Lotto number.

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 27

Roger Federer Dressing up like a human dollar bill is not our idea of tennis fashion, Roger.

Genie Bouchard

Call us old-fashioned, but we weren’t feeling the high-waisted trend from Nike.

Tomas Berdych Berdych’s H&M attire is always polarizing. This referee-inspired kit did not float our boat.

28 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Heather Watson We expected Watson to bring her best to her home Grand Slam. This unflattering dress did nothing for her fit physique.

Radek Stepanek

Andrea Petkovic Here are four words for Petkovic’s adidas by Stella McCartney getup: Why the brown, though?

Stepanek’s self-designed US Open polo had more going on than a Saturday night in New York City. And not in a good way.

Bethanie

Mattek-Sands

We love that Mattek-Sands does her own thing, but sometimes more is not really more.

Camila Giorgi We enjoy Giorgi’s whimsical homemade dresses, but her seamstress mother may want to stop using Polly Pocket as a size reference.

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 29

THE RAFA EXPERIENCE Though injuries derailed much of his 2014 season, Rafael Nadal’s ninth title at Roland Garros was all he needed for fans to consider his year a success.

The win cemented his place as the best clay court player ever and continued to build his case for being called the greatest of all time. Tennis Now’s Blair Henley witnessed Nadal’s first round performance in Paris. She took us along for the ride.

30 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

By Blair Henley

It wasn’t where I thought I would be sitting for my first Rafael Nadal experience at Roland Garros. Instead of situated in the press seats on Court Philippe Chatrier, wedged under an overhang halfway between the court and the stadium’s top row, rabid Rafa fans and I were relegated to - gasp - Court Suzanne Lenglen, which seats 10,068 to Chatrier’s 14,840.

As a French Open first-timer, I had never before set foot inside Lenglen. Based on the collective outrage expressed by media, fans and, reportedly, Nadal’s camp when the defending champ was demoted to the secondary show court, you would have thought I was headed to watch him compete in an obscure back alley somewhere. While hometown favorite Alize Cornet steamrolled teenager Ashleigh Barty on a sparsely populated Chatrier, I joined the mass exodus toward the west side of Roland Garros, using some fancy footwork of my own to dodge the extraordinary number of people strolling the grounds with lit cigarettes. I am in France, after all.

My claustrophobic approach to Lenglen contrasted sharply with the open feel once inside the stadium. I was pleasantly surprised to see

that the press seats were far closer to the court than in Chatrier. As I watched Nadal warm up, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread for his opponent, American Robby Ginepri. The 31-yearold former US Open semifinalist considered retiring before securing a French Open wildcard from the USTA. One unlucky draw later and I wondered if I was witnessing Nadal drive a nail into the coffin of his career.

From my perch, I could see that the Spaniard was perspiring profusely just minutes into the match, his sweat glands unfazed by the gloomy, 60-degree weather. Thanks to his damp, clingy turquoise Nike tee, I could see each muscle in his back as he hit his groundstrokes, underscoring just how much energy goes into every single shot he hits.

The acoustics on Lenglen are spectacular.

The chorus of camera shutters as Nadal kicked off his first service game reminded me that I was witnessing something rare, something photographers were capturing for people all over the world.

Fourteen minutes into the match, Nadal was already leading 3-0. Even so, he had a few spectacular forehand shanks during those games, reminding me just how little room for error he has on that “modern” forehand of his. Those mishits should remind recreational players that what works for one of the most physically gifted athletes ever, will probably not work for them.

One of Nadal’s greatest strengths is how much spin he generates, how high his balls kick up after they hit the ground. On clay, the effect is even more extreme. Ginepri was making contact with many of his groundstrokes at head level. I imagine it’s like trying to hit a baseball pitch without a strike zone.

Batters would look silly. At times, so did Ginepri.

For all of his unmatchable skill on clay, I would be lying if I said Nadal looks comfortable here.

His well-documented tics keep him constantly in motion, even when he’s sitting down on changeovers. His knees bob up and down like he is giving an imaginary child a thrill ride on his lap. Relaxed, this is not. But in case you were wondering, he is an exceptionally efficient bandana folder, changing his headgear three times during the hour-and-42-minute match.

The formerly packed crowd in Lenglen began to dissipate after the second set, amazement quickly giving way to boredom. As I watched fans file out of the stadium, I wondered to myself what it would be like to be so good at something that people didn’t care to watch, my success a foregone conclusion. I stopped thinking before my head exploded.

Nadal finished the match like he started it, 6-0, 6-3, 6-0. In the pressroom he said his temporary exile from Chatrier “doesn’t really matter a lot.”

But to me, it did. Thanks to some questionable judgment on behalf of the French Open, I enjoyed the best vantage point I will likely ever have of the greatest (on clay) of all time. 

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THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT On the ATP and WTA tours, a core of talented under-20 players moved the needle—and notched big wins—in 2014.

By Chris Oddo

With dominant mega stars ruling the roost in professional tennis for many years, it hasn’t been easy for young players to make strides on the tour. But in 2014, a cast of kids with attitude gave fans reason to get excited. From first-time tour-level victories to dazzling Grand Slam runs, here’s a look at some of the best and brightest that the under-20 set had to offer in 2014:

NICK KYRGIOS BELINDA BENCIC Working with Melanie Molitor, mother of five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis, has obviously paid off for the 17-yearold dynamo from Switzerland.

Bencic burst onto the scene early in the season, reaching the semifinals in Charleston in a performance that caught the attention of many. A few months later the Swiss made even bigger waves at the US Open when she notched back-to-back top ten wins to become the youngest US Open quarterfinalist since Martina Hingis achieved the feat in 1997.

Perched at No. 32 in the rankings, Bencic is the only player under 18 in the WTA’s top 50, and with a measured and tactically sound game that features both finesse and power, she stands to make even bigger—can you say ginormous?— waves in 2015.

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If attitude was everything Nick Kyrgios would be No. 1 in the world already. And, even though the gifted 19-year-old from Canberra, Australia, has a way to go before he can truly be considered a threat to the ATP’s elite, he does finish the year as the highest-ranked under-20 player at 52 in the world.

More important, the Aussie heads into the off-season full of confidence, having knocked off Rafael Nadal in impressive fashion en route to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon, and holding his own against talent of all levels on stages of all sizes in 2014. Kyrgios may be raw at the moment, but with his burning desire to be the best complementing his awe-inspiring athleticism, he truly could be tennis’s next great champion.

“…HE TRULY COULD BE TENNIS’S NEXT GREAT CHAMPION.”

OTHERS TO WATCH MADISON KEYS The tall, rangy American with one of the biggest serves in the game has yet to turn 20, but she’s done quite a bit of maturing on tour over the last few years. Keys won her first title this summer in Eastbourne, and peaked at a career-high No. 27 in the rankings. We think it’s just the beginning of her rise.

“WHO WILL BE NEXT YEAR’S BRIGHT-EYED BREAKOUT STAR?”

ALEXANDER ZVEREV As the second-highest ranked player 18 or younger on the ATP Tour, Zverev made the most of a wild card in Hamburg earlier this summer, reeling off four wins en route to his first career semifinal.

It was his only run of the season, but the hard-serving German nearly upset Grigor Dimitrov in Basel in October, proving yet again that he stands to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

CICI BELLIS The 15-year-old California kid wowed American fans with her charisma and her game as she upset Dominika Cibulkova at this year’s US Open. Even better, she proved she was no flash in the pan by winning back-to-back Challenger titles in October.

BORNA CORIC

TAYLOR TOWNSEND

Borna, Again: Get used to the headline. This fit and fierce Croat is blessed with an all-court game that stands up to elite competition, as he proved during his run to the Umag quarterfinals in July and, even better, his run to the Basel semis in October. At just 17, this intelligent, passionate and poised prodigy appears to be on the fast track to the top 20.

Full of spirit and blessed with a deft touch around the net to go with lethal groundstrokes, 18-year-old Townsend forced herself onto every tennis fan’s radar when she reached the third round at Roland Garros this year, knocking off home favorite and world No. 21 Alize Cornet with an inspired, gritty effort.

ANA KONJUH

The under-20 set made a major impact on the 2014 tennis season, energizing the tour and providing fans with hope that the future of tennis is indeed bright. Who will be next year’s brighteyed breakout star? You’ll just have to tune in and see… 

Fans who haven’t taken notice of the only 16-year-old in the WTA’s top 100 most certainly will have by this time next year. Konjuh reached her first tour-level semifinal in Istanbul in July and followed it with another quarterfinal in Osaka this fall.

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From stocking stuffers to big-ticket items, we’ve compiled some of our favorite tennis-related goodies in an effort to simplify and de-stress your holiday shopping experience. You’re welcome!

Best of all? You can purchase each of these gifts with just a click of the mouse.

Sweet Treats

You can’t go wrong when giving the gift of sugar.

Talk Tennis

These iPhone 6 cases speak our language.

Serve ‘Em Up

These napkins know the way to our heart!

Smart Racquet

Be a holiday hero by gifting this high-tech frame.

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Wine Tote

Tennis is definitely our happy hour.

Jewelry

Add some glam to your game with Love Tennis

by Hazel.

Fresh Style

Men love these comfy styles from Travis Mathew.

Baby Love

Don’t forget the tiny tots!

Watch the Ball

His and hers Lacoste watches are a tennis staple.

Hit the Books

Build your mental strength with this bestseller.

Home DĂŠcor

Store your book collection in tennis style.

Bundle Up

These reversible Nike sweaters are packed with personality.

BIGGEST UPSET Stanislas Wawrinka d. Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

We knew Rafael Nadal may not have been at his best entering the Australian Open final, but we didn’t expect Stan “The Man” Wawrinka’s magic to withstand the Spaniard’s unrelenting pressure.

Welcome to the first annual Fuzzy Awards (The Fuzzies!) where we remember the best (and worst) from the tennis season that was, and give them all the recognition they deserve.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

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BEST ACCEPTANCE SPEECH Li Na, Australian Open

No one knows how to work a crowd quite like Li Na. Her candid acceptance speech after winning the Australian Open had fans rolling with laughter. Too bad her retirement has ended any chance for a repeat performance.

BEST RACQUET SMASH Serena Williams WTA Championships

Serena Williams is the undisputed best player in the world. She’s also quite skilled in the racquet smashing department. She called the destruction in Singapore “legendary,” and we’re inclined to agree!

BEST TRICK SHOTS

CUTEST COUPLE

WORST MELTDOWN

Grigor Dimitrov

Grigor Dimitrov & Maria Sharapova

Fabio Fognini

Grigor Dimitrov’s backto-back blocks against Jack Sock in Stockholm (google it) made us wonder if he practices various trick shots in his downtime.

Was there ever any doubt? These two have been going strong for well over a year now, proving that love can survive off the court in the world of professional tennis.

This mercurial Italian has deteriorated on court so many times this season, we’re not sure which outburst is worst. From threatening umpires to tossing ethnic slurs, Fognini sees the line and crosses it.

BEST CRY Rafael Nadal, Roland Garros

We had a few teary moments to choose from this season, but Rafa takes the cake. He definitely has what Oprah likes to call the “ugly cry” down to a science.

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BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

BIGGEST CHOKE

No Delpo

Roger Federer d.

Gael Monfils 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2

It’s been a strange year for men’s tennis and the absence of Juan Martin del Potro due to wrist surgery has not helped matters. We look forward to his return in 2015!

Gael Monfils had two match points and a twoset lead at his disposal before opening the door for Roger Federer to mount one of the best come-from-behind victories in 2014.

BEST STREAK David Goffin

At one point during the summer, David Goffin had won 25 straight matches. He nearly repeated the feat postUS Open totaling 14 wins before losing to Roger Federer in Basel.

Impressive year for the baby-faced Belgian.

BEST HAIR Milos Raonic

It’s tough to give this to anyone other than Roger Federer, but Raonic’s hair has shown remarkable consistency in 2014 – nary a strand out of place.

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BEST COMEBACK

BEST BOX Royal Box

Caroline Wozniacki

Wozniacki’s ascendance from floundering former No. 1 to ultra-fit top 10 player following her breakup with Rory McIlroy made her one of the most compelling storylines in the second half of 2014.

Roger Federer may have rockstars and fashion moguls in his box, but the Royal Box at Wimbledon wins the prize. Because‌royals.

Congratulations to all the winners of the first annual Fuzzy Awards.

BEST SELFIE

Tomas Berdych, ATP World Tour Finals

Twitter master Tomas Berdych came in under the wire with this one, rounding up the most impressive selfie in tennis history at the year-end championships.

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HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? 42 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

Serena Williams proves it’s all in the legs.

IT’S A BERDYCH! IT’S A PLANE!

Tomas Berdych uses every bit of leg power to get some extra pop on his serves.

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FREEDOM!

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Andy Murray channels his inner William Wallace to track down this ball.

MODEL BEHAVIOR

The best WTA players in the world cleaned up for their close-ups in Singapore.

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BACKHAND MAGIC

It may not be pretty, but Rafael Nadal finds a way to get his racquet on just about everything.

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SO HAPPY TOGETHER

Serena Williams’ friendship with Caroline Wozniacki (Serenaline?) gave us the warm fuzzies in 2014.

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FLIPPING THE BIRD

After blowing five match points in two consecutive matches against Andy Murray, this good-natured gesture from Tommy Robredo was one of the most genuine we’ve seen on a tennis court.

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AJDE!

Ana Ivanovic uses the full-body approach on her fist pumps.

Impressive technique.

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SWISS CHEESE 50 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

This smile from Roger Federer says it all.

Representing Switzerland in Davis Cup play is a calling close to his heart (and a great resume builder, to boot).

THE END

Li Na’s abrupt retirement will no doubt leave a hole in the women’s game for years to come. We wish her the best in whatever she pursues next.

2014 YEAR IN REVIEW 51

2. How many match points did Roger Federer save en route to his Shanghai title? a) 5

b) 0

c) 7

d) 3

3. Gael Monfils created quite a buzz at the US Open this year by doing what? a) Hitting multiple ‘tweeners on the same point. b) Break-dancing between points. c) Drinking Coca-Cola during changeovers. d) Cursing at himself in French.

4. Caroline Wozniacki and Serena Williams emerged as best friends in 2014. Which sporting event did they not attend together? a) The Masters

b) An NHL Game

c) The NBA Playoffs

d) The NYC Marathon

5. Serena Williams completed the WTA Finals three-peat this year, becoming the first player to achieve the feat since? a) Martina Navratilova, 1987 b) Monica Seles, 1992 c) Chris Evert, 1976 d) Serena Williams, 2002 52 YEAR IN REVIEW 2014

6. Which coach said, “When you give tennis lessons to Rog Federer, it means you are amazing,” after his student beat the Swiss handily? a) Ivan Ljubicic c) Michael Chang

b) Goran Ivanisevic d) Magnus Norman

7. Who played the longest three-set final on the ATP this year? a) b) c) d)

David Ferrer and Fabio Fognini, Buenos Aires Andy Murray and Tommy Robredo, Valencia Rafael Nadal and Alexandr Dolgopolov, Rio Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, Rome

8. Following the 2014 season, how many active ATP players have reached the 600-win milestone? a) 7

b) 6

c) 5

d) 4

9. How many times has Roger Federer saved match points and gone on to victory in his career? a) 33

b) 7

c) 16

d) 15

10. Tommy Robredo reached a rare milestone at this year’s US Open, joining a small group of seven players that includes Roger Federer, Boris Becker and David Nalbandian. What did Robredo do? a) Win his 100th Grand Slam match. b) Save five or more match points en route to victory. c) Completed a comeback from two sets down at all four majors. d) Reach the US Open’s round of 16 for the 12th consecutive time.

1.d 2.a 3.c 4.a 5.b 6.b 7.b 8.c 9.d 10.c

1. In 2014, Serena Williams held the No. 1 ranking from the beginning of season through the end. Which WTA player was the last to accomplish that feat? a) Caroline Wozniacki b) Victoria Azarenka c) Martina Navratilova d) Steffi Graf

RANKINGS 1 Novak Djokovic SRB 11510 2 Roger Federer SUI 9700 3 Rafael Nadal ESP 6835 4 Stanislas Wawrinka SUI 5295 5 Kei Nishikori JPN 5025 6 Andy Murray GBR 4675 7 Tomas Berdych CZE 4665 8 Milos Raonic CAN 4440 9 Marin Cilic CRO 4150 10 David Ferrer ESP 4045 11 Grigor Dimitrov BUL 3645 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga FRA 2740 13 Ernests Gulbis LAT 2455 14 Feliciano Lopez ESP 2130 15 Roberto Bautista-Agut ESP

2110 16 Kevin Anderson RSA 2080 17 Tommy Robredo ESP 2015 18 John Isner USA 1890 19 Gael Monfils

FRA

1825 20 Fabio Fognini ITA 1790 21 Gilles Simon FRA 1730 22 David Goffin

BEL

1599 23 Alexandr Dolgopolov UKR 1455 24 Philipp Kohlschreiber GER 1415 25 Julien Benneteau FRA 1365 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

Serena Williams Maria Sharapova Simona Halep Petra Kvitova Ana Ivanovic Agnieszka Radwanska Eugenie Bouchard Caroline Wozniacki Angelique Kerber Dominika Cibulkova Ekaterina Makarova Flavia Pennetta Andrea Petkovic Sara Errani Jelena Jankovic Lucie Safarova Carla Suarez Navarro Venus Williams Alize Cornet Garbine Muguruza Peng Shuai Samantha Stosur Karolina Pliskova Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Barbora Zahlavova Strycova

USA RUS ROM CZE SRB POL CAN DEN GER SVK RUS ITA GER ITA SRB CZE ESP USA FRA ESP CHN AUS CZE RUS CZE

8485 7050 6292 5966 4820 4810 4715 4625 3480 3052 2970 2861 2780 2775 2675 2615 2415 2270 2255 2043 2005 1950 1830 1820 1750

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