Australian Tennis Magazine

FRESH STARTS IN CHANGING TIMES

A BEACON OF HOPE

NAOMI OSAKA

MAJOR STATEMENT

NOVAK DJOKOVIC GRAND SLAM GRIT

ASH BARTY

STAR LESSONS ADAPTING IN THE NEW NORMAL

A NO NO.1 RETURN

tennismag.com.au

contents APRIL / MAY 2021 VOL.46 NO.1

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STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

There is much to celebrate in Australian men’s tennis, with a strong crop of talented players pushing each other to greater heights.

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COMING BACK STRONGER

Any questions surrounding Ash Barty’s return to the tour after a long absence were soon replaced by an even bigger one – could the world No.1 be an even better player?

FEATURES 21 MAKING THEIR MARK

Recognising the achievements from some of the standout performers so far this season.

24 A BEACON OF HOPE

The power of the Australian Open to inspire the wider community was more pronounced than ever in 2021.

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EDITOR Vivienne Christie ASSOCIATE EDITOR Leigh Rogers FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove

PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images Tennis Australia COVER PHOTO Getty Images

ART DIRECTOR Andrea Williamson Australian Tennis Magazine is published by TENNIS AUSTRALIA LTD, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, Vic 3121.

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.

41 CHAMPIONS IN PERSEVERANCE Australian Open men's doubles champions Filip Polasek and Ivan Dodig showed how patience can deliver major rewards.

42 DYLAN DELIVERS

The ability to make a positive impact matters more to Dylan Alcott than his growing Grand Slam title count.

45 THE NEW NORMAL

Tennis is rich in tradition – yet adaptability is proving one of the sport’s greatest attributes in the current COVID-19 era.

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DETERMINED DJOKOVIC

World No.1 Novak Djokovic demonstrated his incredible mental resolve to win a record ninth men’s singles title at Australian Open 2021.

REGULARS 6 7 8 10 12 51

FIRST SERVE FAN ZONE BREAKPOINTS TOP TEN IN THE SPOTLIGHT YOUR GAME

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AUSSIE WATCH SCOREBOARD RANKINGS KIDS’ CLUB LAST WORD

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AWESOME OSAKA Naomi Osaka’s charge to a fourth Grand Slam triumph at Australian Open 2021 underlined her status as a superstar of her time.

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FIRST SERVE

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A CHANGED REALITY

hen the world’s top players launched the 2021 season, it was in vastly different circumstances from the year before.

Travel required intense and complicated arrangements; schedules could no longer be so reliably planned. In the new pandemic-impacted era, the luxuries many players had previously experienced outside training or competition became a life of quarantine periods, COVID-safe bubbles, medical tests and reduced entourages.

Many family members, friends and supporters who’d previously helped balance the pressurefilled life of professional tennis were forced to remain at home.

But players not only embraced this new reality but, in many cases, thrived. As she surged to a fourth Grand Slam title in Melbourne, Naomi Osaka explained how reducing self-imposed pressure helped produce her best form. “Seeing everything that’s going on in the world, for me, it put a lot into perspective,” she commented.

“I used to weigh my entire existence on if I won or lost a tennis match. That’s just not how I feel any more.”

For Novak Djokovic, the challenge-filled journey to an astonishing ninth Australian Open title underlined determination to make every second count. “I have to try to use the most of my time on the road and make my absence from the home valuable, try to make a big success as a reason why I’ve travelled so far and for so long without seeing my kids and my wife,” the Serbian said.

Drawing strength from the most difficult situations is a powerful trait.

Energised from the long period she’d spent at home in Brisbane, Ash Barty returned as an arguably greater force.

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At her first tournament in almost a year in Melbourne, the Australian lifted her ninth WTA singles trophy. An Australian Open quarterfinal appearance followed and in her return to international tournaments, Barty immediately claimed the Miami Open crown. It was the first time she’d defended a title and helped maintain her status as world No.1.

While admitting that leaving Australia for possibly the entire tennis season was difficult, Barty ultimately took it in her stride.

“The whole world has had this enormous adjustment to the way that we live,” she reasoned. “The brilliant thing is that we are in a safe environment where we can play and do what we love and have the opportunity to play professional tennis.”

That professional tennis can continue in an unprecedented global challenge is helped by those in the sport simply finding a way. An Australian Open like no other – starting for the first

time in the event’s 109-year history in February – required extraordinary levels of patience, planning and adaptability.

Underlining the value of those tremendous efforts, new levels of gratitude also emerged. “I feel lucky, to be honest, with everything going on in the world,” said Dylan Alcott as he progressed further into Australian Open history.

“I feel lucky and privileged to do my job.”

Perseverance from loyal supporters is equally notable.

As publishing of Australian Tennis Magazine resumes after unavoidable disruptions, we would like to thank our readers for their patience and support.

We’re delighted the sport can stay strong in the new normal – and if recent events are an indication, perhaps even emerge stronger than before.

Vivienne Christie editor@tennismag.com.au

“The brilliant thing is that we are in a safe environment where we can play and do what we love and have the opportunity to play professional tennis.”

ASH BARTY

HIT UP YOUR LOCAL Book a court online

ASH BARTY

“Being back out on court and competing is bringing a smile to my face.”

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FEATURE

Any questions surrounding Ash Barty’s return to the tour after a long absence were soon replaced by an even bigger one – could the world No.1 be a better player than when she’d last competed the year before? VIVIENNE CHRISTIE reports

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ncertainty was understandable when world No.1 Ash Barty returned to professional tennis at the start of the 2021 season.

While colleagues had already adapted to the new normal of competing amid the pandemic, the Queenslander had remained at home for the best part of a year.

Could the 2019 Roland Garros champion retain her competitive advantage with so little match play? Had her level dipped while others progressed?

Taking to the court with obvious purpose and sparkling clarity, Barty quickly replaced those questions with an even bigger one – could the world No.1 in fact be a better player than when she’d last competed the year before?

A series of quickly amassed milestones pointed to that reality. Contesting her first event in almost a year in the Melbourne Summer Series, the Queenslander lifted a ninth tourlevel singles trophy at the Yarra Valley Classic. An Australian Open quarterfinal appearance followed, marking the third

straight year she’d progressed so deeply at her home Grand Slam.

“Being back on the tour has been fantastic. I’ve loved every second,” said Barty, declaring that a three-set loss to world No.27 Karolina Muchova at Rod Laver Arena provided important lessons.

“I think we celebrate as a team the way that we’ve been able to come back into the sport and really play well.”

GLOBAL STAR

In her long-awaited return to overseas competition, Barty overcame numerous challenges to triumph again at the prestigious Miami Open. After a 48-hour journey, complicated by several flight cancellations, the jetlagged top seed saved a match point against Kristina Kucova in her opening match.

She subsequently battled past fellow Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko and Victoria Azarenka, before wins over top10 opponents Aryna Sabalenka, Elina Svitolina and the injured Bianca Andreescu. Barty led the final 6-3 4-0 when the Canadian retired with an ankle sprain.

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A beacon of AUSTRALIAN OPEN

hope

The power of the Australian Open to inspire the wider community was more pronounced than ever in 2021, with the event successfully staged in the midst of a global pandemic.

AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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AUSTRALIAN OPEN

d e n i m r e t e D

o j D XXXX: XXX

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c i v ok o World No.1 Novak Djokovic demonstrated his incredible mental resolve, under challenging circumstances, to win a record ninth men’s singles title at Australian Open 2021. By LEIGH ROGERS

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ovak Djokovic has played many memorable matches at Rod Laver Arena in his storied career. It is a court where he shown his immense talent and incredible determination on countless occasions, whether in straight-sets victories or marathon five-set tussles.

But a third-round clash with American Taylor Fritz at Australian Open 2021 might just prove one of the most dramatic and career-defi ning victories of his career.

Leading two-sets-to-love, the top seed hurt his abdomen in the third set and Fritz roared back to level the match.

A deciding fifth set was played in front of an empty stadium, with fans forced to leave on the eve of midnight early in the fourth set to abide with a Victorian Governmentimposed lockdown due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

Against the odds, a physically-hampered Djokovic dug deep to stem Fritz’s momentum and close out a 7-6(1) 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-2 victory in the early hours of the morning.

“This is defi nitely one of the most special wins in my life,” a relieved Djokovic related.

“It does not matter what round it is, against who it is. Under these kinds of circumstances, to pull this through is defi nitely something I will remember forever.”

Djokovic chose to keep the full extent of his injury concern private, with rumours of a muscle tear being discounted by many of his peers, media and wider public.

As he progressed through the tournament, defeating No.14 seed Milos Raonic in the fourth round and No.6 seed Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, the conjecture continued.

“I know there’s been a lot of speculation, people questioning whether I’m injured, how can I recover so quickly, (saying) it’s impossible to do that,” Djokovic said.

“Of course, it’s not nice to hear that. I mean, it also seems unfair from some people that kind of criticise and judge.”

Ignoring such disparaging commentary proved almost impossible.

“It was very challenging for me to keep my mind serene and keep my focus directed into AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE

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YOUR GAME

YOURGAME

Boost your on-court performance

52 LESSONS FROM THE PROS

The fighting spirit of the world’s best players – both on and off the court – serves as inspiration.

55 NUTRITION

Knowing the right foods, and when to eat them, can boost performance.

56 BE THE PRO

Russian Andrey Rublev has overcome multiple injury setbacks to reach new career heights.

58 A VISION FOR EQUALITY

Nicole Pratt is determined to see more women embrace coaching as a career pathway.

59 COACH PROFILES

Tennis Australia Scholarship Coaches are relishing new opportunities.

62 COMMUNITY

West Australian coach Jarron Kretschmann is delivering tennis in remote communities.

EXCITING: The brilliant shot-making of Canadian Denis Shapovalov makes him one to watch.

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