Australian Tennis Magazine - April/May 2020 Strength in Unity edition

STRENGTH IN UNITY STRONGER TOGETHER

RAFA& ROGER RESPECTFUL RIVALS AND FIRM FRIENDS

DOMINIC THIEM GOOD GUY APPEAL

AUSSIE STARS

DAVIS CUP WOMEN UNITED

MARIA SIGNS OFF

APRIL / MAY 2020 A$7.50 / NZ$8.40 / US$7.50

PLUS LESSONS FOR LEFTIES TRAINING TIPS RANKING RULES

tennismag.com.au

contents APRIL / MAY 2020 VOL.45 NO.2

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COURTING FRIENDSHIPS In the highly individual world of tennis, some unexpected friendships endure.

FEATURES 14 MAGICAL MATESHIP

While players typically meet in the most fiercely competitive settings, many also form special bonds that transcend the court.

24 ADVANTAGE, FAMILY?

EDITOR Vivienne Christie

Does having a tennis-playing parent boost a player’s chance of success? Some prominent tennis families share their experiences.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Leigh Rogers

28 A SPECIAL CONNECTION

ART DIRECTOR Andrea Williamson

Stars including Ash Barty, Nick Kyrgios and Alex de Minaur are continuing the tradition of Australian camaraderie on tour.

18

RESPECTFUL RIVALS

As Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal rewrite history with their on-court exploits, they also redefine how opponents can unite.

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove

PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images John Anthony COVER PHOTO Getty Images COVER DESIGN Andrew Hutchison AFL Media

Australian Tennis Magazine is published by TENNIS AUSTRALIA LTD, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, Vic 3121. Ph: (03) 9914 4200 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.

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30 SPIRIT OF SUPPORT

As a tight-knit group of Australia’s top female players have supported each other through numerous career challenges, they’ve also gained a valuable sense of self.

AVE MARIA

46 THE THREE MUSCOVITES

Maria Sharapova ended a glittering career with five Grand Slam titles, further enhancing her star power as she built her brand off court. But there were also many challenges for the now-retired star.

With Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Karen Khachanov all ranked inside the world’s top 15, Russian men’s tennis is in promising hands.

62 STANDING TALL

A heroic effort from John Millman helped Australia win a hard-fought qualifying tie against Brazil to seal a place in the 2020 Davis Cup Finals.

REGULARS 6 7 8 10 11 12 49

FIRST SERVE FAN ZONE BREAKPOINTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT ONE TO WATCH TOP TEN COURTING CONVERSATION

33

GOOD GUY RISING FAST Dominic Thiem’s rise to a peak No.3 ranking is matched by his fast-growing popularity with tourmates and fans.

51 64 66 68 71 72 74

YOUR GAME AUSSIE WATCH SCOREBOARD RANKINGS FROM THE ARCHIVES KIDS’ CLUB LAST WORD

FIRST SERVE

S tr engt h in Unity I t’s not the history that we could ever have imagined unfolding in our workplace.

Nor is it the type we would wish to be making. But for the first time in more than 40 years of publishing, this edition of Australian Tennis Magazine was produced by a team that was working entirely remotely. As the COVID-19 crisis took hold throughout the world, our office became one of many that dispersed to work from home set-ups.

Over-the-desk conversations became longer phone calls; usual checking and proofing processes developed into complicated email exchanges. Collaboration, typically fun and free flowing, was at times a difficult undertaking.

Those challenges, also experienced in countless businesses globally, were of course minor as thousands of lives and livelihoods were tragically lost through the Coronavirus pandemic. Tennis was dramatically impacted, with the tours halted in the days before Indian Wells. While a 9 June return date was initially scheduled, there was also a firm understanding that the game – like the world generally – was facing an uncertain future.

If there was a positive in the sport, it was the stars who rallied to provide both practical support and much-needed perspective.

Roger Federer donated one million Swiss francs to help vulnerable families, while Novak Djokovic provided one million euro to support the purchase of critical medical equipment.

Rafael Nadal teamed with six-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol and the Red Cross Respond project in a bid to raise 11 million euros. “There is nothing we can do other than be positive, strong and united in the fight to beat the virus,” Nadal commented.

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As champions including Simona Halep also made generous pledges to help others, players were simultaneously raising the spirits of many supporters.

With the unprecedented time off tour resulting in some competitors spending the longest time ever in one setting, there were extraordinary glimpses into their more personal lives through social media.

We saw Nadal and others testing recipes in their kitchens, Federer showcasing trick shots in the snow in Switzerland and Serena Williams at home in Florida with her family.

“Make sure we take care of one another, even if it’s from your couch,” the 23-time Grand Slam champion wrote on Instagram.

“And thank you to all who are out there taking care of us.”

Petra Kvitova shared some inspirational messages through an interactive social media exchange. “I have got pretty good

at staying positive in the toughest moments,” the popular Czech commented. “I always stay calm (and) think of others.”

Isolated socially, players nevertheless maintained a sense of unity. Nick Kyrgios bantered

aims to capture the special spirit that exists among many players. The likes of Ash Barty, Federer, Nadal, Serena, Caroline Wozniacki and Dominic Thiem demonstrate valuable lessons: that strong personal bonds

“There is nothing we can do other than be positive, strong and united.” with his tourmates on Instagram.

And from his base in Alicante in Spain, Alex de Minaur related that he’d maintained close contact with John Millman, Jordan Thompson and other Aussie players. “I just want to find out how it’s going in Aus(tralia),” he reasoned.

Those and other friendships are central to an edition that

RAFAEL NADAL

can survive and transcend the high-stakes world of professional tennis. And at a time when it has never been quite so difficult, it has become even more important to stay connected.

Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au

Magic al PICTORIAL

p i h s e t a m

While players typically meet in the most fiercely competitive settings, many also form special bonds that transcend the court.

“

Case is my best friend, my mum on tour, my shoulder to cry on.”

ASH BARTY When a 15-year-old ASH BARTY first played doubles with CASEY DELLACQUA in 2012, it was the start of a beautiful friendship. The duo went on to make the final of all four Grand Slams and win five WTA titles together.

They also supported each other through off-court challenges, with Dellacqua playing a key role in Barty’s return to the sport after an 18-month hiatus.

FEATURE

Courting

friendship In the highly individual world of tennis, some unexpected friendships endure. NICK McCARVEL explores how some of the most competitive rivalries are balanced by heartwarming solidarity.

I

t’s late on the night of the US Open women’s fi nal in 2014, and an Instagram post pops up from its winner, Serena Williams. There’s no caption, but it’s Serena in a selfie, next to a smiling, familiar friend.

There would be nothing strange about Serena posting as she revelled in her triumph, though the joyful pal next to her wasn’t just anyone, it was Caroline Wozniacki, the same person she had beaten earlier that day to win her 18th major singles title.

“I defi nitely owe you drinks later,” Wozniacki, the Dane, had said to laughs in her post-fi nal address on court. “You’re an unbelievable friend.”

Wozniacki kept her promise, and the sight of the pair enjoying New York City together after contesting one of the biggest fi nals of the season made big headlines.

While Wozniacki and Serena are one of the most well-known friendships in tennis, they represent a large swathe of the sport in off-court dynamics. Yes, one of the most individual sports in the world is actually one of the most communal.

Tennis players are friends.

But while having buddies to travel around the globe with sounds appealing, they also play the dual role

of being your biggest rivals, the same people who are trying to out-do you at your job, the very thing you do to make a living – with the whole world watching your ride.

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME

Before Serena and Wozniacki were known to be full-fledged besties, Williams cut a much more private cloth on tour, socialising for the most part with older sister, Venus. Yet her closeness with Wozniacki joined a long list of chummy competitors known to the public: Andy Murray’s friend (mentor?) ship with Nick Kyrgios; Ash Barty and Casey Dellacqua; Alexander Zverev and Marcelo Melo; Denis Shapovalov and Felix AugerAliassime; and, of course, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. “[He] took me under his wing as soon as I got on tour, and to this day [he has] been someone I literally just look forward to seeing,” Kyrgios wrote about his friend Murray, in early 2019.

Friendships can form in a variety of ways: on tour, via social media, shared nationality, sponsors, family roots, doubles partners – the list goes on and on. It’s never easy to pinpoint exactly what makes a friendship click, especially when it’s one as unlikely as Kyrgios and Murray.

After they won the Australian Open 2019 doubles title together, China’s Zhang Shuai said it was nice to win a Grand Slam with “my best friend” Sam Stosur.

common connector on tour: Stosur echoed that sentiment.

This is the person you met at an “It’s amazing. Yeah, we are academy, or played in the junior really great friends, best friends fi nal at age nine, or grew up with on tour,” Stosur said. “I think the the same language or foods. friendship, the respect we have Canadians Shapavalov and for each other is why we can Auger-Aliassime met before then play so well together. We’re either of them were 10, and have smiling before every match.” kept that friendship Former world LEGENDARY LINKS: for over a decade.

No.1 Dinara Safi na Serena Williams and Shapovalov famously became a friendly Caroline Wozniacki crashed at Felix’s fi xture in Sofia became close in the most competitive Montreal-area home Kenin’s player setting. Nick Kyrgios when he made his box during the calls Andy Murray both surprise run to the American’s run a mentor and friend.

Rogers Cup semifi nals to the Australian in 2017.

Open 2020 title, a When they fi rst played friendship the two started professionally at an ATP in today’s cultural connector: Challenger in Canada in 2017, via Instagram.

Shapovalov said that it was “YOU LOOK FAMILIAR…” “always tough” to play his best While you can never guess just friend, and the two felt much the exactly how two people are same when they met in the fi rst going to fi nd a bond, childhood round of both the 2018 and 2019 roots are probably the most US Opens.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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FEATURE

ADVANTAGE,

Family?

Does having a tennis-playing parent boost a player’s chance of success? LEIGH ROGERS spoke to some prominent tennis families to find out.

W

hen Casper Ruud won his fi rst ATP title in Buenos Aires in February, it propelled the 21-year-old to a career-high ranking of No.34.

It marked a new career-best rank for a Norwegian player, overtaking the previous best of No.39 his father Christian set in 1995.

“Sorry dad, but records are made to be broken,” Casper tweeted.

There are no hard feelings for a proud Christian Ruud, who now coaches his son.

However, Christian revealed he did have initial hesitations when Casper wanted to follow his footsteps as a professional player.

“I was excited for him – but also knew how tough and difficult it can be,” Christian related in an exclusive interview with Australian Tennis Magazine.

“I had a few years where I was struggling to break through and almost gave up at one point. I know how tough it is to get into the top 100, so I was scared that he wouldn’t succeed. But at the same time, you have to let your children follow their dreams 24

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

and have confidence they can learnt and give him the best achieve them.” advice possible.”

Ruud encouraged Casper to Casper, who trains at the Rafa play a range of sports as a child, Nadal Academy, appreciates the including ice hockey, soccer and role his father plays. golf. Tennis proved his “I’m from a small PROUD PARENT: favourite, becoming tennis country, and Pro-turned-coach his focus from age 11.

I don’t have too many Christian Ruud with “I’m quite calm people to look up to son Casper, who is setting new tennis and not pushy,” except for him,” highs for Norway.

Christian explained Casper said. of his parenting and “He’s the only one who coaching style. “I just try to knows how tough life is on the tour. give advice from what I’ve I think it’s been a huge advantage

to have my father so close to me and helping me with my tennis.”

For Christian, it was important his son adopted a long-term focus from a young age.

Patience and hard work were his key messages.

“I’ve seen how the game has developed and how much more athletic the guys are,” Christian noted.

“When Casper was 13, I said we need to find you a good fitness trainer and build your physique. To build a good fitness is more important than just playing tournament after tournament. You need to build up your body to avoid injury and to be able to compete at a high level. Not all parents can see that. Maybe because I was a tennis player, I could.

“I’ve also seen how the game has developed with the importance of having a good weapon, so we spent a lot of time working on his forehand. You need to be able to fi nish points and have something you can scare opponents with – and I

?

CHRISTIAN RUUD

“You have to let your children follow their dreams and have confidence they can achieve them.”

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FEATURE

T h e t h r ee

s e t i v o c s u M With Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev and Karen Khachanov all ranked inside the world’s top 15, Russian men’s tennis is in promising hands.

DAN IMHOFF reports

T

hey are a bright young band of Russians, bonded initially through a childhood on-court rivalry, a close friendship and ultimately as teammates under the one flag.

All hailing from the capital and all born from 1996 to 1997, they could collectively be dubbed the Three Muscovites, or “Tri Moskvicha”, should their upward trajectory continue.

But Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev don’t care much for comparative hype, let alone a coined moniker.

The fi rst of the trio, the 24-year-old Medvedev, reached his maiden Grand Slam fi nal at Flushing Meadows last year.

He impressed in pushing Rafael Nadal to five sets over nearly five hours of combat. In a season, which included four 46

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

titles and a tour-leading 59 match wins – including his second over Novak Djokovic – it was enough to garner high praise from former great John McEnroe on the eve of this year’s Australian Open.

McEnroe tipped him as the player most likely to break the stranglehold of the Big Three at the majors in 2020.

“Every time somebody says something like this, especially John, who was an amazing tennis player, a legend, it makes you kind of happy,” Medvedev said. “When tennis experts or legends like John say it, it’s an honour for me.

“But it’s not as easy to do it as to say.”

Seeded fourth, he was reminded of this when threetime major winner Stan Wawrinka brought him back to earth in the fourth round.

But it was this type of insight

articulated away from the heat of battle that gave a glimpse into the real Medvedev – a stark contrast to his unabashedly provocative on-court demeanour.

“I can be emotional, I can make mistakes because I’ve grown up so fast,” he said. “I think people see the real side of me … My fi rst goal I always say is to win every match I play, no matter which tournament.”

It is an attitude that carries through many of his compatriots, driving many to succeed from often-humble beginnings.

The bar is already high when any Russian tries to go one better than Medvedev did in New York.

They follow in the well-worn footsteps of multiple Grand Slam winners, former world No.1s and Davis Cup champions Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Marat Safin.

And after the conveyor belt of women’s champions, which rolled out as consistently as a procession of Bolshoi Ballet dancers during the mid 2000s, expectations had often been unforgivingly high.

A quartet of well-credentialed Frenchmen know well the burden this can bring.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon, anointed the New Musketeers – referencing their Davis Cup-winning teammates, Jacques Brugnon, Henri Cochet, Rene Lacoste and Jean Borotra who were dubbed the Four Musketeers in the 1920s – have long been saddled with the expectations they were destined to deliver France its next men’s major champion. With the four now considered to have missed the boat, the wait endures – 37 years and counting.

While the drought has not been nearly as long for one-time heavyweight, Russia, the former powerhouse fi nally has cause for optimism. The trio of precocious and fiery talents is also buoyed by each other’s successes.

Jetlagged and exhausted after winning the Shanghai Masters 1000 title and having touched down in his home city of Moscow last October, Medvedev happily mingled with fans ahead of the Kremlin Cup where he spoke of the trio’s healthy rivalry.

“We have a great competition between us three guys and we really push each other,” he said.

In a nation obsessed with football, ice hockey and the more traditional Olympic sports, Medvedev has noticed tennis beginning to make its mark again.

“I do feel there’s a lot of support coming from Russia. It’s huge

and it’s great,” he told AFP. “A lot of support coming from social media [and] support from my friends, because most of my friends are still Russian guys.”

While a lower back stress fracture scuppered his 2018 season, Rublev – the youngest of the trio – made a run to the Hamburg fi nal and beat Roger Federer to reach the Cincinnati quarterfi nals last year.

It was a sign of things to come but as he admitted, still a long way off the heights Medvedev scaled in 2019.

“In the past [there] was Marat Safi n and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, was really big,” Rublev said.

“Tennis was really huge in Russia. That was really amazing.

When they fi nish, tennis became not that famous anymore.

“Now with Daniil, the results he did last year, especially with Karen, when he also won the Masters, [but] most likely because of Daniil – he won Masters, was in final of Grand Slam, which was first time since [the] old generation.

“Because of that we have much more attention. That’s really amazing.

“I hope we will improve, we will play better and better, and maybe one day we can bring our sport at Russia the same level that it was when Marat and Kafelnikov was playing.”

That healthy competitiveness drove Rublev to add his name to a trophy dear to all Russians, the Kremlin Cup, which Khachanov had claimed only 12 months earlier. Medvedev is yet to see his name etched on it.

After he landed that fi rst home title in Moscow last October, Rublev secured four straight singles wins to help Russia reach the Davis Cup semifi nals alongside Khachanov.

It set off a 15-match winning streak, which included back-toback titles in Doha and Adelaide to open 2020 and a fourth-round run at Melbourne Park to thrust the 22-year-old self-confessed workaholic into the top 20.

For the first time since Safin, Nikolay Davydenko and Mikhail Youzhny 15 years earlier, three Russians were ranked in the top 20.

While proud of his compatriots’ achievements, Rublev would not be

drawn into comparisons when they are expecting once you start pressed on the trio’s combined doing it more consistently and go accomplishment. deeper in Grand Slams.

“I’m focused more on myself “There’s always different kind probably because there are so of [Russian fans] in the country many guys, even younger, or – some of them expect you to the same age, from different do better things, some of them countries showing amazing appreciate what you’re doing tennis and are higher ranked right now.” than me or somewhere close, Once the Soviet Union so at the end it’s not only about collapsed in 1991, barriers on Russian tennis, we’re not only promising athletes lifted. The playing tennis in Russia,” he said. chance to travel more freely “Of course it’s all motivation and the opportunity to keep because when I see one guy more the sum of their prize money or less my age, showing amazing and endorsements, a windfall results and beating good that was not possible under players ... it gives you a bit more the former communist regime. confidence.”

The inclusion of tennis at the Khachanov was the fi rst of the Olympics and a growth of tennis Three Muscovites to crack the academies in Russia further top 10. spurned this success.

He rounded out his 2018 Seeing the opportunity of season with victory over a better life abroad and the Djokovic to land the Paris Masters potential of greater fi nancial 1000 title. A fi rst Grand support, many families NEW HIGHS: Karen Slam quarterfi nal, made huge sacrifices Khachanov and also in Paris, followed with young protégés Andrey Rublev to earn Khachanov a in tow. led Russia into top-10 debut in June And while the the 2019 Davis Cup semifinals, 2019. Medvedev, his likes of Sharapova the nation’s best occasional doubles continued to result since 2008. partner, joined him in represent her home that elite category a country throughout month later. her career after moving to the “Honestly the funniest thing US at age seven, many others is we don’t practise together a carried the strong Russian lot of times, because we play work ethic and dedication different styles,” said 23-year-old to compete under different Khachanov. “Mostly I was hitting flags – either their parents’ or with Andrey Rublev. eventually their own choice.

“Of course after a while there’s two guys from the same country in the top 10 it’s great of course. But maybe we used to have higher standards in Russia and

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YOUR GAME

YOURGAME

Boost your on-court performance

52 A LETTER TO LEFTIES

While many of the game’s greatest players are left-handers, it is an advantage to use with care.

56 BE THE PRO

Many players would love to emulate the stylish Belinda Bencic.

57 MEET YOUR MATCH

Even the best pros encounter especially troubling opponents. What lessons can they provide?

58 WINNING ON AND OFF THE COURT Former top junior Ryan Henry draws on his vast experience to help parents guide young players.

60 BRING THE INTENSITY

Training with intensity helps prepare your body to perform better in matches.

61 HOLDING BACK

Rest is valuable for players with lumbar stress injuries.

SERVING UP STYLE: A sound technique makes world No.19 Grigor Dimitrov tough to beat.

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