Rafael Nadal Ana Ivanovic Vuoi vincere?

N°16 - 2014
Tennis World
Rafael Nadal
After a record-breaking 2013, this
season is starting to become very
challenging for Rafa Nadal
Ana Ivanovic
Trending upward
Vuoi vincere?
You will not be happy when
you win, but you will win when
you are happy
An interview with
Eugenie Bouchard
by David Cox
Her Time To Shine
Over the past few years, women’s tennis has
found itself lagging behind the men’s game,
lacking the same big name rivalries to captivate
the public. Part of this has been down to the
sheer dominance of Serena Williams and the
retirements of players like Justine Henin and
Kim Clijsters. But apart from Williams and
Maria Sharapova, no player has really stepped
forward and thrust themselves into global
stardom for many years.
That could be about to change, with the rise of a
young Canadian called Eugenie Bouchard, who’s
enjoyed an astonishing rise over the past year.
The tall blonde has a ferocious game and high
expectations, powering herself into the semifinals of January’s Australian Open and earning
plenty of adoring fans along the way.
It was reminiscent of Sharapova’s sudden surge
into the spotlight a decade ago and Bouchard is
equally ambitious. While many of her peers are
happy to sit back and develop their games
without being too concerned about results just
yet, Bouchard sees no reason why she shouldn’t
be achieving big things.
“The game is for sure a little bit older, with
Serena, and Li Na, for example, doing so well in
their 30s,” she said. “But to me, I'm playing here
and now. I want to do the best I can right away.
There's no point for me to just kind of be relaxed
about it. Of course, winning every single match
isn’t going to be possible, but I want to try to do
the best I can as soon as I can, and I want to
have 10 successful years and not five slow ones
and then five good ones.”
Self-confidence has clearly never been a
problem, something which was evident
throughout 2013 as she notched up wins over
Sam Stosur, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and
Sloane Stephens.
“I think that ever since a young age I've always
been confident in myself and everything I do,”
she said. “And I’m always learning through my
coach, through practices, through matches,
trying to gain confidence, and not being
surprised if you do well. That’s really key, to
kind of expect it from yourself.”
For a moment she looks like an excitable teenager
planning her first inter-railing adventure as she
describes her European itinerary for the next month
12 months ago, Bouchard was already regarded
as a big talent by those in the know, but with a
ranking outside the world’s Top 100, she still
had much to prove. It’s been quite a year, and
she laughs as she remembers how she was
having to battle through the qualifying rounds of
most of the big events.
“Yeah, like in Charleston (where she just made
the semi-finals) I couldn't even get into the main
draw last year. It’s exciting, this is what I've been
working to achieve, to play in these big
tournaments.”
For a moment she looks like an excitable
teenager planning her first inter-railing
adventure as she describes her European
itinerary for the next month, tournaments
which she’s only been able to watch on TV in the
past.
“I’m starting on the red clay in Portugal, and
then there are some tournaments I've never
played before, like Madrid and Rome, which I
hear are really cool. I'm so excited to finally have
the ranking to play these big tournaments, and
I'm just going to enjoy it so much. They're
warm-up tournaments for Roland Garros, but
they're also big tournaments themselves, and I
always want to do well at every tournament I
play at.”
Bouchard will be a significant dark horse at the
French Open. Last year she lost to Sharapova in
the second round, but far bigger things will be
expected of her this time round and while hard
“Generally I like being an aggressive player, so I don't
want to change my game too much going from surface to
surface"
courts are certainly her preferred surface, she
feels that she has the tools to do some damage
on the clay.
“Generally I like being an aggressive player, so I
don't want to change my game too much going
from surface to surface,” she said. “But I can still
hang in the points and I’m working on my
defence and I think that will help me a lot on the
clay. I think I did that well in Charleston (where
she beat Venus Williams), staying in points and
kind of just grinding it out.”
“I enjoy the different surfaces and changing it
up. I’ll just change a few little things, but I keep
my general game of being aggressive, because
that still works on clay.”
Serena Needs A Rest
by Alessandro Varassi
Her defeat against Jana Cepelova in Charleston has pushed the world
number one to take a few weeks of rest
Those who watched her in Charleston could not
help but notice that the American was tired.
Very tired. She had just triumphed in Miami,
and many wondered if she would be able to
successfully defend her title at the Family Circle
Cup after such a grueling fortnight in Florida.
Their doubts were well founded, as Serena was a
shadow of herself on the court. Serena gave full
credit to Cepelova, who had been able to move
her around the court with relative ease. But in
her press conference she did admit that she was
fatigued.
"I'm tired, I need a few weeks of detachment,
where I do not have to think about tennis. I need
to recharge,” she said.
She could certainly use a break. Every time she
enters a tournament, she is automatically the
favorite to win. Everyone expects her to always
be perfect, and that can take a toll on a person.
"I'm taking some vacation time, I have to
unplug, take a deep breath, I did not have
enough time even in the off-season. I
immediately started training, I rested very little
in the last 2-3 seasons. I need it, especially for
the clay season."
She is defending massive amounts of ranking
points at Madrid, Rome and Roland Garros. Not
an easy feat for anyone, especially someone who
is traditionally not very fond of clay.
Since she returned to the court in 2011, after
nearly walking away from the sport due to
injury, Serena has played far more than she did
as a youngster. In these past two seasons,
Williams has returned to number one in the
world, won two gold medals at the Olympics
(singles and doubles) and four Slams. What did
she miss? Probably just rest. Her admittance of a
need for rest should not alarm her fans, as it is
not necessarily a sign of decline. Instead, it is a
sign that she is thinking in the long term, and
has intentions of dominating the circuit for a
long time to come.
At the beginning of May, in the splendid setting
of the Caja Magica in Madrid, we'll see if rest was
enough to re-energize Serena, or if she is in
bigger trouble than she thinks.
Double Delight
by Franca Angelini
Jelena Jankovic and Alisa Kleybanova will be one of the doubles pairs to
watch this season.
Little in common
Looking at them from the outside there does not
seem to be a lot in common between the two.
The Serb can be described as a bit of a drama
queen at times, and she always wants to be
noticed. "JJ," as her friends and fans call her, is
a perfectionist. “I'm never satisfied with my
game,” she says. “
When I leave the court I always feel I could do
much better. I think it is my nature. I never say I
played well." The Russian, on the other hand, is
of a quieter disposition.
She recently won the toughest match of her life
– against Hodgkin's lymphoma.
She returned to the court after nearly two years
away to treat her condition. Now, however, she
is back and feeling stronger than ever.
After reaching the quarter-finals in Stuttgart,
where she beat Petra Kvitova, Alisa Kleybanova
is back in the Top 100 (at number 87). Her
ultimate aim is to reach the Top 20.
Chasing her dream
“I feel that I'm getting faster, physically stronger,
more durable,” she said recently. “I do not need
to search for special reasons. For me, to take to
the court each day is a dream
come true.
I just like the mere fact of being able to play
every day, play tournaments.
I love this sport and always give 100%.
And I know that if I continue in good spirit, the
results will come.
Even now they are gradually improving.
There will be bad days, but this happens. I try
not to worry and that helps me."
At the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart,
the two friends competed in the singles.
Jankovic won the match, but the Serb, who
generally likes to talk mainly about herself,
showed great respect for her doubles partner.
"It's never easy to play against someone you
know so well. Alisa is a wonderful person and a
great player. It's never nice when we play against
each other. But we are two professionals, I want
to win, she wants to win. It is also weird because
the next day we play on the same side of the
court. No, it's never easy."
A team born by chance
"In Doha, we trained together on the first day of
the tournament, and Jelena had no one to play
doubles with. She asked me, I accepted," the
Russian said recently. Now they have decided to
play together for the rest of the season.
"With Jelena, there has always been a great deal
of respect. Playing next to her is fun, we laugh a
lot on the court. Even when something goes
wrong neither of us gets angry and we continue
to play with a smile on our lips. For both of us it
is clear that our goal is the singles, while the
doubles is just for fun. The result of course is
important, but without any stress."
"I have chosen a companion for double
happiness."
Because, let's face it, who does not enjoy
Jankovic?
Jankovic has always embraced her light-hearted
nature.
“For me it's just fun. This is my way of being,
even if there are cameras around. If you came
with me to the restaurant or off the tennis court,
I would know you a little better and you would
see how I am. I'm bubbly and I like to
talk...Sometimes without meaning."
"Having a good time, making people laugh,
spreading good energy, that I think is the most
important thing."
Andrea Petkovic, who Jankovic played twice in
Charleston, confirms this notion: "The beauty of
Jelena is that she is exactly as you see her. With
her, there are no tricks or surprises."
The Russian is less extroverted than Jelena. That
is perhaps a good thing, because having two
such high energy personalities on a team would
prove problematic.
“Usually I do not talk much with the other
tennis players off the court,” Kleybanova says.
“After training sessions and matches we all have
our commitments. But with Jelena often we
train together, we joke a lot and we support each
other. We would like to create a team spirit like
each other. We would like to create a team spirit
like that between Sara Errani and Roberta
Vinci."
Jankovic loses no opportunity to highlight the
qualities of her friend.
"She showed how strong she is. And it is a
source of inspiration for others, the fact that she
was able to return after such an illness. It is even
more remarkable that she is here to compete at
such a high level, against all of us."
And then the words that you do not expect, but
they are nice to hear, "I am very proud of her. I
am a big fan of hers. I'm rooting for her every
time he plays a match. I support her fully. She’s
a lovely girl and a wonderful person."
An interview with
Ana Ivanovic
by Stefano Semeraro
Trending upward
Even though Ana Ivanovic is many years
removed from being world number one, she still
manages to draw the eyes of photographers like
few other players.
At a recent press conference for Rolex, one of her
many sponsors, she also showed that she still
has the ability to charm anyone at any time. "My
relationship with the Rolex works because it is
based on respect," she said with a smile.
"It is a fine brand, but they treat me like family.
These are the values ​in which I recognize
myself."
Ana, you are the most beautiful tennis
player in the world...
“Thanks, I’m flattered…”
You're welcome. Beauty can sometimes
be a problem. It can distort people’s
relationship with reality…
"Not for me. I like to focus on the court, because
I try to give my best as a tennis player, and I
think people appreciate it. It is true that people
can be influenced, but I'm very genuine, easygoing."
"I also think a lot about what
happens to me sometimes.
Sometimes it's better not to think
and follow your instincts."
You have reached the semis at Rome before, in
2010…
"It's a tournament that I love very much. I love Rome, the
people, the atmosphere. Maybe that's why I put too much
pressure on myself and don’t reach the end. I wonder if
sooner or later I will get there."
You are very emotional...
"Yes, and sometimes it helps me, sometimes it harms me.
But I'm just like, I'm a very passionate person, and I cannot
change."
You are also passionate about psychology. Is it
difficult to analyze yourself?
"From the outside everything seems easier. It is true that I
love psychology, and I read many books on the subject. I also
think a lot about what happens to me sometimes. Sometimes
it's better not to think and follow your instincts."
Are female tennis players more stressed than their
male colleagues?
"Yes. People see only the glamorous side of our work, but it's
a very hard job, and travelling creates so much stress. And
girls often turn stress into conflict with each other."
I'm a big agonist, I hate to lose. And I get angry even if I
play backgammon with my coach
Off the court you look so sweet, but on
the court you are ravenous…
"Always. I'm a big agonist, I hate to lose. And I
get angry even if I play backgammon with my
coach and cards with my brother."
Is women’s tennis in better shape than
the men’s game today?
"There are so many players who can win, many
quality rivalries at the top. We are not just
glamor and skirts."
What must a man do to win your heart?
"Be sure of himself. Have fun, make me laugh. I
do not like the blowhard who intimidates
people. The important thing is to always be
yourself: I am one who appreciates honesty."
How do you beat Serena Williams? In
Australia, you managed to do so.
“She is powerful, you have to be aggressive, but
not too much because if you make a lot of
mistakes it is over. Easy, no?”
What weapons do you use to seduce?
"I never try to be what I’m not. Also because in
the end the truth always comes to light."
You and Novak have done a lot for tennis
in Serbia. Who will follow you?
"Tennis is now the most popular sport in Serbia,
we are full of young talent, but lack the
Beautiful and fit, too. Tell us about your diet.
"I never eat either fried food or sweets..."
facilities, and we risk losing them. But today's
kids are tough."
Beautiful and fit, too. Tell us about your
diet.
"I never eat either fried food or sweets..."
And?
“Well, sometimes I give myself Nutella. I also
like pizza or spaghetti if I treat myself."
This policy works?
"For heaven's sake, it's something that just does
not interest me. My friend Djokovic on the other
hand knows about these things."
What do you see in your future?
"Three or four children, when I retire. And a
commitment to fashion."
In the present?
"I want to come back into the Top 8. Rome has
given me momentum since 2008.
And I have already won two tournaments this
year, and it’s only May.:
Ready For Primetime
by Stefania Grosheva
"It's about putting together all the pieces, but the puzzle is
really complex"
"It's about putting together all the pieces, but the
puzzle is really complex," says Tomas Berdych,
as he considers the size and complexity of his
ambition to enter the Top 4. Though he
understands the challenge, he smiles, and talks
positively about the future. "You have to be
extremely professional," he adds thoughtfully.
"This is what I need to get the best out of my
tennis.”
Berdych is just as quick to recognize the fierce
drive of the major players in the world to stay
where they are. He also draws some inspiration
from Stanislas Wawrinka’s breakout season. The
Czech lost to Wawrinka in four sets in the semifinals in Melbourne. "I was very close against
Stan," he reflected in an interview with The
Guardian. "There were three tie-breaks."
"Stan has given us all a new hope and new
energy," Berdych said. "He has shown that it is
possible. Since 2005, there have been very few
players who have won a Grand Slam, apart
from the big four [in the eight and a half years
that separate the 2005 French Open and the
2014 Australian Open only Juan Martin Del
Potro, outside the Fab Four, has won a Slam]."
"But now it is absolutely fair to say that you have
a chance, and that's why I do not feel tired after
12 years [on the Tour]. I have a new energy and
am very close. I need to work harder and achieve
greater results because I know that Andy Murray
took a long time to win his first Grand Slam."
Murray, after numerous missed opportunities,
won the 2012 US Open and 2013 Wimbledon.
Berdych stresses that working with Ivan Lendl
"was really a big factor. I know Ivan well and he
certainly had a great influence on Andy. Ivan did
not teach him anything new technically, but
psychologically he has done so much." Now that
he and Lendl have separated, Murray has the
difficult task of choosing his next coach.
"It does not matter if it's a big name or an
ordinary guy," said Berdych. "Andy could choose
someone very different. But they definitely need
the right chemistry, psychologically." "Some
people look at
Federer’s coach and wonder, ‘what can her learn
from him?’ But it is very nice because when
Roger was young, Stefan was his idol. This is an
example of the strange chemistry that we need.
I’m not saying that Stefan cannot give him one
or two pieces of advice, but really, what can you
say to a guy who has won 17 Grand Slam? It's
just chemistry."
Berdych has been coached by Tomas Krupa
since 2009, another Czech. "He was a topranked player, 100 in doubles and 250 in
singles, but he coached Radek Stepanek when he
was in his prime, at number 8, and now he is
with me. Many times I get asked if I am looking
for the names of coaches and yes, there is still a
window for it. I'm open to that."
Berdych came agonizingly close to a Major
victory in 2010, when he beat Federer and
Djokovic at Wimbledon. "And then there's Rafa
in the final," he says with a grim smile,
remembering his disappointing loss to the
Spaniard.
Wimbledon still offers the best hope of him
becoming a champion.
"Yes, but I'm laughing so hard because I
remember in my early years on the grass. Then
my first Grand Slam final was Wimbledon! So
anything is possible. But the grass has changed
significantly and you can move much more
easily. It suits my game at the moment. Last year
I played Queen's for the first time and it went
very well. So I'm happy to go again this year. I do
not know if they want to hear this at
Wimbledon, but the grass at Queen's is much
better."
Speaking about the immediate future, he is
optimistic.
"There is now more of a chance. It is extremely
difficult, but if it becomes the reality that one
day I will raise a big trophy, then it will be even
more special."
Jiri Vesely
Ready To Shine
by Vanni Gibertini
Tennis is no longer a sport for teenagers.
Tennis is no longer a sport for teenagers.
This is something that Jiri Vesely, who was
born in 1993, knows all too well. A promising
junior, he won the 2011 Australian Open, and
reached the final at the US Open. However,
success has been much harder to come by on
the ATP World Tour.
The Czech tasted his first real professional
success in 2012, when he won five Futures
titles. He had not yet won a Challenger event,
but a growth spurt over the following year
saw him add four inches to his already
tall frame, making him all the more
formidable on court. Nearly two meters tall,
he now boasts a massive serve that he has
built the rest of his game around.
The extra height helped him to a career-best
year in 2013, and he was honored as one of
the ATP’s "Stars of Tomorrow" at the end of
the season. He won two Futures trophies in
January, followed by his first Challenger title
in Turkey. In May he won another, which
improved his ranking to 126 in the world –
an incredible feat considering that he wasn’t
even in the Top
It is telling of his maturity that he wants to use this loss as a building
block for the future.
Vesely knows that he has a long way to go to be a top player, but he also
understands that he is capable of it.
300 at the start of 2013. He qualified for the main draw at
Roland Garros and won a third Challenger in Braunschweig,
which saw him break into the Top 100 for the first time in
his career.
In July, he won yet another Challenger title in Liberec in the
Czech Republic, defeating Federico Delbonis in the final.
Delbonis had, of course, just come off a victory against Roger
Federer in Hamburg.
The rest is recent history. He won his first Davis Cup match
alongside veterans Berdych and Stepanek, and reached the
3rd round in Indian Wells before losing 6-4 in the third set
to Andy Murray. It was a match that, had he been more
experienced, he surely would have won.
"I think in the end it depended on my physical fatigue," he
said after his match against the Wimbledon champion. "But
the need to stay focused on every point in a match for so long
is tough. I do not have much experience against the Top 10.
At the US Open last year when I trained with Andy I was so
worried about making mistakes that I did not train very well.
This time, of course, I went on the court to win, but when I
got a lead of 4-2 in the second and third set I stiffened and
missed a great opportunity. I think it's better to take the good
things I have been able to do in this match and look ahead."
An interview with Stanislas
Wawrinka
by Federico Coppini
A new Stan in Town
So far this year, Stanislas Wawrinka has been on
a quest to rewrite the record books. Just a few
months in, he has made a pretty good start. After
winning the first Grand Slam of his career in
Australia, he followed it up with his first Masters
1000 title in Monte Carlo. Last year, before he
started working with Magnus Norman, Stan
seemed as if his career might stall for good.
Instead, he has the reinvented himself, and is
now firmly planted in the Top 4.
Monte-Carlo was an important
tournament for Switzerland, and also a
final unlike any other. We saw two
friends, two rivals competing for the
trophy. Roger seemed happy to be able to
congratulate you at the end of the
match...
"Yes, it was a special day for Switzerland. It is
rare to see in the sport so much mutual respect.
Roger and I are friends, on and off the court, but
when we play against each other is obvious that
both try to win. We had lunch together before
the match, and eventually in the locker room we
talked and laughed together. That's what we
always do, even in the Davis Cup. I do not deny,
however, that for someone like me, with my
character, it is always difficult to win against
him."
Winning matches like this, they say, adds
security and self-esteem. It must have
been so for you, opening the clay season
like this.
"I have worked very hard. I realized how I
became stronger mentally and physically. I
managed to play good tennis and I beat all
opponents. For me it was important to do my
best after the Davis Cup, I had to be ready to
play the tough matches and fight with all my
might. Monte-Carlo has given me the
opportunity."
After winning the Australian Open, did
you expect to win your first Masters 1000
so soon?
"It does not seem real to me and I did not expect
it. I'm really happy to have won a Masters 1000
so quickly after my first Grand Slam. When I
arrived in Monte-Carlo, I said to myself that this
tournament was a test for me, I knew I was
playing good tennis but I had a tough draw and I
did not think about it. On the court, however, I
moved well and I played with great power."
After Australia, where you played so well,
in the US it seemed like you struggled.
But in Davis Cup you seemed to find a
spark again.
"After winning a Grand Slam is always difficult
to confirm the results. In Indian Wells and
Miami I didn’t play well and went out early.
Davis Cup is of great importance for me and my
goal is to play it to the fullest. Playing at home
alongside Roger, against Kazakhstan, it was hard
for me, especially the first two days. Then I was
happy with the victory which gave me that extra
push to play well on the Tour again."
The season is only four months old and
yet you have accomplished so much.
Today you are considered a champion
and a winner. But before it was not like
this. Can you tell us what has changed?
"The change in me came last year, when for the
first time I reached the quarter-finals at Roland
Garros, the final in Madrid and the semi-finals
at the US Open. It was there that I realized I
could beat all the other players. That's what I 'm
trying to do this year and now I seem to get it
right. I am amazed at where I arrived, but I'm
not surprised, I have always had faith in my
game."
How do you feel now that you are in the
Top 4?
"I think the Fab Four will always be there: Rafa,
Novak, Roger and Andy. They won all the major
tournaments, and this cannot be changed.
Although today there is something different in
the standings, the statistics speak for
themselves: they have won everything and have
done so for many years."
You has always been very modest, downto-earth. Where does this come from?
"I am a simple person, who grew up on a farm
with two parents who worked in the office,
dealing with people with disabilities. Knowing
this really makes you realize what the important
things in life are. I learned to have respect for
everyone, it is especially crucial and I realized
how lucky I am."
What important tips did Magnus Norman
give you at the start of the clay season?
"The work began with Norman since last year,
shortly before Estoril. We train a lot and hard,
but much of the work is devoted to the
maintenance of concentration."
You are not too far away from the
number one spot. Have you thought
about this?
"Of course, everyone likes to dream. At this time,
however, I have to say no. I am too far away from
this goal, Rafa is number one and to get there he
had to win two Slams and five
Masters 1000 events in 2013. You almost have to
play and win all the tournaments to get to
number one. It's too early to think of such a
thing."
In the semi-finals of the Davis Cup,
Switzerland will face Italy… "I think the
Cup competition is very important, I've always
said, and it is obvious that we would love to go
and beat Italy. You know how it is, we have only
two players, although we are quite strong, while
Italy has several good players. In any case, it is
far away. We’ll see in due time."
Interview with
Magnus Norman
by Jan Stanski
“Coach is like a doctor!”
At the moment we have about 40 players from
different parts of Europe focused more on the
Nordic and eastern parts. We have 10 full-time
coaches traveling with the players and I’m pretty
proud of our program. Our facilities are however
not that great and we are currently planning to
build a new tennis center with approximately 14
indoor courts and 10 outdoor courts, gym,
accommodation and restaurant.
What do you think what is the state of
Swedish tennis in the world? What is
your prediction for next years?
I think Swedish Tennis has seen the low. We are
on the way up again. More juniors starting to
work hard and we have some decent results in
the juniors. It’s not as good as a few years ago
however.
Norman, Edberg, Enqvist. Great names
on the court in the past. Now in the
coaching box. Why is that?
I hope it’s not because we have nothing else to
do..haha.. No, to be really honest I really don’t
know. Swedes are in general very reliable and
hardworking people and I think that are two
important factors perhaps.
How the workout in your tennis academy
"Good to Great" look like?
What are the plans for the future?
Do you have your own role model coach
you like to follow or imitate in some
way?
I imitate all the coaches at the academy. I learn a
lot from them. We have a mix of ex-players and
more academic coaches. Younger and older. It’s
really fascinating. I also talk a lot to my good
friend Thomas Johansson.
What are the goals for Stanislas
Wawrinka you set up together for the
future?
The goal is to be as well prepared for all events
that he is playing as possible. He has won a
Grand Slam, Masters 1000 and ATP 250 this
year but I can really feel that he wants more.
Your player - Stanislas Wawrinka joined
to the elite club of competitors having the
title of Grand Slam and ATP Masters as
well.
He beaten already the icons of tennis Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael
Nadal. What is the main thing he changed
in his game to have so great results in
recent period of his career?
I think the main thing would have been his
mental approach. He believes a little more in
himself now I think. He has pushed his worse
level up a bit and that’s because of his mental
stability. We have also been able to prepare well
for all events and he has been free from
A great physic that takes care of his body. Great
fitness trainer whom I really admire and a great
agent that thinks long term.
Did you have some funny story with
Stan?
Many funny stories. But beeing a coach is a little
bit like beeing a doctor. Your patients are your
players. What is beeing said between you and
your player stays there. It’s about trust. Stan is
however a very humble man with a big
perspective in life. He is a family man to we
understands each other very well outside the
court as I’m a father of 2 as well.
Alex Dolgopolov
by David Cox
Strong Enough To Compete
Few sights in world sport are as glorious as the
backdrop to Centre Court at the Monte Carlo
Country Club, the brick red dust contrasting
sharply with the sparkling waters of the
Mediterranean beyond.
It’s a setting fit for champions and as we discuss
the shifting balance of power at the top of the
men’s game, with this most panoramic of views
in the background, Alexandr Dolgopolov tells me
that he firmly believes he’s capable of joining the
ranks of the elite in years to come.
Dolgopolov, known as “The Dog” by his team,
grew up in his native Ukraine but since
becoming a regular in the world’s Top 25, has
moved to Monaco’s tax haven, along with regular
practise partners Novak Djokovic and Viktor
Troicki.
One of the most watchable players on the Tour,
you never quite know what you’re getting from
Dolgopolov.
Such is the rich variety of shots in his arsenal
and the depth of his imagination.
But despite reaching a career high of 13 in the
world two years ago, he feels that he’s
underachieved thus far.
“Mentally, I think I’ve always been quite good,”
he explains. “All the time I would come out and
play my game against whoever was on the other
side. I never thought about who it is even if I was
playing Rafa or Novak. No, I think I haven’t
always been physically strong or focused
enough.”
Dolgopolov has been afflicted by the genetic
disorder Gilbert’s syndrome since the age of 12,
often resulting in him requiring to make sudden
trips to the hospital without warning. As a
teenager, he refused to accept there was
anything wrong with him and now he refuses to
accept that this has had much of an impact on
his career.
“It only happens a few times a year and you have
ten months to play, so it's been more my
problems - not being there 100% throughout
matches and all those little things which I think
I've managed to get together better now.”
He’s currently ranked just outside the Top 20,
but so far this season he believes that he’s finally
starting to string performances together on a
more regular basis. He beat Fabio Fognini and
David Ferrer in straight sets on the clay of Rio
De Janeiro en route to the final at the end of
February, and he was even more impressive
during the back-to-back Masters in Indian Wells
and Miami.
He stunned Rafael Nadal, Fognini and Milos
Raonic to make the semis in California, before
beating Stanislas Wawrinka to make the quarterfinals in Miami. The differences between the Top
5 and the Top 20 are determined by the tiny
fractions, and at his best Dolgopolov believes he
can match the best in the world.
“I’ve improved my concentration and a few
technical things and I’m now fully committed to
tennis,” he said. “Getting stronger is helping me
avoid injuries and it means I’m able to play
tennis for a longer period of time and hang with
the top guys in the longer rallies.”
After a rift earlier in his career, Dolgopolov is
now back working with his father, the man who
taught him the game as a youngster and who
understands him better than anyone. “He's
known me all my life so my game isn’t new for
him,” he says. “He knows exactly what I need to
do to become a better player.”
Wawrinka’s triumphs at the Australian Open
and last month’s Monte Carlo Masters have
inspired many of the players who previously
held doubts over whether they were good
enough to beat the likes of Djokovic and Nadal
in the biggest tournaments. However,
Dolgopolov says he’s never suffered from a lack
of belief.
Dolgopolov feels that it could soon be his time, especially
as his battle with Gilbert’s syndrome has enjoyed
something of an upturn over the past eighteen months
“I don't know,” he ponders.
“For me, I don't think Wawrinka winning has
really changed anything. It's the same as it
always was. Maybe some guys suddenly think
they have a chance of winning. I don't think that.
Obviously the top four are good but that couldn't
last forever. The time is coming for a new wave
of upcoming players and that's normal. I don't
think that has anything to do with Wawrinka.
It's normal that some new players will sooner or
later come up.
The old generation can't last forever.”
Dolgopolov feels that it could soon be his time,
especially as his battle with Gilbert’s syndrome
has enjoyed something of an upturn over the
past eighteen months
“I'm in touch with my doctor back home who
helps me out with it and I know pretty much
what I should or shouldn't do,” he says.
“It’s quite a new thing and normal doctors don’t
really know what to do. But I haven’t had any
problems for the past year or so and I’ve been
told that sometimes it goes away as you become
older and never affects you again. But this
condition hasn't been researched too much and
even the specialists on this don't have enough
information to tell me whether I’m completely in
the clear or not.
I'm just managing it and seeing how it goes.
Hopefully it doesn't come back.”
Jérémy Chardy
by Dario Torromeo
A Moment To Remember
This is the story of a cross-court forehand that
kidnapped eleven thousand spectators on
Central Court at the Foro Italico. It left them
speechless, and then forced them to applaud,
because you rarely see a shot so incredible that it
brings Roger Federer to his knees. It is a shot
Jérémy Chardy will tell his grandchildren about.
Defeating a myth
Not all sportspeople are lucky enough to defeat a
myth. Especially those like Jérémy Chardy, who
have not had many peaks in their careers. He
won a title in Stuttgart in 2009, and has put
together some decent results that kept him in
the Top 50. However, he has never played well
enough to really threaten entry into the Top 20.
But on May 14 of the year 2014, the handsome
young man with a slight beard and a beautiful
girlfriend, pulled off that winning shot. And
those are the moments you do not forget.
I follow boxing with as much interest as I follow
tennis. I have told you a thousand times of the
night of October 9, 1964, when the future world
middleweight champion, Carlos Monzon, closed
the last chapter of his second life. Never fear,
there would be two more.
Alone in the arena. One against all. Suddenly he pulled a rabbit out of
his hat, the defensive cross-court forehand that landed perfectly inside
the line. It brought him back from the dead, and laid the foundation for
his eventual victory. A wonderful afternoon in Rome, indeed.
He lost to Alberto Massi, a young man of 24
years, who people called Pirincho. They had
fought in Cordoba, and while Monzon was taller
and more skilled, he had lost.
Alberto was at that time a waiter. He would later
be a bricklayer and a stoker on a ship. He had
won his first two matches as a professional.
Nothing special, as the record at the end of his
career would have confirmed. He was young,
inexperienced and without great potential. His
victory against Massi would be the best memory
of a career without much lightning. But it would
be a great memory indeed.
Jérémy Chardy has a better record than that of
Alberto Massi. But I think the magic of that
moment will always be his greatest
achievement in tennis.
"It was the most beautiful shot of my career," he
said after the win.
The Alchemist
Jérémy Chardy’s tennis adventure starts with a
book. It was a gift from his coach, Frederic
Fontang, the day he entered the tennis academy.
It was "The Alchemist," by Paulo Coelho, the
story of a young shepherd chasing his dreams in
a foreign land only to discover that the treasure
he was looking for was in his house all along.
The message of the gift was not subtle. It was an
invitation to look within himself for the answer
to his dreams.
Jeremy wanted to be an actor, he loved
and loves the cinema. He simply
postponed the project to the end of his
career
With Jeremy, he did not need to insist so much. He had
always chosen his family above all else as his top priority.
Traveling and touring the world to play tennis did not mean
as much as heading home to the Aquitaine region of
southeastern France.
His universe has few inhabitants. Mom, dad, brother, sister
and grandfather.
A wealthy family of bankers. Jeremy wanted to be an actor,
he loved and loves the cinema. He simply postponed the
project to the end of his career.
He began playing tennis at age of six, and from four to
fourteen played soccer in the youth leagues. But he
eventually chose tennis, and became Junior champion at
Wimbledon and reached the final of the US Open. In 2005
he was the number four junior in the world.
At that point his big jump to the pros seemed inevitable.
The French discovered this young man at Roland Garros in
2008.
Down two sets against world number seven, David
Nalbandian, he recovered and won.
It was his first win against a Top 10 played, a coup for him,
who was ranked 138 positions below Nalbandian when they
stepped on the court.
Dealing with success
And now, at age 28, he again finds himself living
in the spotlight. He has lived in many cities in
his life, but today resides in Liege. His coach is
Magnus Tideman, and his girlfriend, Alizé Lim is
a 23 year-old tennis pro, ranked around 150.
They played doubles together at Roland Garros
in 2013, although those days are behind them
now.
Maria Sharapova, the ice queen, posted the
following on Twitter: "I have to watch more
tennis at Roland Garros. Yesterday I had no idea
who Paire was, now I do not know who Chardy
is. I need to improve my knowledge of the
sport."
Alizé Lim responded with a tweet of her own:
"Looks like you should..." followed by a copy of
the world rankings: "26 Benoit Paire, 27 Jérémy
Chardy, 28 Grigor Dimitrov." Masha’s boyfriend
was ranked two places behind Chardy.
A good tennis player, without spectacular
results. That's who Jeremy Chardy is. Some
recognize him in the restaurants of Paris, but
many do not know who he is. Some fans
applauded him, and some even ask for his socks
once he has won a match. Fans do not always
have normal requests. If he were to do well at
Roland Garros, who knows what they might ask
for…
Lucky to find Federer
Before arriving in Rome, 2014 was not a lucky
year for Chardy. In the last seven tournaments
he had lost twice in the first round.
When he stepped on Center Court, the crowd
only had eyes for Roger Federer. They even
cheered when Chardy double faulted. But he did
not let it bother him.
After twenty-eight games it came to a tie-break,
and the Swiss was leading 6-5. Match point on
serve, and it seemed over. Another good match,
another opportunity thrown away. Who knows
what was going on in the head of Jeremy
Chardy. He did not even look for a second in the
stands. He already knew what he would see.
Certainly not love, but faces that expressed the
hope that he had finally given up.
Nadal On The Defense
by Marco Di Nardo
After a record-breaking 2013, this season is starting to become
very challenging for Rafa Nadal
The Race To London standings are more telling
than the overall rankings. In the former, he is
barely hanging on to a slender lead, while in the
latter he seems to have a gigantic advantage. At
the beginning of the 2014 season it seemed as if
Nadal had many chances to widen his overall
lead in the rankings, having not played at the
Australian Open or Miami Masters a year ago.
However, he was unable to fully exploit those
opportunities, largely due to inconsistent play
from the Spaniard himself, as well as resurgent
performances by the likes of Stanislas
Wawrinka, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Losing early in Monte Carlo, where he had
dominated for basically a decade, and Barcelona,
where he similarly dominated for many years,
did not help his case. Fans could not truly have
expected that Nadal could repeat his incredible
2013 season, which saw him win two Slams and
five Masters 1000 titles. But a good start to the
season would have at least
allowed him to play with more confidence in this
part of the calendar, where has so many points
to defend. The only place Nadal can hope to pick
up some points is Wimbledon, where he suffered
an early exit last year. Apart from that, from
Barcelona to the US Open, he has 8500 points to
defend.
The situation for Nadal is therefore quite
complicated, because Djokovic is only about
2000 points away, and Federer and Wawrinka
have fewer points to defend than the Spaniard.
What is most worrying for Nadal’s fans,
however, has been his lack of victories at the
bigger tournaments.
He has not been able to impose himself at
Masters 1000 level as he has been able to do in
the past. At the Australian Open, for example,
Rafa had the chance to become the first player in
the Open Era to win every Slam at least twice,
but was defeated in the final by his back injury
and Stanislas Wawrinka.
In Indian Wells, where he was defending
champion, he lost in the third round to
Dolgopolov, and in Miami he lost in the final.
Finally, in Monte Carlo, he suffered his most
His mediocre results so far this year has
put him on the back foot, and the fact that
he has so many points to defend until the
end of the Asian hard court swing means
there is little opportunity for him to
further separate himself from the pack
surprising loss of the season, falling to compatriot David
Ferrer in the quarter-finals.
It marked the first time in nine years that he had not reached
the final at the prestigious event.
All these disappointments, coupled with the fact that
Djokovic is playing impressively, having won back-to-back
Masters 1000 trophies in Indian Wells and Miami, and that
Wawrinka is carrying on his good start to the year, are
increasingly weighing on the Spaniard’s mind.
That is without even mentioning Federer, who has already
beaten Djokovic twice this season and seems to be close to
his best form in years.
So it is going to be a tough season for Nadal, and he will have
to play at his 2013 level going forward to have any chance of
ending the season as world number one.
However, he is no stranger to adversity, and it is certainly
possible that he will respond to these pressures as he has in
the past – by winning.
Remembering Nadal’s first
Grand Slam victory
by Princy Jones
Nine years have passed since the beginning of the Rafael
Nadal era of tennis. At 27, he is still hungry for more titles!
At 12, when faced with a dilemma of choosing
between the two loves of his life - football and
tennis - Rafael Nadal picked the latter.
According to him, that was one of the hardest
decisions he had had to confront in life.
Seven years later, when he first laid his lips on
(or rather, bit) the French Open trophy, that
decision proved right. That Sunday evening of
June 5th 2005 witnessed the beginning of a new
era in tennis.
Nine years have gone, the young knight who
conquered the red dirt of Roland Garros that day
has now become the Le Roi de L'Argile (King of
Clay) - having won a record eight titles
on his favourite ground. Rafael Nadal, the enfant
terrible, took the world by storm with his
unconventional style of play. Crowd loved the
long-haired sinewy Spaniard who flaunted his
bulging biceps in sleeveless shirts. But it wasn’t
just for his flamboyance alone he hogged the
limelight.
Unlike Andre Agassi, Nadal was no showman, he
let his racket do the talking instead. The world
watched in amazement when the brawny teen
returned even the most impossible shots with
immense power from eight to 10 feet behind the
baseline. His power-packed returns loaded with
a crazy spin made his shots
Till Rafael Nadal stepped in, Roger
Federer had an aura of invincibility
around him.
unpredictable for the opponents. It was difficult
to comprehend his moves, let alone beat him on
a high-bouncing surface like clay.
The David who slayed Goliath
Till Rafael Nadal stepped in, Roger Federer had
an aura of invincibility around him. There
weren’t many on the tour then who could stop
the genius. When Nadal outwitted Federer -- 63, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 -- in the semifinals of the 2005
French Open, it was also a watershed moment
for tennis, setting off one of the most enchanting
rivalries in the history of the game. From then
on, Nadal became the most feared name on the
circuit, especially for Federer.
While players like Marat Safin and Andy
Roddick lacked the mental edge over the Swiss
maestro, Nadal showed no signs of fear while
taking on Federer.
The Guardian then wrote: “This is surely going
to be the major rivalry over the next few years.”
They were right, nine years on, the rivalry still
continues.
"It took me a set to figure it out. I'm not happy
with my performance. I don't feel he was much
better than me. I had the keys to beat him but I
wasn't at my best. I'm disappointed but I'm not
going to trash the locker room. My desire to win
here is still massive," said Federer after the
defeat.
Federer was wrong. Nadal was a better player
than him, and still is, when it comes to clay
courts. The Swiss had to wait for another four
years to finally win his first and only title at
Roland Garros - that time, luck too was on his
side, for Nadal suffered a shocking defeat at the
hands of Robin Soderling in the fourth round.
The job was easier for Federer with his nemesis
off his path. Till now, Federer has never been
able to topple his arch-rival at the French Open.
Rafa and the myth
The big win at Roland Garros catapulted Nadal
to fame. The teen annihilator had fans as well as
critics, both.
His anomalous style and peculiar manners on
the court was amusing to the media, however
much those tics irritated his opponents. His
OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
behavioural pattern on the court made him a
subject of mockery by the press - the precisely
positioned water bottles near his seat, pulling of
his shorts, avoiding stepping on the lines,
levelling of the socks, etc., singled him out from
his peers. Needless to say, there were many
myths regarding the southpaw -- one of which
was that his coach and mentor Toni Nadal
manoeuvred him to play left-handed to make
him indomitable on the tennis circuit. According
to Nadal, it’s just another story made up by the
media.
Nadal is ambidextrous - he writes, as well as
plays golf and basketball with his right hand;
while playing football, he relies on his much
stronger left foot. Same happens when he plays
tennis also. He just happened to be gifted with
having control on both hands.
The last teen champion
Nadal was the second youngest player after 17year-old Michael Chang in 1989 to win the
French Open. After the 19-year-old’s sensational
win in 2005, there has been no
People often wonder why Nadal bites his trophies. It was
just an impromptu act when he won his first ATP title at
Monte Carlo, which became an instant hit.
other teenage men's Grand Slam champion till
date.
The wait is still on. In the nine years that
followed, Nadal managed to add 12 more titles to
his name. At 27, he has many more years ahead
of him, perhaps he can even overshadow
Federer’s formidable record of 17 Grand Slams.
But things haven’t been always great for the
champion. There were many instances where he
almost called it quits owing to his persistent
injuries. The strenuosity of his playing style has
made critics doubt his longevity as a
professional. Injuries took a toll on his career in
2009 and 2012, both. Nadal proved all the
predictions wrong on both the occasions by
winning more Slams, thereby breaking all
convictions when it comes to endurance.
“Endurance: that’s a big word. Keeping going
physically, never letting up, and putting up with
everything that comes my way, not allowing the
good or the bad—the great shots or the weak
ones, the good luck or the bad—to put me off
track. I have to be centered, no distractions, do
what I have to do in each moment.” (Courtesy:
RAFA My Story)
People often wonder why Nadal bites his
trophies. It was just an impromptu act when he
won his first ATP title at Monte Carlo, which
became an instant hit. The camera crew started
asking for that signature pose every time he won
a title. His fans say it symbolises the champions
hunger for more titles. Yes!
Chasing History
by Adriano S.
With the summer of 2014 in full swing, an important question is again on
everyone’s mind: will Rafael Nadal surpass Roger Federer’s record of 17
Grand Slam titles?
With the summer of 2014 in full swing, an
important question is again on everyone’s mind:
will Rafael Nadal surpass Roger Federer’s record
of 17 Grand Slam titles? Assuming he is able to
win at least one Slam a year going forward, many
pundits believe that Nadal, who currently stands
at 13, will be able to do so.
Since winning his first Slam at Roland Garros in
2005, Nadal has won at least one Major every
year. But the bloody Sunday experienced against
Wawrinka in Australia is likely to weigh on
Nadal’s mind.
The back injury is worrying, since it is the latest
in a long line of injuries the Spaniard has
suffered. He will also now have to contend
against a group of players who are more
confident than ever that they can beat the King
of Clay. Novak Djokovic will be especially
confident, and maybe even the favorite to win
his first French Open trophy.
But perhaps the biggest threat to Nadal’s
ambitions of surpassing Federer is simple
mathematics. No player has won player has won
more than five Slams after their 27th birthday
The next few years are certainly going to be
interesting…
Here is a breakdown of those who have won
Slams after that date:
5 Slams – Rod Laver (30 +)
5 Slams – Roger Federer (30 +)
5 Slams – Andre Agassi (30 +)
4 Slams –Ken Rosewall (30 +)
4 Slams – Ivan Lendl
4 Slams –John Newcombe (30 +)
3 Slams – Pete Sampras (30 +)
3 Slams – Jimmy Connors (30 +)
2 Slams – Rafael Nadal
1 Slam –Arthur Ashe (30 +)
1 Slam –Boris Becker
1 Slam –Guillermo Vilas
1 Slam –Goran Ivanisavic
1 Slam –Stanislas Wawrinka
Nadal has already won two Slams after his 27th
birthday, so in theory he only has three more
coming his way.
In addition, it must be said that the biological
age of the King of Clay does not match up
against his body’s age, which has been worn
down for years due to the Spaniard’s physical
style of play.
All of this certainly makes it tougher for Nadal to
surpass Federer. If he did, it would certainly put
an end to the GOAT debate, at least as it relates
to Nadal and Federer. But getting to that point is
going to be a massive challenge, perhaps the
greatest a tennis player has ever faced. The next
few years are certainly going to be interesting…
Just Can’t Seem To Lose
There
by Alessandro Varassi
After Serena Williams won yet another trophy in Miami, it was
confirmed once again that some players just perform better at
certain tournaments.
Her win against Li Na at the Sony Open was the
seventh time Serena Williams has lifted the
trophy in Miami.
The world number one yet again showed that
she is the absolute ruler in Key Biscayne. She
has had great success in Florida, where she won
three straight titles between 2002 and 2004, and
again in 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014.
She also reached the final in 1999 and 2009. No
other tennis player, male or female, has won so
many editions of that event (Andre Agassi won
six times, and Steffi Graf five).
Of course, there are many instances of a certain
player dominating a particular tournament.
Let’s have a look at some prominent examples:
Rafael Nadal - Monte Carlo Masters 1000:
Between 2005 and 2012, Nadal owned the
principality. Novak Djokovic finally put an end
to Nadal’s record-breaking streak last year in the
final, but the numbers remain incredibly
impressive: the Spaniard won 48 out of 50
matches, along with eight titles, during his reign.
Martina Navratilova - WTA
Championships: Seen by many as a fifth
Slam, the WTA Championships has played an
important role in the history of the Tour.
Martina Navratilova reached the final of that
event 14 times, including 10 consecutive
appearances between 1978 and 1986. She won
eight titles in total, with an additional 12 doubles
titles.
Bjorn Borg - Roland Garros: Before Nadal
became the King Of Clay, there was Bjorn Borg.
The Swede won the French Open six times in
his short career, including four in a row between
1978 and 1981. He won 49 matches and lost only
twice, an even more impressive record than he
had at Wimbledon.
Chris Evert - Roland Garros: The American
had many records in her day: the first player to
win 1 000 matches, and a stratospheric streak of
125 matches won on clay, between 1973 and
1979. She won 7 titles at Roland Garros, but it
could have been more had she not missed the
event in 1976, 1977 and 1978. She reached the
final two additional times.
Steffi Graf - Wimbledon: Among her 22
Grand Slam singles titles, which included two
calendar Slams, Graf counted seven Wimbledon
trophies. Between 1987 and 1996 she reached
final eight times, winning it all but once. In 1988
she won not only every Slam, but also the
Olympic gold medal. She is the only tennis
player to ever win the Golden Slam.
Roger Federer - Wimbledon: Roger won
Wimbledon five times in a row before being
stopped by Nadal in the epic final of 2008.
Federer came back, however, to win the title
twice more in 2009 and 2012 for a total of seven
trophies.
Pete Sampras - Wimbledon: Pete Sampras
dominated Wimbledon even more than Roger
Federer did, winning seven titles in eight years
between 1993 and 2000. The only snag came in
1996, when he fell in the quarter-finals to
eventual winner Richard Krajcek. His serve was
almost unstoppable on grass, and it caused
endless headaches for the likes of Jim Courier,
Goran Ivanisevic, Cedric Pioline, Boris Becker,
Andre Agassi and Pat Rafter. In the 2001
edition, when he lost to Roger Federer, it was
seen by many as the passing of the baton from
the old American to the young Swiss.
Of course, there are many instances of a certain
player dominating a particular tournament.
Between 1993 and 2009, 13 of the 17 editions
were won by the two of them.
Rafael Nadal - Roland Garros: If it were not
for Robin Soderling, Nadal might still be waiting
for his first defeat in Paris. He has won the
trophy eight times, along with 59 match wins,
and suffered only one loss at the hands of the
Swede. The loss to Soderling allowed Federer to
win the tournament and complete his career
Grand Slam, and marked the start of a prolonged
layoff for Nadal.
Martina Navratilova - Wimbledon:
Navratilova won many Slams in her career, but
her most successful hunting ground by far was
Wimbledon. She won nine singles titles, seven
doubles titles and four mixed doubles titles. Her
first trophy came in 1976 in the women's
doubles, and the last one came in 2003 in the
mixed doubles.
At one point, she won the singles evens six times
in a row. Her string of victories was eventually
interrupted by Steffi Graf, who won the event in
1987 and 1988.
Down But Not Out
by Adriano S.
Too often in sports, particularly in tennis, the favorite pastime of fans is to
overanalyze athletes who are going through a rough patch. The bigger the star, of
course, the more vicious the comments, especially in the media.
Too often in sports, particularly in tennis, the
favorite pastime of fans is to overanalyze athletes
who are going through a rough patch. The bigger
the star, of course, the more vicious the
comments, especially in the media.
Very often, however, the athletes emerge from
their slumps to show everybody who doubted
them just how silly and wrong they were for
overreacting.
The examples are endless. From Kobe Bryant in
basketball to Albert Pujols in baseball and
Valentino Rossi in superbike racing, top athletes
often find themselves written off as “done,” only
to come back and perform at an
even higher level than before.
But let us focus on tennis for the moment.
One of the more striking examples of this
phenomenon was Pete Sampras.
Even though he had dominated the sport for a
decade, when he failed to win Wimbledon in
2001 pundits were quick to condemn his career
as over.
He would never bounce back after such a
disappointment, they argued.
Yet the next year, he would win the US Open,
and retire on the spot, providing the ultimate
revenge against all the naysayers.
The old saying goes that the bigger you are, the harder
you fall. That is certainly true, but in modern sports it
seems people take more pleasure than ever in the
supposed fall of those stars.
Roger Federer is the most relevant
contemporary example. Talk of his decline
started as early as 2007, and even though he has
reached number one in the world again and won
several Slams, retirement talk follows him
everywhere.
Every big win or tournament triumph quiets the
critics, but only for a while.
The same is true of Serena Williams, who was
written off after having foot surgery a few years
ago. Since then she has re-established her
dominance over the WTA Tour in a big way.
Rafael Nadal? His many injury problems have
caused many to question his longevity, yet he
has come back time and again, often stronger
than before his injury.
After failing to defend his title in Melbourne,
Novak Djokovic had to endure a lot of criticism
in February. But winning the Indian WellsMiami double has earned him some respite from
the media, at least for a while.
In Italy, there is a particular viciousness to these
attacks. Francesca Schiavone was said to be in
obvious decline, and a regular punching bag for
editorials in sports magazines. Her response?
Winning Roland Garros. Yet those people have
again started with their negativity. Fabio Fognini
has also had to undergo every sort of insult over
the years.
Andreas Seppi scored a good win over Ward in
the Davis Cup, and was praised as a hero.
An interview with
Milos Raonic
by Fabrizio Fidecaro
When thinking about Milos Raonic, the phrase “gentle
giant” comes to mind
You always appear so steady and quiet.
Do you ever get angry?
"I can get very angry. But it's something that
does not help, so I try to stay calm."
What are you taking away from your time
in Rome?
"A lot of positive emotions. I'm happy, I will take
what I have done here and I will try to do even
better at Roland Garros."
When thinking about Milos Raonic, the phrase
“gentle giant” comes to mind.
The affable Canadian is capable of generating
some of the most tremendously powerful serves
the sport has ever seen, but never loses his
temper.
In fact, his well-groomed appearance – which
resembles that of a member of the Rat Pack –
and icy countenance are never ruffled no matter
what the score or situation.
It is rather strange to see someone so relaxed in
the latter stages of a big clay court event like
Rome.
After all, these tournaments are usually
dominated by the Spaniards, who wear their
hearts on their sleeves and are not afraid to
make their joy or displeasure known.
Raonic reached the semi-finals at the Foro
Italico before falling to Novak Djokovic in three
sets. He spoke to us afterwards.
Quarters in Madrid, semis in Rome…you
have made huge strides on clay. What
area do you think has improved the
most?
"I think I have improved not only on this
surface, but in general. My movement and
return are two areas that I have improved. And
also in the way in which I handle difficult
situations. For me, the main issue was figuring
out what I should do in certain special moments,
because last year I threw away several matches
because of that. Now I have a clearer vision and I
know I can find the answers in myself."
«One of my big goals is to qualify for the ATP World
Tour Finals. And also to obtain good results in Grand
Slams»
What do you think you have to improve to
take the next step on clay?
"I feel that I am improving steadily, but I have to
keep going. The serve, the return, the mental
and the physical aspects, there is plenty of work
to be done on all of those."
Even if you think you still have to
improve, your serve is already an
effective weapon... "Of course, I like to keep
my service games short and create a little
discomfort for my opponents. I try to take
advantage."
What goals do you have for this year?
"One of my big goals is to qualify for the ATP
World Tour Finals. And also to obtain good
results in Grand Slams."
It is true that you have applied to join the
ATP Council [the Committee
representing the players, of which his
coach Ivan Ljubicic was president]? "Yes.
It's good to know what is really going on. The
players on there are quite old. I would like to
bring in a voice of the younger generation."
In this regard, in recent times the
younger generation, you along with
Dimitrov and Nishikori, have been
getting some good results. What has
changed for you?
«I do not think that the phenomenon is something
limited to my peers....»
"I do not think that the phenomenon is
something limited to my peers.
After years in which the Big Four have
dominated the Slams, to see Stanislas Wawrinka
triumph in Australia and then repeat it in Monte
Carlo has been an inspiration.
I think Stan has been the keystone. I do not
think it is a generational thing. It all started with
him."
___________________________
Milos began playing tennis at age nine and
played his first tennis tournament at age 10 in
Toronto. When he was 16, he grew into one of
Canada’s top juniors and was invited to be one
of the first to join Tennis Canada’s National
Training Centre in Montreal.
The Race For Number One
by Marco Di Nardo
The 2014 season has gotten off to an unusual start, with the race
for number one being tighter than we’ve seen it in many years.
That 2014 would be a period of great uncertainty
was no guarantee at the start of the season. 2012
was without Nadal for the latter part of it, but
order was restored in 2013 when he, along with
Djokovic, re-established the dominance of the
Big Four. However, this year has so far seen a
number of major surprises, with many different
players suddenly competing for the year-end
number one.
The Race to London rankings only take into
account the results a player has achieved so far
this year. Currently, there are five players who
have a realistic chance of clinching the year-end
number one. The first four are very close, with
Wawrinka, Djokovic, Federer and Nadal all
within less than a thousand points of each other
heading into Barcelona. Berdych is a little
further back, but still within sight of the number
one spot.
Nadal has always piled up a lot of points at this
time of the year, but has struggled so far in
2014.
The biggest surprise of the year, however, has
been Stan Wawrinka. Incredibly, he is leading
the race for number one with a quarter of the
season already finished. Even more than his win
in Australia, his victory in Monte Carlo has
made people truly sit up and notice.
Another great protagonist of the first few months
of the season has been the young Grigor Dimitrov
For him to win one of the most difficult Masters
1000 events, one that has been dominated by
Nadal for almost a decade, and beating Federer
in the final, was truly incredible.
Another surprise is Kei Nishikori, who seems
to be going through a bit of a transformation. He
has already won two tournaments this year, in
Memphis and Barcelona, ​and also impressed
with his performance at the Masters 1000 in
Miami, where he eliminated Dimitrov, Ferrer
and Federer to reach the semi-finals. If you do
not consider his loss to Teymuraz Gabashvili in
Delray Beach, which was because of an injury,
he has won 17 of his last 18 matches. He has an
overall record of 22-4 on the year.
Another great protagonist of the first few
months of the season has been the young
Grigor Dimitrov, who is number eight in the
race. He reached the quarter-finals of the
Australian Open, and won titles in Acapulco and
Bucharest. In the former, he won the final in a
third set tie-break against the big-serving Kevin
Anderson.
Nicolas Almagro, while a familiar name to
many tennis fans, has shown the kind of
consistency so far this year that has eluded him
in the past.
Now number 18 of the Race, he has played well
since the Australian Open.
He reached two semi-finals at Vina del Mar and
Buenos Aires, and the final in Houston.
Nicolas Almagro, while a familiar name to many tennis
fans, has shown the kind of consistency so far this year
that has eluded him in the past.
But perhaps his biggest result of the year was
against Rafael Nadal in Barcelona, where he beat
his friend and countryman for the first time in
his career. He even did so after losing the first
set 6-2.
Lastly, we should mention Santiago Giraldo,
who is currently in 24th place in the race. He
reached his first ATP 500 final in Barcelona, and
seems to be playing at a very high level with a
great deal of consistency. It seems crazy that we
are not even halfway through the season, and yet
we have seen more surprises and drama than we
have in the whole of last season. Hopefully it can
continue like this, and make 2014 one of the
most memorable seasons in tennis history.
A New Balance
by Marco Di Nardo
Similar to what is happening on the men’s circuit, the WTA is trying to find
a new balance after Serena Williams has cooled down from the dominance
of the last two seasons
n 2012, she won Wimbledon, the Olympics, the
US Open and the WTA Tour Championships ,
while last year she triumphed at Roland Garros,
the US Open and the WTA Tour
Championships. She finished 2013 with just
four losses. In this first part of 2014 , however,
Serena Williams has had more problems than
was expected. After two seasons of complete
domination by her, the WTA circuit is back to
being very spectacular and equally uncertain.
Looking at the leaderboard for the year yields
some surprising names. Arguably, Li Na has
She won her first tournament of the season in
Shenzhen before grabbing her second career
Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
In Melbourne, she lost only one set in the third
round against Lucie Safarova.
She also reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells
and the final in Miami.
In second place we find this year’s Australian
Open finalist, Dominika Cibulkova , who can be
considered the biggest surprise of the season so
far. The Slovak beat a number of tough
opponents in Melbourne, including Sharapova ,
Halep and Radwanska .
Agnieszka Radwanska built her ranking with
some very consistent results.
Sharapova , Halep and Radwanska .
She then went on to post good results in
Acapulco, and reaching the quarters in Indian
Wells, the semis in Miami and the final in Kuala
Lumpur.
Third place is occupied by Agnieszka
Radwanska , who built her ranking with some
very consistent results. After beating the double
defending champion Victoria Azarenka at the
Australian Open, she lost in the semi-finals, but
she also reached the semi-finals in Doha , the
final in Indian Wells, the quarters in Miami and
the semis in Katowice .
Serena Williams, the real news this year, is
only fourth, despite the two successes in
Brisbane and Miami. At the Australian Open
the American was caught off guard by Ana
Ivanovic , while two surprising defeats came
against Alize Cornet in the semi-finals in Dubai,
and Jana Cepelova in the first round in
Charleston. The next few months will be critical
if the American wants to stay at the top of the
rankings.
In fifth place is the revelation of 2013, Simona
Halep . After winning six titles last year, she is
continuing her good run of form. She has
already won a title in Doha , beating Errani,
Kerber and Radwanska, and reached the
quarters in Melbourne and semis in Indian
Wells. Sixth on the list is Flavia Pennetta ,
who is playing some of the best tennis of her
long career.
Flavia Pennetta , who is playing some of the best
tennis of her long career.
She achieved the biggest success of her career in
Indian Wells, where she won the title, beating
the world number one en route to the title. She
also overcame Li Na and Agnieszka Radwanska
on the way.
Though not in the Top 10, Eugenie Bouchard
warrants a special mention. She unexpectedly
reached the semis at the Australian Open and
has posted some very positive results since.
Many pundits believe she has what it takes to be
world number one someday. For now, however,
she is the underdog. It is not a title she is afraid
of though, and has embraced her role as
promising newcomer on the Tour. She still has a
lot to prove, but she is wasting no time in
proving it to both herself and her fans.
Kazakistan
by Marco Avena
Money And Happiness
To eventually stop Kazakhstan’s run required
none other than Roger Federer and Stanislas
Wawrinka, and even they almost failed to pull it
off. The Swiss managed to record a narrow 3-2
victory, but the tie left the tennis world
impressed with the young team from
Kazakhstan. Indeed, this is the third time in four
years that they have reached this stage of the
competition.
But there is an asterisk to all this success: the
players in the team are not actually from
Kazakhstan. Instead, they are foreigners who
have become citizens in order to compete for the
country in tennis. How? Simple: money.
Andrey Golubev, Mikhail Kukushkin, Evgeny
Korolev and Alekandr Nedovyesov were not
born in Astana and its surroundings, the first
three are Russian and the fourth Ukrainian. The
first was born in Volzhsky, the second is a native
of Volgograd, the third comes from Moscow and
the fourth is of Alushta.
They became citizens thanks to the influence of
powerful media magnate Utemuratov Bulat, who
reportedly has assets worth some $1.5 billion.
He is the president of the local tennis federation
and a great friend of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the
President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The
president is also a lover of tennis, who desired to
forge ahead in this sport and bring glory to his
country.
The two came up with the idea of building a
team that could compete with the major powers
of world tennis. The experiment has proven very
successful, given the results obtained by the
team led by captain Doskarayev. But just
because they are now citizens of Kazakhstan it
does not mean they spend all their time in the
country. Indeed, Golubev spent the bulk of his
time preparing for the Davis Cup tie against
Switzerland in Italy.
He has, in fact, spent a lot of time training there
in general.
Dominic Dogliani, the president of the club in
Italy where he trains, said that he was happy
Golubev spent so much time there on the eve of
the tie.
Money does not buy happiness, but it
sure can help...
“I am pleased and proud that Andrey has played
at our club in preparation for the Kazakh
national match against Federer and Wawrinka of
Switzerland,” he said. Never mind that
Kazakhstan failed to reach the semi-finals this
time around. Utemuratov and Nazarbayev have
shown no signs that they are about to give up on
their experiment. Instead, they seem more
committed to it than ever. After all, Kenyan
Wilson Kipketer became one of the strongest
middle distance runners of all time under the
Danish flag. So why can Golubev , Kukushkin ,
Korolev and Nedovyesov not win the Davis Cup
under the flag of Kazakhstan? Money does not
buy happiness, but it sure can help...
Grass Season To Undergo
Significant Changes in 2015
by Laura Saggio
The ATP has announced its schedule for the 2015 season, which
includes a longer grass court season.
The grass swing of the ATP Tour has always
been the shortest of the year, and while that will
not change anytime soon, it will get slightly less
short from 2015 onwards. The grass court
season will begin on 8 June (the day following
the final of Roland Garros) with the events in 'sHertogenbosch and Stuttgart. The tournaments
in Halle and Queen's, scheduled for the
following week, will change from being 250
events to 500 events, which will carry with it not
only an increase in available points but also an
increase in prestige. The tournament in
Nottingham will increase its draw to 48 from
and take the place of the Eastbourne
tournament the week before Wimbledon.
Finally, the last grass court event of the season
will take place on 13 July in Newport.
"The fact that we have extended the duration of
the grass court season is definitely a good thing,"
said Chris Kermode, the President of the ATP.
"It is an extension of our commitment to
ensuring a variety of surfaces throughout the
whole of the season, and increasing the number
of grass tournaments is a big step forward."
China will become, along with the US, the only country to host
an ATP event of every caliber: ATP World Tour 250
(Shenzhen), ATP World Tour 500 (Beijing) and ATP World
Tour Masters 1000 (Shanghai).
Another change to the calendar is the addition of
a clay event in Europe between 27 April and 4
May 2015, before the ATP 1000 event in Madrid.
A tournament will also be added in Rio,
scheduled from 16-22 February. It will take place
between the 500 events in Buenos Aires and Sao
Paulo.
Keen observers will also notice that the ATP is
further extending its presence in China in 2015,
with a new event being added in Shenzhen.
China will become, along with the US, the only
country to host an ATP event of every caliber:
ATP World Tour 250 (Shenzhen), ATP World
Tour 500 (Beijing) and ATP World Tour Masters
1000 (Shanghai).
2015 already promises to be full of surprises,
and if these kinds of changes continue in the
future, we might very well see grass becoming an
even more important part of the ATP World
Tour.
This will certainly be music to the ears of the
players who prefer to play on the surface.
We can, however, think of at least one player
who will lament that these changes did not come
sooner.
The Art Of Teaching
by Andrea Guarracino
You must wait for the right time to dispense knowledge to
have it taken seriously
Once upon a time, many years ago, a school of
archery was conducted by a great Zen master.
One day, a young student showed up at the
school. "Good morning teacher, I came for my
first lesson in archery, what should I do today?"
the student asked. The teacher looked at him
carefully and said, "Well, this is the bow, these
are the arrows, that thing is the target, try to hit
it." The young man, excited to start his training,
started shooting arrows at the target. However,
after an hour’s worth of attempts, he could still
not hit it. Exhausted, he took everything back to
the teacher, who told him to come back the next
day. The young man came back again the
following day and spoke to the Zen.
“Good morning teacher,” he said. “I have come
for my second lesson, what can I expect?" The
teacher looked at him more closely this time,
and eventually responded. “Well,” he said, “take
this bow and these arrows and try to hit the
second target back there."
The young man tried again to hit the target, but
after another hour gave up. This story was
repeated in subsequent lessons. After the tenth
time, the young man appealed to the teacher.
“Master, please help me, I have tried for many
hours to hit the target, but have not been able to
even once, please tell me how I can do it."
The teacher promptly replied, "Holds the bow in
this way, and the arrows this way. Relax, take a
deep breath and shoot."
The young immediately did what the teacher
had told him, and instantly had success. He ran
to his teacher with enthusiasm.
“That is great! But why didn’t you tell me to do
that from the start?”
The teacher thought a while, then replied: “If I
told you how to do it right away, you never
would have done it that way."
That's all there is to the art of transmitting
knowledge.
You must wait for the right time to dispense
knowledge to have it taken seriously.
If You Are Happy,
You Will Win
by Stefano Massari, Mental Coach
You will not be happy when you win, but you will win
when you are happy.
Recently, I watched the final of the tournament
in Charleston between Andrea Petkovic and
Jana Cepalova. I like to watch tennis played on
green clay. The color of the court has, for me
who is used to the red clay of my home,
something dreamlike and surreal about it. The
thing that struck me most, however, was not the
green of the court or even the play between the
two finalists.
I was instead enchanted by Andrea Petkovic’s
speech at the end. As she spoke, awkwardly
holding a bouquet of flowers as if she never had
before, it was clear that every word she was
saying was true and honest. First of all she
congratulated her opponent, and her tone was
not fake or formal.
She recalled that Cepalova, who is only twenty
years old, was alone in Charleston without
sponsors or an entourage, and that she admired
her courage.
She then turned to her family and to her coach,
reminding them of some of their most difficult
moments together.
The ones where Petkovic’s numerous injuries
kept her away from the court and made her
ranking drop significantly. Finally, she thanked
the organizers of what she called one of the best
tournaments in the world. Even this trifling
statement, which is so often made by players,
caught my attention for its genuine and heartfelt
tone. Impressed by such spontaneity and, I
admit, by so much beauty, I went to look for
news about her.
I have found, in several articles, something
which makes me understand why I enjoyed her
speech so much.
Born in Bosnia 23 years ago, Andrea fled to
Germany with her parents during the Balkan
Wars.
Athletes are able to use on the court the experiences
and knowledge they have acquired away from the
court, perhaps playing the drums or reading a book
She performed well at school and is still enrolled in the
Faculty of Political Science.
Despite several injuries that made her drop from ninth in the
world in 2011 to out of the Top 100 in 2012, she is now again
in the Top 40.
It seems that after the 2016 Olympics she wants to leave
tennis and enroll in a famous school of journalism.
She then wants to become either a journalist or a politician,
where she would focus on the needs and interests of young
people.
She plays the guitar and drums and says that these
instruments have helped her with her coordination on the
court.
She loves Goethe, the genius of writing, and Che Guevara,
the genius of combat.
Many people believe that if Andrea devoted herself
exclusively to the courts that she would reach great heights
indeed.
However, she contends that if she did not follow these other
interests, she would not be as good a tennis player as she is
now.
"I'm the kind of person," she says, "who needs to train not
only my body but also my mind and soul."
The coaching work that I do with athletes,
especially young ones, has been a daily
demonstration of the fact that Andrea Petkovic,
although only 23, is already very wise. Someone
who manages to have a life off the court,
especially one that involves a decent relationship
with school and knowledge (they are not the
same thing), interests like music or film or
painting or photography, along with good
friends and perhaps a partner, is always a
happier person and a better athlete.
Andrea’s praise of her opponent’s lack of
sponsors, relatives or coaches shows that she
appreciates an independent spirit, and shows
her interest in youngsters.
By contrast, I can think of some parents who, in
the frenzy of being fulfilled through the success
of their children, would dominate their child’s
life on the court.
I know that if one looks beyond the obsession
one sees the great love of a father or a mother.
This love, however, is expressed in the wrong
way, and is tied to results and the pressure of
victory.
Athletes like Andrea, who train their soul along
with their body, have a huge advantage over
their opponents.
They are able to use on the court the experiences
and knowledge they have acquired away from
the court, perhaps playing the drums or reading
a book.
In the smile of Andrea Pektovic, which comes
from the pain of injuries, from the struggle of
climbing back up the rankings through smaller
tournaments and by staying in awful hotels,
there emerges a new concept of success. Success
as a process, as a career, but first of all as a
human.
As I said long ago a young tennis player in crisis,
you will not be happy when you win, but you
will win when you are happy.
Injuries And How To Deal
With Them
by Amanda Gesualdi
The athlete is, first and foremost, a human being with emotions,
sensations and infinite inner world that is in a constant state of change and
adjustment
The athlete is, first and foremost, a human being
with emotions, sensations and infinite inner
world that is in a constant state of change and
adjustment. If we are centered and in balance,
the possibility of incurring an injury or accident
is virtually zero.
Otherwise, the possible lack of stability makes us
more susceptible to problems such as
contractures, tears and illnesses of various
kinds.
There is no chance or "bad luck." Instead,
everything moves according to the laws of
nature, of which man is an integral part.
It should also be considered that not all of us get
sick in the same ways, and not all of us hurt the
same muscle groups. This is because each of us
is unique!
Injury is nature’s way of sending us a message:
"Something is wrong! Stop and reconsider what
you're doing and what you should do!" You can
always learn something from an injury.
In the life cycle of victories and defeats,
achievements and sacrifice is a constant which
we cannot oppose.
In case of injury or crisis, it is good to accept the
obstacles as a natural occurrence.
An injury can work to promote a complex series of moods in an
athlete: insecurity, depression, anger, fear, tension, anxiety and
panic.
You have to put it to good use and consider it an
opportunity to reflect on yourself, your own
activity and how you are living in this moment.
The painful moment that accompanies and
follows an injury is an opportunity to review
techniques of training, and to understand
strategy, physical and mental preparation, as
well as nutrition.
An injury can work to promote a complex series
of moods in an athlete: insecurity, depression,
anger, fear, tension, anxiety and panic.
These responses in turn create stress, making
the injury even more difficult to deal with.
Injured athletes go through five stages of
suffering. The first phase is that of denial.
"No, it cannot happen to me," we often think.
"No problem, it is not so serious." Soon,
however, we must face the reality that the injury
has undermined our ability to perform well. This
is abruptly replaced by the second stage: anger.
"Damn! Why me? Why now?" At this point,
panic often sets in, and then the pain intensifies.
The next phase is depression. We realize that
there is nothing we can do, that we cannot
compete. The risk at this juncture is to withdraw
into ourselves. True healing usually coincides
with the phase of acceptance. "I got injured, but
life goes on", "I'll come back stronger than
before, I'll make it." However, before reaching
this point, the mind passes from one to another
of the first four stages.
The injury creates a breeding
ground for stress and
frustration
The injury creates a breeding ground for stress and
frustration. To escape the fear, focus on the positive aspects
of your life. Think about those athletes who, despite having
found themselves in the same condition, not only recovered
but were able to return to the court and win. An injury is also
an opportunity to achieve full awareness: it allows you to
rest, maybe catching up on some aspects of your life that you
have neglected because of your rigorous training program.
Convalescence is a perfect time to evaluate your life in an
objective way, to review the goals that you have set out to
achieve, and to confirm and redefine priorities. Try to see the
glass half full and savor the freedom. If you change the point
of view from which to watch your crisis, feelings of tension
and discomfort will decrease, thus facilitating the healing
process. Suffering a loss, whether it relates to work,
friendship, home life or love, means having to go through the
five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and
acceptance. Give yourself time to explore each of them. You
cannot skip or rush the process of healing. To completely
heal is a difficult journey. Healing means becoming aware of
it. It means broadening your perspectives. You must stop
looking back and live in the present. Changing the image of
ourselves is our true task. In the course of our lives, we have
the ability to "die" and be "reborn" many times.
Djokovic Becomes An Author
by Stefania Grosheva
“Serve To Win,” is a diet book that deals with gluten-free
foods.
It is not uncommon for tennis players to write
books while they are still playing. Andy Murray
and Rafael Nadal have both done so in recent
years, Murray more than once. What is a little
more uncommon, however, is for a tennis player
to write a book that is not really about tennis.
Novak Djokovic has done just that. His new
book, “Serve To Win,” is a diet book that deals
with gluten-free foods. The Serb says that
moving away from gluten has changed his game
and his life, and he believes his fans can also
benefit from it.
The main message of the book is, of course, that
gluten is bad. Djokovic says in the
introduction that this diet was the result of a
quest to "find the right food for the body of an
athlete."
Eliminating gluten from a diet has not been a
popular notion for very long, but it has gained
massive traction in recent years. This can easily
be seen by the explosion of gluten-free foods for
sale in supermarkets today.
The book recommends eating foods with a high
glycemic index.
It has been called the “diet of the stars,” since so
many celebrities like Lady Gaga, Kim
Kardashian, Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria
Beckham and Rachel Weisz are adherents.
"This diet has allowed me to feel lighter,
healthier and more focuse"
Those who follow the diet claim that they not
only have lost weight, but that their physical and
mental wellbeing has drastically improved as a
result. Djokovic also claims that it "helps to
improve athletic performance." "This diet has
allowed me to feel lighter, healthier and more
focused," he says. In his book, Djokovic also
provides advice on achieving an ideal body
weight, which he says you can make major
strides towards in just 14 days. However, weight
loss is not the only challenge that the book aims
at its readers. There are also tips to reduce stress
and stay fit. Djokovic has been one of the best
and fittest players on the Tour for years, and
now it seems he is sharing the secrets of his
success with the rest of us.