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contents
JANUARY 2016 VOL 41 No. 01
24
SIMPLY PERFECT
The titles no longer tally quite as quickly or in such record-breaking fashion, but few players remain as capable or adored as Roger Federer.
FEATURES
19 ON TOP OF THE WORLD
63 40 LOVE
38 GRAND CELEBRATIONS
79 THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN IN FOCUS
Typically incorporating Grand Slam titles and always requiring superb mental and physical weapons, the rise to No.1 is the most celebrated achievement in tennis. As the highest individual honour in the game, a major milestone also provides the opportunity for some very personal victory celebrations.
43 SAM, I CAN
She’s yet to match the heights she achieved as the 2011 US Open champion, yet there are many signs of success for Sam Stosur this summer.
54 FEARLESS FORECASTS
Breakthrough champions, superseded records and revived favourites are among the predictions as we polish the crystal (tennis) ball for 2016.
As Australian Tennis Magazine celebrates its 40th birthday we look back at milestones, shocks and turning points that have shaped the past four decades.
Milestone matches, epic numbers and memorable moments tell the story of the season’s opening Grand Slam.
89 LUCIE SAFAROVA: A TIME TO SHINE
Despite early setbacks and stagnation, Lucie Safarova persisted to crack the world’s top five – and now has the determination to progress even further.
98 LESSONS FROM LLEYTON There are many lessons – from both on the court and off it – to learn from the most accomplished Australian competitor in recent tennis history.
33
NOVAK DJOKOVIC … AND THE $100 MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION Amassing $21 million in 2015, Novak Djokovic is closing in on $100 million in prize money – yet, it’s majors, not money, that provide the true measure of his greatness. JANUARY 2016 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
7
JANUARY 2016 VOL 41 No.01
28
HIGHER AMBITIONS
A long reign at No.1, 21 Grand Slam titles and countless other records aren’t enough to sate the fierce competitive spirit of Serena Williams.
REGULARS 12 BREAKPOINTS 16 THE HITTING WALL 97 FROM THE COACH 101 GEARING UP 104 FROM THE CLUBHOUSE 109 RANKINGS 112 20 QUESTIONS 114 IN FOCUS 116 KIDS CLUBHOUSE 119 LAST WORD
93
A POSITIVE APPROACH
Big serves and sizzling ground strokes can win you many points but it’s a positive approach that helps channel those weapons into consistent success. 8
AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE JANUARY 2016
EDITOR Vivienne Christie ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniela Toleski FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Andrea Williamson Dominica Glass Carli Alexander Trevor Bridger
ADVERTISING MANAGER Nicole Hearnden ADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAGER Daniel Heathcote PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images, John Anthony 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
40 LOVE
T
he 2016 season is only just beginning but in some ways, we’re celebrating as if we’ve already won a Grand Slam title: this issue marks a milestone 40 years since the very fi rst edition of Australian Tennis Magazine (ATM). In January 1976, we featured the athletic John Newcombe (with his wooden racquet) on the cover of a bi-monthly 88-page predominately black and white publication that
doubled as the official program for the Australian Open. Inside, we debated the merits of a centre court roof at Kooyong (concluding that spectators should enjoy the sun), had Newk appraise “Mr Controversial” (Jimmy Connors) and multiple fine-print pages of professional statistics were sourced from events several months earlier. How times have changed. Full colour since the 1990s, ATM is a monthly publication featuring content that regularly extends more than 100 pages. A digital
issue complements the print one, and we interact daily with a strong social media audience that’s quickly growing. To celebrate our 40th birthday, we delved into the archives for a special history feature and there were more “oohs and aahs” than at a Big Four major final as we re-lived Grand Slam epics, intriguing rivalries, influential characters and the turning points of a game that remains ever-evolving. Amid those many developments, there are welcome constants too. Winners, styles and the prizes may change, but we were as excited for the Australian Open then as we are in 2016.
18
The same is true for ATM itself too, which has retained many regular features in the rare feat of four decades of niche publishing. This was only made possible through the brave vision of our founding editor, Alan Trengove. While our audience is more likely to interact via email or social media than old-fashioned letters now, the most cherished aspect is still you, our loyal readers. This is your celebration, as much as it’s our own – thanks for your support and enjoy ATM’s special 40th birthday edition. Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au
WELL COVERED
After 40 years, Australian Tennis Magazine covers tell a story all of their own …
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MOST COVERS Roger Federer (SUI) Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) Rafael Nadal (ESP) Pat Rafter (AUS) Andre Agassi (USA) Mark Philippoussis (AUS) Steffi Graf (GER) Pat Cash (AUS) John McEnroe (USA) Stefan Edberg (SWE) Novak Djokovic (SRB) Serena Williams (USA) Boris Becker (GER) Maria Sharapova (RUS) Anna Kournikova (RUS) Monica Seles (USA)
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AUSTRALIAN COVER STARS Lleyton Hewitt Pat Rafter Mark Philippoussis Pat Cash Paul McNamee Sam Stosur Peter McNamara Hana Mandlikova Jelena Dokic Mark Woodforde
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ACTIVE PLAYER COVERS 24 21 17 14 7 7 5 4 4 4
Roger Federer (SUI) Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) Rafael Nadal (ESP) Serena Williams (USA) Novak Djokovic (SRB) Maria Sharapova (RUS) Venus Williams (USA) Martina Hingis (SUI) Sam Stosur (AUS) Andy Murray (GBR) Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
24 24 23 14 14 13 9 7 7 7 4
ACTIVE AUSTRALIAN PLAYER COVERS Lleyton Hewitt Sam Stosur Bernard Tomic Nick Kyrgios Thanasi Kokkinakis Casey Dellacqua
24 7 3 3 1 1
JANUARY 2016 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
11
FEATURE
SIMPLY PERFECT 24
AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE JANUARY 2016
CELEBRATIONS
ONof TOP the
WORLD Typically incorporating Grand Slam success and always requiring the rare ability to blend natural physical weapons with hardgained mental ones, the rise to world No.1 is the most coveted – and celebrated – achievement in tennis. By NICK McCARVEL JANUARY 2016 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
19
Serena Williams
FEATURE
HIGHER
AMBITIONS A long reign at No.1, 21 Grand Slam titles and countless other records aren’t enough to sate the fierce competitive spirit of Serena Williams, who’ll challenge for a 22nd major at Australian Open 2016. By VIVIENNE CHRISTIE
S
he’s the most decorated Australian Open champion of the Open Era, the fi rst woman to surpass $70 million in career prize money, the oldest ever female to reign at world No.1 and one of an elite few to add Grand Slams – among myriad other milestones – across multiple decades. When Serena Williams arrives in Australia this summer, she brings a professional CV that’s as bulging as the luxury suitcases she’ll undoubtedly be toting. And alongside those vast tennis achievements there’s an X Factor that occasionally makes Serena’s personal appeal even more compelling than her sporting one. “Australia is really good to me,” the world No.1 gushed on her departure as a six-time Australian Open champion in 2015. “I don't get that everywhere. I really feel my heart really is here.” And well it should be, this nation having featured so strongly in Serena’s history-making journey. Even in her very
fi rst visit to Australia as a 16-year-old, the then world No.53 had a look-at-me factor that seems confi ned to the most special of superstars. Upsetting sixth seed Irina Spirlea in her Melbourne Park debut in 1998, it took sister Venus to stop the precocious teen in the second round. Next year, Serena progressed one round further in Melbourne – world No.13 Sandrine Testud only just edging the 19-year-old 9-7 in the third set of their third round match – and when she returned in the new millennium it was as a Grand Slam champion, the teenager having claimed the first of many majors at the 1999 US Open. It would take five visits for Serena to triumph at Melbourne Park but saving match points against Kim Clijsters in the semifi nals and outclassing Venus in the fi nal to claim Australian Open 2003 came with another golden asterix: a winner of the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Opens in 2002, it marked the fi rst of two self-described “Serena Slams” in which she held all four major titles consecutively. JANUARY 2016 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
29
FEATURE
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic’s recordbreaking 2015 reaped 11 titles, 15 finals and an unmatched $21 million in prize money. But it’s majors, not money, that provide the true measure of greatness and despite everything amassed so far, the defending Australian Open champion has much more in sight. By MICHAEL BEATTIE JANUARY 2016 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
35
FEATURE
Wooden racquets were standard, Hawk-Eye related to birds and neither Serena Williams nor Novak Djokovic had even been born when the first Australian Tennis Magazine was published in January 1976. Over 40 years we’ve covered many highs, some sobering lows and been witness to fascinating turning points. To celebrate our special milestone, we delved into our archives – and even we were surprised by how much has changed in our ever-evolving sport. By LEIGH ROGERS
e v Lo
JANUARY 2016 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
63
PROFILE
Lucie Safarova
The setbacks and stagnation that characterised Lucie Safarova’s early career may have deterred many other players. Yet her hard work, persistence and positive outlook have culminated in a rewarding rise into the top five – and the determination to progress even further. MATT TROLLOPE reports. JANUARY 2016 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE
89