Australian Tennis Magazine - February/March 2024

BIGGEST EVER

Aussie S ummer

JANNIK SINNER CORONATION COMPLETE

ARYNA SABALENKA STILL SUPREME

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

CHAMPIONS BREAKING RECORDS

AO 2024 HIGHS

CHINA’S NEW STAR

ZHENG QINWEN

FEB / MAR 2024 A$7.50 / NZ$8.40 / US$7.50

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26 AUSSIE STAR TURNS

contents

Eye-catching Aussie performers over a memorable tennis summer.

FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024 VOL.49 NO.1

FEATURES 8 THE HIGHEST OF HIGHS

Spectacular new highs were celebrated as crowds flocked to a history-making Australian Open.

24 WORTH THE WAIT

Doubles champions Rohan Bopanna and Hsieh Su-wei defied the years in taking home AO silverware.

30 YOUTH QUAKE

Rumbling through the AO draw, these ‘coming attractions’ are already here.

34 A RECORD-BREAKING GRAND SLAM

More than one million fans, a new Grand Slam high, witnessed incredible feats unfold at Australian Open 2024.

45

COURTING STYLE

Beyond the break points, set points and match points at AO 2024, our appreciation of style points.

4 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

MANAGING EDITOR Vivienne Christie ACTING EDITOR Suzi Petkovski ASSOCIATE EDITOR Leigh Rogers FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove

DESIGN Andrea Williamson Trevor Bridger Daniel Frawley PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images Tennis Australia

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.

48 UKRAINE BLUES, GRAND SLAM GOLD

Despite turmoil in their homeland, Ukraine’s inspirational women players made history at AO 2024.

50 ROLLING THROUGH THE YEARS

Former doubles champion and veteran caller Allan Stone reflects on 60 straight years at the Australian Open.

52 NOT SO RUN-OF-THE-MILLMAN

Aussie favourite John Millman took a final bow at AO 2024.

62 SUMMER PLAY

Escaping competitive heat on the court, players on their Aussie sojourn enjoyed plenty of chill options off the court.

66 MULTI-DIMENSIONAL MUMS

Several superstars made their return to the game as touring mums over the Aussie summer.

68 SENSATIONAL STYLE

Alexander Zverev’s heroics led Germany to victory at the United Cup.

18

ARYNA’S ARENA Aryna Sabalenka was all-but unstoppable in the first Australian Open women’s title defence in over a decade.

REGULARS 7 FIRST SERVE 54 COURTING CONVERSATIONS

58 FAN ZONE 72 SCOREBOARD 76 RANKINGS

78 SPOTLIGHT 79 ONE TO WATCH 82 LAST WORD

12

SINNER THE SLAMMER New champion Jannik Sinner ended the all-time reign of Novak Djokovic and opened a new era in the men’s game.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE 5

N W O R U O Y BOOK

T R U O C E R CENT HITS DIFFERENT

FIRST SERVE

“

15 LOVE T hree Sundays was an inspired change to Australian Open 2024, as the event continues its transformational growth. Over a million fans flocked to Melbourne Park – a new benchmark not just for the AO but any tennis event.

Hard to fathom that the 2024 attendance of 1.1 million is nearing 10 times the figure at the last Australian Open at Kooyong in 1987. The AO has exceeded the wildest imaginings of the visionaries who built Melbourne Park.

From the inaugural 15-day Australian Open, a top 15 of highlights:

TAKE YOUR SEATS SOONER

CAHILL’S COUP

Allowing fans into their seats after every game rather than during changeovers was a welcome innovation.

Accessibility is critical as the event continues to grow in popularity. By the end of the fortnight, players had adjusted.

Sinner’s Aussie connection Darren Cahill added to his gaudy CV as a Grand Slam winning mastermind – following success with Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep. How long before Sinner joins them as world No.1?

NEW CHAMP, NEW ERA

Doubles champions Rohan Bopanna, 43, Matt Ebden, 36, and Hsieh Su-wei, 38, gave ageism a serve.

Classy new men’s champion Jannik Sinner made an impressive arrival as Grand Slam winner, deposing 10-time champ Novak Djokovic and coming from two sets down in the final against Daniil Medvedev.

SABALENKA BACK-TO-BACK

Over 87,000 fans embraced the fi rst Sunday of AO 2024. The extra day took pressure off the loaded fi rst-round schedule, allowing three days rather than two.

Aryna Sabalenka completed the first successful women’s title defence since her compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2012–13.

Tigerish on the court, the 25-year-old shared with fans her playful persona off the court.

MAGIC MILLION

CHINA’S NEW STAR

With the expansion to 15 days, AO 2024 broke the one-million attendance mark, retaining its position as the best attended Grand Slam.

First-time fi nalist Zheng Qinwen met her inspiration Li Na in Melbourne and emulated her fi nal presence a decade after Li’s popular AO victory.

SUNDAY START

OLD MASTERS

EVONNE’S 50TH Aussie icon Evonne Goolagong Cawley (pictured with Sabalenka) was celebrated on the 50th anniversary of her fi rst AO win.

From 2025, First Nations Day will be named in her honour.

ANDRE’S RETURN Fellow four-time champion Andre Agassi presented the AO men’s trophy alongside Evonne on Day 1 and served up fun insights from his frosted-mullet days.

HAPPY HEWITTS Former No.1 Lleyton Hewitt unveiled his bust in Garden Square as the latest member of the Australian Tennis Hall

of Fame while son Cruz, 15, made his AO debut in juniors.

AUSSIE ASSAULT A total of 15 Aussie men competed in singles, the biggest contingent since 1998.

THE JONES GIRL Just 15, Emerson Jones was the fi rst local in the AO girls’ fi nal for 16 years.

DOMINANT DIEDE Dutch champion Diede de Groot won an all-time record 13th straight Grand Slam to elevate wheelchair tennis.

YOUTH SERVED Appealing new faces wreaked havoc: teens Linda Noskova, Mirra Andreeva and Maria Timofeeva in the women’s draw; Arthur Cazaux, Alex Michelson and Luca van Assche ousted seeds among the men.

So many storylines, no wonder many of us are battling post-AO blues. The first Sunday of AO 2025 is too far away.

Suzi Petkovski Acting Editor AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE 7

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

12 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

E H T R E N N I S R E M M A SL New champion Jannik Sinner ended the record reign of Novak Djokovic to open a youth era at the Australian Open. By SUZI PETKOVSKI

J

annik Sinner opened proceedings at Rod Laver Arena on the historic fi rst Sunday of AO 2024. By the time the 22-year-old bookended his campaign on the fi nal Sunday, fi ring a forehand winner to close the tournament, he was a Grand Slam champion, a dethroner of all-time ruler Novak Djokovic and harbinger of a new age in men’s tennis.

In defeating a physically spent Daniil Medvedev 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-3 in the fi nal, Sinner was the fi rst new men’s champion in Melbourne since Stan Wawrinka a decade ago, the fi rst Italian to lift the Australian trophy and the youngest winner since Djokovic won the fi rst of his 10 trophies in 2008.

With all respect to Medvedev, appearing in a third Australian fi nal without success, there was a natural justice in the young lion who hunted down the long-time king taking over

his domain. Sinner’s semifi nal ouster of Djokovic was the defending champion’s fi rst loss in 21 Australian Open semifi nals and fi nals.

It ended his record 33-match winning streak at Melbourne Park, stretching back to 2018.

And it meant that for the fi rst time since the centenary AO of 2005, neither Djokovic nor two-time winner Rafael Nadal nor six-time winner Roger Federer were in the fi nal.

Many of us were expecting a Djokovic coronation – a record 25th major for the superstar Serb crowning him the greatest Grand Slammer, overtaking Margaret Court in her homeland no less.

Instead, we had the coronation of a new king.

“The support has been crazy throughout the two

weeks,” Sinner told the crowd, such formidable benchmarks, clutching his trophy, his shock of is inspiring rather than red hair accentuating the shock intimidating. “I always try to of the new. learn from them, try to get Since his junior days, as a something from them. This has reserved Tyrolean-Italian who always been part of my process, gave up a more certain and the process is BRAVO: Jannik path as a professional not finished yet.” The Sinner is the first skier, Sinner has apprentice is gaining Italian winner of been lauded by top on the master. Sinner an AO singles title. players for his has now won three of work ethic. his last four meetings His journey of with Djokovic. improvement Since we last saw him in remains front Australia, Sinner’s improvement of mind. looked next-level, with new “I know that I reserves of physical and mental can and still have stamina. Sprouting to an to improve,” he said angular 188 centimetres, with a after making the final. weaponised serve, he is all long Facing Djokovic three levers, sinew and coiled power. times in 10 days last Critical also is the tight team November was “a huge around him, with coach Simone privilege”. Learning Vagnozzi and Aussie mentor from all-time Darren Cahill, who enhanced champions his standing as one of the great like Djokovic big-time tennis coaches. But the and Nadal, South Australian, never one to who set blow his own trumpet, gives

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

ARYNAʼS ARENA

With a second consecutive Australian Open triumph, Aryna Sabalenka made Rod Laver Arena her own. Unstoppable in the first women's title defence in over a decade, the big-hitting champion now seems set to take on the world. VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports

W

atching Aryna Sabalenka compete with brilliant aggression and flawless composure to become a repeat Australian Open champion, it was hard to imagine that anything had been troubling the 25-year-old in Melbourne.

But soon after completing a perfect campaign to lift a second Grand Slam trophy, and the 14th of her career in total, the world No.2 revealed that wasn’t quite the case.

“Actually, it’s been in my mind that I didn’t want to be that player to win [one Slam] and then disappear,” said Sabalenka, who capped her performance with a 6-3 6-2 victory over firsttime finalist Zheng Qinwen in 76 minutes.

“I just wanted to show that I’m able to be consistently there

18 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

and I’m able to win another one.

I really hope that [I win] more than two right now, but for me [winning a second] was really important.”

It was an attitude that shaped an impeccable Australian Open campaign. Each match in Melbourne was a statement win for Sabalenka, who underlined her dominance in multiple ways.

Sabalenka did not surrender a set for the fortnight – a feat that only Lindsay Davenport, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Ash Barty have managed this century. She was also perfect on serve, matching Williams’ rare accomplishment from 2007 by not dropping serve once.

Notching a total eight hours and 11 minutes of court time, Sabalenka’s average match length was an hour and 10 minutes. Two wins were secured in less than an hour.

RECORD GROWS: A second major was Aryna Sabalenka’s 14th singles title in total.

Only two of 14 sets extended beyond three games for the champion, Sabalenka’s biggest test coming against Coco Gauff in the semifi nals.

The American teenager had stormed back from a set and a break down to overcome Sabalenka in the recent US Open final and showed signs of a similar comeback at Rod Laver Arena when she recovered from a 2-5 deficit to force an opening-set tiebreak.

But with that challenge managed, the No.2 seed rode the momentum to record a 7-6(2) 6-4 triumph and started as a clear favourite in the championship match against Zheng.

Sabalenka asserted authority from the outset, holding

UNSTOPPABLE STAR: Sabalenka, the fifth woman this century to complete a perfect AO campaign, is determined to extend her authority to other Slams.

AUSSIE SUMMER

AUSSIE STAR TURNS Lighting up the sporting landscape over the long, hot tennis summer, many Aussies treated us to eye-catching performances.

DEMON WORSHIP Aussie No.1 ALEX DE MINAUR galvanised the nation in the United Cup, stunning three top-10 players – Taylor Fritz, world No.1 Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev – to rise to a career-high No.10. Goal for 2024 ticked in the first week.

At Melbourne Park, ‘Demon’ was the bestperformed Aussie man for the third straight year, losing no admirers in a five-set loss to Andrey Rublev.

26 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

ALEX DE MINAUR

“I think my level is quite there. Against top-10 opponents this year, I’m 3-1. I was very close today. I’m doing the right things.”

STORM HUNTER

“It’s definitely up there with one of the best feelings.”

STORM FRONT World No.1 doubles star STORM HUNTER was the best-performed Aussie woman in singles. The Rockhampton ‘Rockette’ qualified for the first time at age 29 and pushed to the third round, her best Grand Slam singles run. The free-swinging lefty had break points on No.9 seed Barbora Krejcikova to serve for a straight-sets win.

THOMMO 2, NADAL NADA JORDAN THOMPSON toppled Rafael Nadal not once but twice in a week at the Brisbane International, in the Spanish superstar’s return to the game after 11 months.

Thompson and partner Max Purcell beat Nadal and Marc Lopez in the doubles, before Thompson repeated the feat in a tenacious, three-and-ahalf-hour night quarterfinal from three match points down.

HITS DIFFERENT

E K I L T I E V MO

R U A N I M DE

Backhands, forehands, serve speeds … and style. Amid the obsessive analysis of Grand Slam reporting, there’s also fashion points. Some of our favourite looks from Australian Open 2024.

COURTING

Style

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

A GOLDEN ERA Looking every inch the superstar champion she’s become, Coco Gauff simply shined in a twopiece ensemble unlike any other look featured at Melbourne Park.

HELLO, YELLOW Competing like a veteran but bringing youthful energy, Mirra Andreeva had the perfect look for her second-round upset of Ons Jabeur. “I was really nervous, but I had a really cute outfit,” smiled the 16-year-old.

“Probably I will continue playing with the yellow now.” Her rapidly growing fan base will be pleased.

INDIVIDUAL STYLE It’s not just Andrey Rublev’s crafty tennis that sets him apart from the pack. The world No.5 has sported his own ‘Rublo’ range for the past year – and his Australian Open kit was a standout.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE 45