Australian Tennis Magazine - November 2015

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ARE YOU TOO ANXIOUS? FANCY FEET

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GEAR UP FOR A BETTER GAME

GEAR GUIDE

Learn from the pros

RAFA Build better footwork

RACQUET

REPORT

SHOE REVIEW

REBOOTED THE FIGHT BEGINS AUSSIE WATCH Sam Groth Jason Kubler

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contents

NOVEMBER 2015 VOL 40 No. 11

14

THE REVIVAL BEGINS Fans need not worry about Rafael Nadal. The beloved champion may be missing his usual titles in 2015, but he’s armed with big weapons and the perfect attitude for a revival.

FEATURES 26 BAND RECOGNITION Why resistance bands are the one piece of fitness equipment that every player should own.

30 CONQUERING THE COMFORT ZONE

For some players, switching surfaces is a routine form adjustment; for Jason Kubler, it’s potentially career changing.

How the persistent Aussie is overcoming the challenge.

34 MIND GAMES

The apprehension you may feel on court is nothing compared to the panic attacks some top names have experienced – and, more importantly, overcome – in their careers.

41 RACQUETS REVIEWED Choosing the right racquet is one of the most difficult and important choices you’ll make for your tennis. Our latest reviews will help.

48 PACKING LIKE A PRO

You’ll be surprised at what goes into a pro player’s bag – and how it can help you pack ahead of your own match.

53 SOLE SEARCHING

The right footwear is the perfect place to build your base for a better game, so check out our reviews before you buy this summer.

20

MAKE YOUR OVERHEAD A SMASH

Mastering the overhead smash can provide you with one of the most devastating weapons in the game.

NOVEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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NOVEMBER 2015 VOL 40 No.11

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MOVING ON UP

After stunning successes in 2015, Garbine Muguruza, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Daria Gavrilova are among players who’ve built foundations for bigger breakthroughs in 2016.

REGULARS 8 BREAKPOINTS 12 THE HITTING WALL 25 STROKEMASTER 58 TENNIS 360 60 FROM THE CLUBHOUSE 64 RANKINGS 66 SCOREBOARD 68 20 QUESTIONS 70 IN FOCUS 72 KIDS’ CLUBHOUSE 74 LAST WORD

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YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD

You spend hours honing your serve or groundstrokes but the true foundation for tennis success lies in footwork. We explain how to put your best foot forward.

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AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

EDITOR Vivienne Christie ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniela Toleski FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Andrea Williamson Dominica Glass Carli Alexander

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

Gearing up …

FOR A BETTER GAME

W

hat are the most important tools for tennis success?

For many players it’s the right racquet, whether that be the latest smart racquet, one that helps to produce the perfect combination of power and control or a much-loved favourite that has been winning them matches for years.

Many players consider string and ball technology as critical, while others still will focus on finding the shoes that help them produce perfect on-court footwork.

Certainly all those tools are important, as we explore in this month’s “equipment” issue, featuring extensive reviews of the latest racquets and shoes.

But sometimes the most important tool of all is a player’s overall approach to the game – as we’ve seen in many ways in 2015.

For Novak Djokovic, the critical quality for success is professionalism, which is simply unwavering as he sets new standards in an already-superb career. In 2011, the world No.1 won 70 matches and recorded just six losses in a season that was widely considered one

Nexnt th mo

Feats of Endurance of the best recorded in men’s tennis – but this one is already statistically better, Djokovic going 73-5 with nine titles and a further four finals. And if that’s not jaw-dropping enough, consider the fact that there are still several events for the Serb to play in 2015.

As the last No.1 before Djokvoic’s 61-week reign in top spot, Rafael Nadal is no stranger to such heights. And despite the form and confidence challenges that followed a period undermined by injury, the muchloved Spaniard is determined to achieve them again.

A positive attitude is Nadal’s weapon of choice, Rafa referencing it often as he

recorded his most pleasing period of recent months as a finalist in Beijing and semifinalist in Shanghai. “I am happy,” declared Nadal, insisting that he is building a strong foundation for success in 2015. “I am working so hard every day, with the right energy.”

It seems like Nadal is closing out a challenging year with just the right attitude. By combining it with technological tools and support from his team and countless fans, you can’t help thinking the prolific champ is once again gearing up for his best game.

Alongside a special tribute to retiring champion Lleyton Hewitt, we explore what it takes to endure in tennis.

Available from 1 December.

Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au

THE DJOKOVIC DYNASTY

Among many statistics in Novak Djokovic’s remarkable 2015:

9 TITLES 13 FINALS

OVERALL

10

17

Straight months in which he made the final of every event contested.

Consecutive match wins (after victory at US Open, Beijing and Shanghai).

US $15.9 million prize money amassed after winning Shanghai (the most ever in a single season).

2

Tournaments still scheduled for 2015.

Statistics at 19 October 2015 NOVEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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INSTRUCTION

M A K E Y OUR O V E RHE A D A

The smash can be one of the most devastating shots in tennis – but only if you make it smashing.

PAUL FEIN provides a guide.

“Okay, I’ll serve first and take the overheads.” − What Darlene Hard told Rod Laver when they walked on court to play mixed doubles together at the 1959 Wimbledon.

Americans call this shot an “overhead,” while most of the rest of the world call it a “smash.” Whatever term you use, this weapon is – or should be – the most devastating one in your arsenal. From Gerald Patterson and Jean Borotra in the 1920s; Alice Marble in the 1930s; Pancho Gonzalez, Lew Hoad, Ken McGregor, and Althea Gibson in the 1950s; to Billie Jean King, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Serena Williams in the Open Era; the overhead has delivered the coup de grace in spectacular 20

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

fashion. No one has done it with more panache than Sampras who leaped high to smack short lobs with his famous “slam dunk” overhead.

While a deadly weapon for skilled tournament players, the smash can be a dreaded and dreadful weakness for social ones. “If you want to play the game seriously, or if you want to play the net at all, you must be able to hit the overhead consistently,” wrote 1930s champion Fred Perry in Tennis Strokes & Strategies. “If you don’t, your opponent will lob you into submission. On the other hand, if you smash well, you will welcome those lobs eagerly. There is probably no greater satisfaction in tennis than taking a full-blooded crack at an overhead and putting it away

with a resounding winner.” How right Perry is!

With correct technique, positioning, and tactics, you can eagerly smash lobs with both power and consistency. Here are some tips to master the basics and fi ne points of the overhead.

GET A GRIP

The Continental grip is mandatory for the overhead. It will enable you to snap your wrist to maximise power, and it will also allow you to add a bit of slice, when desirable, particularly on bounce overheads.

It’s also the most practical grip.

Since you’re using the Continental grip when volleying, you won’t have to change your grip at the net to smash lobs.

As with the serve, you need only moderate fi rmness. Too tight

a grip will reduce the fluency and rhythm of your swing and the effectiveness of your wrist snap. You want your arm and wrist to be loose and relaxed in order to generate plenty of power. If your grip is too loose, however, the racquet will turn in your hand before or when your racquet contacts the ball. That will result in a loss of both power and control.

THE SWING IS THE THING

“It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing,” the title of Duke Ellington’s famous song, applies to the overhead, too. The swing is the same as that for a flat serve, except that you eliminate the initial pendulum motion. Instead, start bringing the racquet back at head level when the ball is clearing the net. After you load your weight on your rear leg, let the racquet drop behind your back in the backscratching position with your elbow fully bent. From there, transfer your weight forward and simply use the same baseball throw motion you would for your serve. Launch your body upward energetically and hit the ball when your arm is fully extended. Unlike the serve,

SIMPLY SMASHING: Serena Williams and Roger Federer produce a potent combination of power and placement to make their smashes superior.

your swing does not have to be continuous, though the more rhythmical your motion, the better. Follow through almost as fully as you would on the serve.

To achieve maximum power, generate as much racquet head speed as you can control.

What is commonly referred to as the “wrist snap” is actually a pronation involving your shoulder, forearm and wrist.

Your shoulder and forearm rotate down, while your wrist flexes (bends) forward. At the contact point, your racquet face will be flat.

Pointing toward the oncoming lob with your left arm will help you in three important ways. First, it will help you turn sideways and thus set up the hip and shoulder rotation.

Second, you can line up the fl ight of the ball by pointing at it. Third, extending your left arm will improve your balance.

After you smack the overhead, don’t assume it’s a winner, unless you defi nitely bounce it over the fence or into the stands. If you’ve hit a powerful overhead that forces your opponent to scramble, sprint forward to regain your position at net and

be ready either for a volley or another overhead. However, if your overhead is not that strong and you fi nd yourself in no-man’s land, it may be prudent to retreat to the baseline. There you can try to regain the offensive.

VARY THE CONTACT POINT

Every shot has an ideal contact point. Unlike the flat serve, the contact point for the overhead changes because your position on the court varies dramatically.

Your goal is to avoid hitting the ball too short (in the forecourt) or too deep (beyond the baseline).

If you strike the ball from near the service line, your contact point will be above your right shoulder to about 15 cm in front of your body, depending on your height and reach, with your arm fully extended. If you strike the ball one-and-a-half metres from the net, your contact point will be slightly more in front. That’s because you have less distance to hit the ball safely into the court.

Conversely, overheads hit from three metres inside the baseline should be contacted slightly less in front. Another variable is where you aim your overhead. If you smash straight ahead, your NOVEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

21

INSTRUCTION

BEST FOOT

FORWARD You may spend hours honing your serve or groundstrokes but the true foundation for tennis success lies in your footwork. JELENA DOKIC explains how to put your best foot forward.

Y

ou will often hear people talk about the forehand, backhand, serve or how to hit a slice or top spin but you won’t hear them talk much about oncourt movement.

Whether you’re a pro, a junior just starting out, a club player or an occasional one, footwork will play a vital role in your tennis.

The importance of it is often underestimated. Players of all ages and levels will make huge improvements in their game if they have good footwork.

Incorporating more than just speed and agility, footwork can have some surprisingly intricate requirements. If I tell you to sprint to a ball but I don't show you how to stop and prepare for that same ball, for example, there is no way you are going to hit it properly.

The same situation occurs after you’ve hit the ball – you can’t just hit and stand there.

50

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE NOVEMBER 2015

You need to produce the right footwork, anticipating the next shot and being in the right position to hit it.

Anticipation, concentration, coordination, balance and specific movement patterns are all factors when it comes to footwork.

When you watch the pros compete, notice the one thing they do for the majority of the point – position themselves correctly to hit the next shot.

Think about this the next time you are on the court. What are you doing the most? Moving.

You move to get to the ball to hit your shot and you move to get back and recover after you hit it so that you can get ready for the next shot.

The amount of time you spend swinging to hit your shots and the time the ball spends on your strings is much less than the time you spend moving to shots, recovering from them and getting ready for the next

IN STEP: Novak Djokovic is always ready for his next shot.

one. Every shot starts from your legs and feet long before you even hit the ball.

Benefits of good footwork Among the many advantages of good footwork is that it provides you with more options. With quality footwork you arrive at the ball quicker, earlier and in better position.

You can choose where you want to play the shot – whether that’s crosscourt or down the line. You can also choose which shot to hit – forehand, backhand, deep or short.

By not being in a good position your choices will be limited and you’re unlikely to be able to hit or execute the shots that you want. You’ll be offbalance and your technique will suffer; you may often arrive at the ball too late.

Another advantage of good footwork is more power on your shots. When you get to the ball in good position you can hit the ball harder because you can hit it with your whole body and with the right technique, not just your arm.

You can also reduce your errors – many of which arise from bad footwork because you are in the wrong position to hit the ball. By improving your footwork you will also get to more UNBALANCED: Belinda Bencic suffers from a temporary footwork lapse.

GEARING UP

RACQUETS REVIEWED THE REVIEW SYSTEM This year we have looked at the structure of the racquet and have highlighted what we feel the racquet does well. Some of the terminology we have used is broken down for you.

Power – The amount of speed that the racquet generates on the ball and how easily the racquet provides power in the serve, groundstrokes and volleys.

Control – The ability to manoeuvre the ball around the court. The feeling of having the ball stick to the strings and being able to place the ball anywhere in the court.

Spin – The amount of spin that the racquet helps put on the ball.

The ease of the racquet in aiding spin production.

Comfort – How easy the racquet is to use straight from pick-up.

Various factors include overall stress on the arm.

Feel – Valuing the combination of weight and feel in the player’s hand. The comfort of the racquet when playing shots and the ability to feel in control of the racquet.

Groundstrokes – The effect that the racquet has on performing your forehand and backhand (flat and topspin) shots. A high rating reflects consistency and manoeuvarability of the racquet to set up to play your shots. A high rating will reflect the ease of hitting a higher number of shots in the court with greater spin and pace.

Playability – The ability of the racquet to suit a wide variety of styles and how easily you can perform with the racquet.

PLAYER RACQUETS YONEX EZONE DR The outstanding Yonex Ezone returns with the latest model. Nick Kyrgios’ weapon of choice is the world’s first racquet to feature premium grade NANOMETRIC DR carbon graphite. The racquet has a large sweet spot for a 98 square inch frame that provides dynamic power.

This model felt more solid in hand and gave easy power without sacrificing control or the spin for which the racquet is known.

YONEX EZONE DR The larger model from the Ezone DR stable is all about easy hitting. The larger head gives an even bigger sweet spot which is sure to please the average user.

Endorsed by rising star Belinda Bencic and doubles world No.2 and five-time Grand Slam champion Martina Hingis, the Ezone DR 100 square inch provides the user with amazing spin and power potential.

310 grams AWARD: THE POWER RACQUET

300 grams

HIGHLIGHTS Elite power; high level spin

HIGHLIGHTS Elite power; high level spin; easy hitting

STRING PATTERN 16/19 HEAD SIZE 98 square inches RANGE USED BY Nick Kyrgios; Ana Ivanovic

STRING PATTERN 16/19 HEAD SIZE 100 square inches RANGE USED BY Belinda Bencic; Martina Hingis NOVEMBER 2015 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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