Australian Tennis Magazine - October 2010

OCTOBER 2010

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US OPEN: BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG SUCCESSES

KIM CLIJSTERS THE STAR RETURN YOUR GAME • SMARTER SCHEDULING • BUILD A NET GAME • PRESSURE PLAYS

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OCTOBER 2010 VOL 35 No. 10

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FEATURES

14

The Impossible Dream In completing his Grand Slam collection at the US Open, Rafael Nadal staked a serious claim on becoming the greatest player of the modern era.

18

Sheer Class

Having claimed her third US Open title, can Kim Clijsters now continue her domination at other Grand Slam events?

28

Reyes of Hope Gil Reyes, trainer and father figure to Andre Agassi, continues to inspire athletes from his Las Vegas base.

46

Stepping out of the Shadows Led by the giant killing

32

Davis Cup: 10 reasons why 2012 could be Australia’s year fter falling in the World A

Group Play-off tie, Australia will have to wait at least another year for Davis Cup glory – but 2012 could be the one.

Yen-Hsun Lu, Chinese Taipei is emerging as a contender on tennis’ world stage.

Australian Tennis Magazine | October 2010

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OCTOber 2010 REGULARS 7

13

Topspin Your Serve

40 42

Scoreboard

43

Court Talk

49

My Game

58

My Coach

70

FROM THE EDITOR

Rankings

Club of the Month

ha her US Open dominance wit ith Kim Clijsters continuing er oth two in winning that title on third title and Justine Hen tor in expect that Belgians will fac occasions, we’ve come to al’s enormous Spaniards, given Rafael Nad Grand Slam titles. So too will recent years. success on every surface in e of becoming history-making performanc st Woven within Nadal’s late s the fact wa m ory to win every Grand Sla onl y the seventh man in hist New York in the man to achieve victory in he was onl y the third Spanish from his country to al was one of several men Open era – but in 2010 Nad . take a serious run at the title nt’s final 16 – men among the tourname nish Spa There were in fact six ht if the y hadn’t progressed to the final eig and even more would have er for the honour. competed against each oth n a lesson in g Meadows could have bee The final rounds of Flushin Sweden, Denmark, Serbia, Russia, Switzerland, European geography, with Belgium and Spain all represented alongside Slovakia, Estonia and Ital y Sam Stosur and men’s and women’s draws. in the quarter-finals of the progress so far. y non-European pla yers to Venus Williams were the onl e in the Davis Novak Djokovic, will compet In December, Serbia, led by erful tennis for the first time. Once pow Cup final (against France) for the World tralia (who fail ed to qualify nations like America and Aus in Cairns) no longer g last month’s Pla y-off tie Group, with Belgium winnin event for years on end. dominate this world team and the harsh ly global nature of tennis, It highlights the increasing is more intense the game’s biggest prizes reality that competition for s can’t compete an, of course, that Australian than ever. This doesn’t me cial when the y ply makes the wins more spe on the world sta ge – it sim . manage to break through

W

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

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EDITOR CONSULTING EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITOR ART DIRECTOR ADVERTISING MANAGER MY COACH CONTENT PHOTOGRAPHS

COVER PHOTO

Vivienne Christie Alan Trengove Daniela Toleski Naomi O’Bryan Jackie Cunningham Travis Atkinson, Karen Clydesdale Getty Images, John Anthony (All photographs by Getty Images unless specified) John Anthony

Australian Tennis Magazine is published monthly by TENNIS AUSTRALIA LTD, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, Vic 3121. Ph: (03) 9914 4200 Email: editor@tennismag.com.au Distributed by Network Distribution Company Printed in Australia by Webstar 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.

Australian Tennis Magazine | October 2010

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Australian Tennis Magazine | October 2010

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The Impossible Dream It might have been the one that got away. Instead, in claiming the US Open title after five frustrating attempts, the peerless Rafael Nadal staked his claim on becoming the greatest player of the modern era. By Kristina Moore

F

aced with the trickiest dilemma in his story-book career, Rafael Nadal could have been excused for letting the US Open slip. After all, he already had records that other players of considerable ability would only ever dream about. And this punishing major, occurring at the end of a long season in which he’d already added to his Grand Slam record in each of the past five years, was hell for a man who played so explosively, a style that’s partly to blame for knee injuries that have threatened his career in recent years.

But most of all, Nadal could, if he chose to, relax in the knowledge that he wouldn’t be the first Grand Slam great to end his playing days with unfinished business at one elusive major. Bjorn Borg claimed six French Opens and five Wimbledon titles, and was a four-time US Open finalist, yet never held the trophy aloft. Pete Sampras was a multiple titlist at every major but the French Open. Stefan Edberg was similarly denied on Parisian clay, while Ivan Lendl never conquered the All England Club grass.

In claiming his ninth major in a raindelayed men’s final at Flushing Meadows, however, Nadal showed he is a more complete player than any of those men. In fact, in progressing through the tournament without dropping a set before overcoming a surging Novak Djokovic in a quality four set final, there was every sign the Spaniard could become the greatest player of all time.

Rather than revel in the accomplishment of becoming one of just seven men to win

every Grand Slam title, however, Nadal firstly delighted in the fact he’d finally found form at his most difficult event.“It’s a dream, have the career Grand Slam, but this is more dream (to) have the US Open,” he said. “In some moments it’s an unbelievable feeling because I worked a lot all my life, in all difficult moments to be here, but I never imagined have the four Grand Slams. I think for the first time in my career I played a very, very good match in this tournament. I played my best match in the US Open at the most important moment, so I am very, very happy for that.”

And certainly Nadal needed his best to outlast Djokovic, who was physically exhausted but emotionally exhilarated after saving two match points in his marathon semi-final against Roger Federer. The Serbian tested the eventual champion with relentless attack, staving off an incredible 20 breakpoints before he finally succumbed after three hours and 43 minutes on court – a gutsy performance that only made Nadal’s historic feat even more spectacular.

“That’s what’s so frustrating.

He’s getting better each time you play him,” Djokovic surmised. “He’s so mentally strong and dedicated to this sport. I don’t know how long he’s going to play. He has the game now for each surface, and he has won each major. He has proven to the world that he’s the best in this moment.”

Tempering that frustration was the fact that the final had been played in such good spirits, each man congratulating the other on their ability to withstand the pressure and bring their best to the high-stakes encounter. As Nadal pointed to the near certainty of Djokovic adding to the lone

Novak Djokovic is looking up to a brighter future.

Australian Tennis Magazine | October 2010

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