Australian Tennis Magazine - December 2014

SUMMER SPECIAL SUPERSTAR SEASON

2014 ACES &

AUSSIE

FAULTS

GEN NEXT

NOVAK DJOKOVIC Handling the heat

HOW TO

FEATS OF ENDURANCE

ETRAIN IN ALL WEATHER ELEARNING TO ADAPT ESTROKES MASTERED

BATTLE

ELEMENTS OPPONENTS …YOURSELF DECEMBER 2014 A$7.50 / NZ$8.40 / US$7.50

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DECEMBER 2014 VOL 39 No. 12

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ACES & FAULTS OF 2014 Winds of change swept through the tennis world in 2014; we review the top 10 aces and faults of an eventful season.

contents FEATURES 20 DADDY COOL

Is Novak Djokovic the most unflappable man in tennis? It certainly seemed so when the new father ended another stunning season at world No.1.

22 FEATS OF ENDURANCE

Combining the highest-stakes prizes with punishing conditions and unquenchable competitive spirits, summer tennis is often the time for remarkable feats of endurance.

30 SWITCHING ON …

IN THE OFF-SEASON

What's an off-season to some is a pre-season to others – and there are many valuable lessons to learn from these dedicated professionals.

46 SUPERSTAR ARRIVALS

The Australian summer provides the chance to see the world’s top players in action.

Our guide of where and who to watch.

49 TOMORROW IS CALLING

If it's fun to watch the game's current stars battle it out, it's even more rewarding to catch a glimpse of the local talents following them. Some top Aussie prospects to note.

54 OPENING TO A GREATER GAME A super sports training resort without peer, Thanyapura is a dream destination for those hoping to build their game in luxury.

58 A POWERFUL BOOST

The Australian Pro Tour has long provided a launch pad to higher-level success but with stronger competition and increased rewards, that’s proving especially true in 2014.

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ALL SEASON SUCCESS Competing in an Australian summer requires more than a heat management plan, with a range of conditions often presented. Learning to adapt can help your tennis in any season.

DECEMBER 2014 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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DECEMBER 2014 VOL 39 No. 12

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SAM GROTH: SMASHING IT

Only recently Sam Groth was considering career options outside tennis; now, after a career-best season, he’s sitting comfortably in the top 100 – and ready for new highs.

REGULARS 8 BREAKPOINTS 12 THE HITTING WALL 33 BE THE PRO 66 FROM THE CLUBHOUSE 72 RANKINGS 74 SCOREBOARD 76 20 QUESTIONS 79 KIDS’ CLUBHOUSE 82 LAST WORD

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STAYING COOL

Summer can mean training in extreme temperatures, but you can keep your cool when the heat is on.

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

EDITOR Vivienne Christie DEPUTY EDITOR Darren Saligari ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniela Toleski FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Andrea Williamson Melissa O’Connor

ADVERTISING MANAGER Nicole Hearnden ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Daniel Heathcote PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images, John Anthony, Image(s) licensed by Ingram Publishing COVER PHOTO Getty Images COVER DESIGN & PHOTO EDITING Andrew Hutchison, FourFront

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.

FIRST SERVE

Summer celebrations

I

f there’s one season to celebrate for a tennis fan, it’s summer. With long days of sunshine and languid balmy evenings, it’s the perfect time to pick up a racquet. Alongside the boost to your health and fitness, tennis provides a unique opportunity for some cherished times with family and friends.

Adding to the feel good factor is the knowledge that an Australian summer means the hottest stars in the game are also on their way to begin a new season.

Bodies have been rested in the off-season, skills subsequently sharpened and ambitions are reignited. And with high-achieving WTA and ATP players contesting events throughout the nation before they enter one of only four Grand Slams in Melbourne, Australians have more chances than most fans to see the superstars of tennis firsthand.

This summer, we’ll be equally excited to see local players continue their rise.

The 2014 season ended with five Australian men in the top 100 and three women in that same upper echelon, meaning eaning

those high-stakes events will be greatly enhanced by a high ratio of capable locals.

Nick Kyrgios will be among the most-watched of those competitors, thanks to his stunning quarterfinal run at Wimbledon and subsequent rise into the world’s top 60.

Lleyton Hewitt, preparing to contest his 19th Australian Open, will also be a major drawcard while Sam Groth, who quit tennis before cracking the world’s top 80 when he successfully targeted one last breakthrough in 2014, could provide some strong storylines too.

Such spirited drive is also the hallmark of Casey Dellacqua’s remarkable surge.

At the same time last year, she

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was ranked outside the top 120 and needed to win her way into the Australian Open by claiming a coveted wildcard in the pre-tournament Play-off.

Having gone on to reach the fourth round of her home Grand Slam and achieved career-best performances at other majors to climb to world No.26, Dellacqua should start Australian Open 2015 with a seeding.

John Millman, who recovered from a serious shoulder injury to claim consecutive Challenger titles last month, is another Aussie to watch. Having dipped to world No.1193 earlier this year, he’s now at No.159 – believed to be a record rise on the ATP Tour.

Many of those successful journeys started with success at Pro Tour events or with national junior titles. It makes this month’s December Showdown at Melbourne Park, showcasing Australia’s Generation Next, an essential event on many calendars.

It’s the perfect start to an Australian tennis summer.

And a time to celebrate, whether you’re a fan or a player.

Nexnt th mo

THE MILESTONES ISSUE Whether as a player or a fan, tennis offers many significant turning points.

We'll be celebrating many of them in a special issue of Australian Tennis Magazine.

January 2015 issue on sale from 29 December.

Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au

AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2015

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Number of Australian men who’ll qualify for direct entry into AO 2015

Number of Australian women who’ll qualify for direct entry into AO 2015

Number of current or former male No.1’s who’ll contest AO 2015

Number of current or former female No.1s who’ll contest AO 2015

Record number of Australian Opens Lleyton Hewitt will contest in 2015

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

Feats of

FEATURE

Combining the highest-stakes prizes with punishing conditions and unquenchable competitive spirits, summer tennis can be undeniably special. STEVE BARRETT reports on some feats of endurance that set a new standard in the game.

DECEMBER 2014 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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MATCH DAY

ALL-SEASON

SUCCESS Even in summer, players can experience all-season conditions – and sometimes in the course of just one match. The ability to adapt to any scenario is critical.

PAUL MOORE provides some pointers.

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

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FEATURE

TOP 10

OF 2014 Winds of change blew through the tennis world in 2014. Stan Wawrinka and Marin Cilic gate-crashed the Grand Slam party, the Big Four battled the Next Four, new female stars featured in major finals, a trailblazing champion retired, love matches expired and former champions reinvented themselves as trophy coaches. SUZI PETKOVSKI replays the aces and faults of an eventful tennis season.

[1] Eight aces

F

or the first time since 1998, the Grand Slam spoils were evenly divided between eight different players. Stan Wawrinka set the democratic tone of the season by upending the top pair, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, to win the Australian Open.

Nadal repelled all invaders from his Roland Garros fortress for a record ninth time, Djokovic pulled off the Wimbledon-No.1 double-whammy in a classic five-set win over Federer, and Marin Cilic won the US Open over Kei Nishikori, the

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE DECEMBER 2014

first major decider between newbie finalists since the 2005 French Open.

On the women’s front, adopted Aussie Li Na triumphed in her third Melbourne Park final, while Maria Sharapova collected her second Roland Garros title – defying tennis logic by evolving into a claycourter. Czech shotmaker Petra Kvitova was imperious in winning a second Wimbledon crown, while grand dame Serena Williams saved the best for last, winning her 18th major at the US Open – a full 15 years since her maiden Slam victory.