Australian Tennis Magazine - August/September 2022

Transformation edition ELENA RYBAKINA MAJOR LEAP

WIMBLEDON 2022

NOVAK DJOKOVIC UNSTOPPABLE

NICK KYRGIOS

BR AKING T ROUGH AUG / SEPT 2022

EBDEN & PURCELL

GRAND SLAM STARS

contents AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2022 VOL.47 NO.4

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AUSSIES SHINE AT WIMBLEDON Wimbledon 2022 proved memorable for Australian competitors, with exceptional runs and breakout performances providing many highlights.

FEATURES 31 ALL-CONQUERING AUSSIES

Australian duo Matt Ebden and Max Purcell enjoyed a major breakthrough at Wimbledon, winning their first Grand Slam doubles title as a team.

EDITOR Vivienne Christie

FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove

36 HEWITT HONOURED

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Leigh Rogers

PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images Tennis Australia John Anthony/ISPA

Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt has joined elite company as an International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee.

DESIGN Andrea Williamson Daniel Frawley

68 POSTCARDS FROM MATT EBDEN Newly crowned Wimbledon doubles champion Matt Ebden shares his latest experiences from life on tour.

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NICK KYRGIOS: A NEW ERA

Combining his familiar talent with some hard-gained experience, a transformed Nick Kyrgios progressed to a first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon.

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COVER PHOTO Getty Images

Australian Tennis Magazine is published by TENNIS AUSTRALIA LTD, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, Vic 3121.

Email: editor@tennismag.com.au Distributed by Ovato Printed in Australia by Ive The views expressed in Australian Tennis Magazine are not necessarily those held

by Tennis Australia. While the utmost care is taken in compiling the information contained in this publication, Tennis Australia is not responsible for any loss or injury occurring as a result of any omissions in either the editorial or advertising appearing herein.

45 MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The influence of top-ranked tennis players extends far beyond the court, with many using their profiles to create positive change in the world.

50 MINISTER OF HAPPINESS

Tunisian trailblazer and recent Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur has achieved countless milestones on her unlikely journey to world No.2.

54 FUTURE FORCE

While the biggest trophies are so far elusive, Felix Auger-Aliassime and fellow Canadian Denis Shapovalov represent a bright future at the top of the men’s game.

58 TRANSFORMATIONAL TURNAROUNDS

The return to form after injury, motivation or off-court challenges can often provide the biggest transformation of a player’s career.

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A MAJOR ARRIVAL

In a wildly unpredictable Wimbledon, the bighitting Elena Rybakina became the first player from Kazakhstan to lift a Grand Slam trophy.

REGULARS 6 7 8 10 11

FIRST SERVE FAN ZONE BREAKPOINTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONE TO WATCH

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SEVENTH HEAVEN Novak Djokovic’s seventh Wimbledon title was both a masterclass in resilience and a measure of his incredible longevity.

38 COURTING CONVERSATIONS 61 YOUR GAME 72 AUSSIE WATCH 76 SCOREBOARD

78 RANKINGS 80 KIDS’ CLUB 82 LAST WORD

FIRST SERVE

&

TRADITION TRANSFORMATION F or all the long-standing traditions that create such reverence at Wimbledon, there was also an unmistakable sense of the new at the 2022 Championships.

Centre Court was refreshed to mark 100 years in its current location, players entering through an updated entrance and chair umpires maintaining watch from a sleek new chair.

Middle Sunday, traditionally a rest day at Wimbledon, became a part of the schedule as play was officially extended to 14 days.

It added to a noticeable buzz as full crowds returned to the tournament after the COVID-19 pandemic caused the shock cancellation of the 2020 tournament and restrictions were in place last year.

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The absence of Russian and Belarusian competitors, who were banned due to the war in Ukraine, created a more sobering reality, as did the subsequent ATP and WTA announcement that rankings points would be withheld in 2022.

Still, the privilege of competing for the world’s oldest Grand Slam remained. And as some notable names made history at the end of a fascinating fortnight, they represented a transformed tennis tour.

In the absence of defending champion and now retired Ash Barty, new names emerged.

When Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur faced off for the ladies’ singles title, it was the first Wimbledon final between two Grand Slam final debutantes in

the Open era. “It’s amazing for the sport, amazing for both of us,” the Tunisian smiled. “We like new faces, so we’re bringing new faces to you.”

And even some of the bestknown faces inspired in fresh ways. Nick Kyrgios was already prominent in recent Wimbledon folklore, having thundered into the 2014 quarterfinals with victory over then-No.1 Rafael Nadal as an untested teen.

At certain periods in the years since, Kyrgios admitted, he lost his spark to compete.

There was a clear turnaround in a life-changing tournament, Kyrgios becoming the first Australian to contest the gentlemen’s singles final in 19 years. “I kind of just rediscovered that I’ve got a lot

of people that want me to play, that I play for,” said Kyrgios.

“I’ve got a lot left in the tank.

I feel like I’m probably playing some of my best tennis, mentally feeling great.”

While Novak Djokovic ultimately re-established a familiar order in becoming a seven-time champion, it took unprecedented resolve to reach those heights. As he overcame off-court challenges, the former No.1 also conquered the next generation of contenders.

It signalled new possibilities in a long-term tennis narrative – and as much-loved traditions endure, the sport welcomes transformation too.

Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au

FEELING INSPIRED? HIT THE COURT Book a court online

FEATURE

A NEW ERA NICK KYRGIOS

Combining his familiar talent with some hardgained experience, a transformed Nick Kyrgios progressed to a first Grand Slam singles final at Wimbledon – and immediately vowed to return to those heights. VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports

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FORWARD FOCUS: Nick Kyrgios takes a more positive mindset into future Grand Slam campaigns.

NICK KYRGIOS

“I felt like I belonged … I played a Slam final against one of the greatest of all time, and I was right there.”

WIMBLEDON

NOVAK DJOKOVIC

“I have lost words for what this tournament, this trophy means to me.”

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Seventh WIMBLEDON 2022

HEAVEN

Novak Djokovic’s seventh Wimbledon title, and 21st Grand Slam in total, was both a masterclass in the Serbian’s renowned resilience and a measure of his incredible longevity.

By VIVIENNE CHRISTIE

A

s a young Novak Djokovic watched Pete Sampras win one of seven Wimbledon titles from his family home in the Serbian mountains, the enchanted new fan begged his parents to buy him a tennis racquet.

“I always dreamed of coming here, just playing here in this court, and then realising the childhood dream of winning the trophy,” said the now-35year-old Djokovic. “My first image of tennis was grass and Wimbledon.”

It's doubtful, however, that a young Novak ever imagined he would one day replicate his tennis hero with seven singles titles at Wimbledon, or that his 21 Grand Slams in total would vastly outnumber the 14 that Sampras amassed. Nor could the childhood Djokovic have anticipated the longevity that his history-making dominance at the All England Club would eventually represent.

With a triumph over Nick Kyrgios in the 2022 final, the top-seeded Djokovic added to the silverware collection he began with victory over Rafael Nadal in 2011. The champion at six of the past eight editions of Wimbledon, Djokovic lifted the trophy for a fourth straight year.

It created an astonishing 28-match winning streak on the most famous lawns in tennis, with the Serbian last losing a completed Wimbledon match to Sam Querrey in the 2016 third round.

While Tomas Berdych claimed their 2017 quarterfinal, it followed an injury retirement from Djokovic.

Each victory since has carried more meaning for the former world No.1.

“I have lost words for what this

tournament, this trophy means had created breathtaking history to me, my team, my family,” in that time, Nadal extending said Djokovic in a now-familiar his Grand Slam tally to an allpresentation. “Every single time time record 22 after claiming it gets more meaningful and the Australian and French more special, so I’m very blessed Open titles. At Roland Garros, and very thankful to be standing where Djokovic was defending here with the trophy.” champion, Nadal claimed a After facing many earlier four-set quarterfinal on his path challenges, Djokovic felt to a 14th victory at the clayespecially blessed this year. court Slam. “(It was) a tough In his leanest period in more and emotional loss to Nadal, than a decade, the that was obviously former world No.1 CHAMPION: disappointing,” Novak Djokovic claimed only Djokovic admitted became only the one title in the at SW19. fourth man in first half of the While those factors the Open era to win four straight season. He had combined to make Wimbledon titles, contested only Wimbledon 2022 one joining Bjorn Borg, six tournaments of the most challenging Pete Sampras and entering of Djokovic’s 17 main Roger Federer.

Wimbledon, draw campaigns with travel at the tournament, they also restricted due strengthened his resolve. to resistance to Only two of his seven matches the COVID-19 at this year’s tournament were vaccine. straight-sets encounters, with By contrast, Djokovic’s famed ability to Djokovic’s produce clutch performances greatest rival best demonstrated in his AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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WIMBLEDON 2022

A

r o j a M VAL ARRIVAL

In a wildly unpredictable Wimbledon, the big-hitting Elena Rybakina emerged from under the radar to become the first player from Kazakhstan to lift a Grand Slam trophy.

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports

A

fter a barely perceptible fist pump, the smile to her team was brief. When Elena Rybakina completed a come-from-behind victory over Ons Jabeur to become the Wimbledon 2022 ladies’ singles champion, it was one of the most muted victory celebrations of all time. But if the post-victory moments were quiet for the 23-yearold, the statement she had made was far from it.

From unlikely circumstances, Rybakina dropped only two sets to become the 57th WTA player to lift a Grand Slam

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

sapping bout of COVID-19 early trophy in the modern era; even in the season, she’d suffered more remarkably, she was further illness ahead of the grassthe first player representing court swing. Entering the 2022 Kazakhstan, male or female, Championships, Rybakina had to achieve that major feat. claimed only one of the three “It's just unbelievable. matches she’d played I'm super happy,” said this year on grass; Rybakina of the history NEW STAR: Elena Rybakina, at adding to a seemingly she’d achieved with age 23, became monumental a first Grand Slam the youngest challenge, she triumph, and only Wimbledon was contesting a the third title in total champion in more Wimbledon main draw in her short career. than a decade. for just the second time.

“It’s tough to believe But Rybakina gradually to be honest.” emerged from under the radar If victory was hard to as her weapons started to fire comprehend for the new at SW19. Already leading the champion, it was arguably even WTA ace count entering the more so for those who’d used tournament, the renowned big Rybakina’s pre-tournament server added a tournamentform as a guide. After an energy-

ELENA RYBAKINA

“It's just unbelievable.

I'm super happy.”

FEATURE

P I N

E

H A

P

S S

THE MINISTER OF

Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur has achieved countless milestones on her unlikely journey to world No.2. Inspiring the Arab world, the recent Wimbledon finalist continues to pursue her ultimate dream – a Grand Slam title. By MATT TROLLOPE

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FEATURE

E M I S S A I L A R E G U A X I L E F

E R U FUT

E C FOR

e Auger-Aliassim x li e F , e iv s lu e r re ophies are so fa tr t s e g nt a bright futu ig e b s e re th p re v lo While a v po dian Denis Sha a n a C OFF reports w H o ll IM fe N d A D an . e m e men’s ga at the top of th

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FELIX AUGERALIASSIME

“Sometimes ult there are diffic r moments, othe r ette times it goes b ill … those who w ce be able to boun back will be the best ones.”

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62 LESSONS FROM THE PROS Some of Australia’s top-ranked players reveal the advice they would share with their younger self.

64 INSTRUCTION

An effective second serve is a valuable weapon with multiple benefits.

65 FOOTWORK

The importance of footwork should never be underrated. How do you put your best foot forward?

66 NUTRITION

Maintaining healthy nutrition habits is a focus for rising Australian Alexei Popyrin.

TEEN SENSATION: Carlos Alcaraz has soared into the world’s top five in a breakout season.

The 19-year-old Spaniard is the youngest man to achieve the feat since Rafael Nadal in 2005.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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