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Tennis NOW Magazine

Tennis is a game of motion. Ambitious stars and absorbing story lines will make this Australian Open an ongoing adventure. The first Grand Slam of the season begins a fertile month for fresh starts, but this Australian Open is about renewing ongoing power struggles. Five-time champion Serena Williams aims to return to the final for the first time in five years and retain her top spot. No. 2 Maria Sharapova warmed up for Melbourne winning Brisbane and can close the gap on Williams with a deep run. French Open finalist Simona Halep and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who each won hard-court tune-up titles, are both capable of playing deep into the second week as is two-time champion Vika Azarenka, now a dangerous floater who renews her annual Australian Open rivalry with Sloane Stephens in the first round. A recharged Venus Williams will try to sustain the form she showed winning her 46th career title in Auckland. On the men’s side, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is back at his most successful Slam playing for a fifth Australian Open title as Stan Wawrinka launches defense of his first Grand Slam title. Roger Federer tries to extend an astounding run of 11 consecutive Melbourne semifinals, while Rafael Nadal aims to shake the struggles he’s experienced since falling in the Wimbledon fourth round. Australia offers the prospect of arrivals and departures. Contesting his 19th consecutive Australian Open, 2005 finalist Lleyton Hewitt may be making his Melbourne farewell. A wave of young Aussies, including Nadal’s Wimbledon conqueror, Nick Kyrgios, and Thanasi Kokkinakis are intent on making their mark. Spin is vital to the pro game—it makes the dynamic angles, dipping passes and devious drop shots possible—but in Melbourne players can’t feign preparation. A sometime sweltering sun and steamy conditions can drain the desire and legs from even the fittest specimens in the field. You can’t fake fitness down under. The journey through Oz can be demanding, but the ride is often rewarding. We hope you enjoy it and this preview issue.

Tennis is a game of motion.
Ambitious stars and absorbing story
lines will make this Australian Open
an ongoing adventure.
The first Grand Slam of the season
begins a fertile month for fresh
starts, but this Australian Open is
about renewing ongoing power
struggles.
Five-time champion Serena Williams
aims to return to the final for the
first time in five years and retain her
top spot. No. 2 Maria Sharapova
warmed up for Melbourne winning
Brisbane and can close the gap on
Williams with a deep run.
French Open finalist Simona Halep
and Wimbledon champion Petra
Kvitova, who each won hard-court
tune-up titles, are both capable
of playing deep into the second
week as is two-time champion Vika
Azarenka, now a dangerous floater
who renews her annual Australian
Open rivalry with Sloane Stephens
in the first round. A recharged Venus
Williams will try to sustain the form
she showed winning her 46th career
title in Auckland.
On the men’s side, world No. 1
Novak Djokovic is back at his most
successful Slam playing for a
fifth Australian Open title as Stan
Wawrinka launches defense of his
first Grand Slam title. Roger
Federer tries to extend an
astounding run of 11 consecutive
Melbourne semifinals, while Rafael
Nadal aims to shake the struggles
he’s experienced since falling in the
Wimbledon fourth round.
Australia offers the prospect of
arrivals and departures. Contesting
his 19th consecutive Australian
Open, 2005 finalist Lleyton Hewitt
may be making his Melbourne
farewell. A wave of young Aussies,
including Nadal’s Wimbledon
conqueror, Nick Kyrgios, and
Thanasi Kokkinakis are intent on
making their mark.
Spin is vital to the pro game—it
makes the dynamic angles, dipping
passes and devious drop shots
possible—but in Melbourne players
can’t feign preparation. A sometime
sweltering sun and steamy
conditions can drain the desire and
legs from even the fittest specimens
in the field. You can’t fake fitness
down under.
The journey through Oz can be
demanding, but the ride is often
rewarding. We hope you enjoy it and
this preview issue.

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Ree-Play:<br />

WILL SERENA<br />

SOAR OR<br />

STUMBLE IN<br />

MELBOURNE<br />

Scoop on<br />

Hewitt<br />

FIVE LESSONS<br />

FROM LLEYTON<br />

Odds on Oz<br />

PREVIEWS &<br />

PREDICTIONS<br />

rafa<br />

REVIVAL OR<br />

SURVIVAL<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

1


CONTENTS<br />

“ HE’S<br />

PROBABLY<br />

THE BEST<br />

COMPETITOR<br />

I PLAYED<br />

AGAINST.<br />

“<br />

— ANDY RODDICK<br />

10<br />

6<br />

MAJOR MENTOR:<br />

Five ways Martina<br />

Navratilova will help<br />

Aga Radwanska win<br />

a grand slam<br />

By Chris Oddo<br />

FACING HEWITT:<br />

Five lessons Lleyton’s<br />

rivals learned<br />

By Scoop Malinowski<br />

14<br />

16<br />

10 18<br />

CHANGING<br />

OF THE GREEN-<br />

AND-GOLD GUARD<br />

By Erik Gudris<br />

WILL SERENA<br />

SOAR OR STUMBLE<br />

By Erik Gudris<br />

ODDS ON OZ<br />

Women’s Preview<br />

By Richard Pagliaro<br />

2 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


24<br />

14<br />

16<br />

MY GOAL IS<br />

TO BECOME<br />

THE NO. 1<br />

PLAYER IN<br />

THE WORLD.<br />

— Nick Kyrgios<br />

36<br />

24<br />

26<br />

32<br />

36<br />

BULL RUN:<br />

Why Rafa will go deep<br />

as dark horse<br />

By Chris Oddo<br />

ODDS ON OZ<br />

Men’s Preview<br />

By Richard Pagliaro<br />

NEW YEAR,<br />

NEW CLOTHES<br />

Fashion Gallery<br />

TUNING UP<br />

Photo Gallery<br />

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Editorials<br />

Statistics<br />

Match Analysis<br />

Daily Updates<br />

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Photo Gallery<br />

Blogs<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

3


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LETTER<br />

FROM THE<br />

EDITOR<br />

WRITERS<br />

Erik<br />

Gudris<br />

<strong>Tennis</strong> is a game of motion.<br />

Ambitious stars and absorbing story<br />

lines will make this Australian Open<br />

an ongoing adventure.<br />

The first Grand Slam of the season<br />

begins a fertile month for fresh<br />

starts, but this Australian Open is<br />

about renewing ongoing power<br />

struggles.<br />

Five-time champion Serena Williams<br />

aims to return to the final for the<br />

first time in five years and retain her<br />

top spot. No. 2 Maria Sharapova<br />

warmed up for Melbourne winning<br />

Brisbane and can close the gap on<br />

Williams with a deep run.<br />

French Open finalist Simona Halep<br />

and Wimbledon champion Petra<br />

Kvitova, who each won hard-court<br />

tune-up titles, are both capable<br />

of playing deep into the second<br />

week as is two-time champion Vika<br />

Azarenka, now a dangerous floater<br />

who renews her annual Australian<br />

Open rivalry with Sloane Stephens<br />

in the first round. A recharged Venus<br />

Williams will try to sustain the form<br />

she showed winning her 46th career<br />

title in Auckland.<br />

On the men’s side, world No. 1<br />

Novak Djokovic is back at his most<br />

successful Slam playing for a<br />

fifth Australian Open title as Stan<br />

Wawrinka launches defense of his<br />

first Grand Slam title. Roger<br />

Federer tries to extend an<br />

astounding run of 11 consecutive<br />

Melbourne semifinals, while Rafael<br />

Nadal aims to shake the struggles<br />

he’s experienced since falling in the<br />

Wimbledon fourth round.<br />

Australia offers the prospect of<br />

arrivals and departures. Contesting<br />

his 19th consecutive Australian<br />

Open, 2005 finalist Lleyton Hewitt<br />

may be making his Melbourne<br />

farewell. A wave of young Aussies,<br />

including Nadal’s Wimbledon<br />

conqueror, Nick Kyrgios, and<br />

Thanasi Kokkinakis are intent on<br />

making their mark.<br />

Spin is vital to the pro game—it<br />

makes the dynamic angles, dipping<br />

passes and devious drop shots<br />

possible—but in Melbourne players<br />

can’t feign preparation. A sometime<br />

sweltering sun and steamy<br />

conditions can drain the desire and<br />

legs from even the fittest specimens<br />

in the field. You can’t fake fitness<br />

down under.<br />

The journey through Oz can be<br />

demanding, but the ride is often<br />

rewarding. We hope you enjoy it and<br />

this preview issue.<br />

Richard Pagliaro<br />

EDITOR<br />

<strong>Tennis</strong> Now <strong>Magazine</strong><br />

PHOTOGRAPHY<br />

Mark Peterson/corleve<br />

Christopher Levy<br />

Getty Images<br />

CONTACT US<br />

Chris<br />

Oddo<br />

Scoop<br />

Malinowski<br />

To advertise with us:<br />

ads@tennisnow.com<br />

General comments<br />

or questions:<br />

media@tennisnow.com<br />

<strong>Tennis</strong> Now<br />

1 Baker Street, Suite #612<br />

Mount Kisco, NY 10549<br />

914.595.4211<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

5


For Bob and Mike Bryan, title 100 at<br />

the US Open brought them right back<br />

to the start of their legendary careers.<br />

MAJOR<br />

MENTOR:<br />

FIVE WAYS MARTINA<br />

WILL HELP AGA WIN<br />

A GRAND SLAM<br />

By Chris Oddo<br />

Agnieszka Radwanska seeks a<br />

maiden Grand Slam title. Here’s how<br />

new coach Martina Navratilova will<br />

help her deliver.<br />

6 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Hiring Hall of Famer Martina Navratilova as her<br />

coach and confidant, Agnieszka Radwanska has<br />

announced her intentions to the tennis world.<br />

Already a Grand Slam finalist and former world<br />

No. 2, the clever Pole is clearly driven to take her<br />

game to the next level in 2015 and beyond.<br />

In other words, Aga wants a Grand Slam title and<br />

believes Martina can help her attain it.<br />

But now that Radwanska has procured the<br />

services of the legendary Czech, how can the pair<br />

work together to retool the wildly talented, crafty<br />

shotmaker into a tour de force that can withstand<br />

the rigors of Grand Slam fortnights spent dueling<br />

with the behemoth shotmakers that populate the<br />

WTA rankings<br />

Here’s five ways where the 18-time Grand Slam<br />

champion will help Aga advance to realize her<br />

major aim.<br />

IMPROVE STRENGTH<br />

AND CONDITIONING<br />

If anyone can convince Radwanska that she needs<br />

to add muscle to her 5’8”, 123-pound frame and<br />

durability to her game, it’s Navratilova. The Czech<br />

transformed herself from an overweight junk food<br />

binger to the fittest female player that the game<br />

has ever seen after enlisting basketball player<br />

Nancy Lieberman to help her with her fitness.<br />

Radwanska will never be as physically imposing<br />

as Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova, but if she<br />

takes a page from Martina’s playbook and closes<br />

the gap between herself and the WTA’s power<br />

brokers she will have more impact against the<br />

tour’s elite.<br />

STRENGTHEN THE<br />

SECOND SERVE<br />

Radwanska has tried to survive—and thrive—on<br />

tour with one of the weakest second-serves in<br />

the game. In today’s return-centric WTA, tossing<br />

up 75 mph puffball second serves is a recipe for<br />

disaster. Radwanska is a great defensive player,<br />

but starting every second serve point on defense<br />

is both taxing and unsustainable, even for a player<br />

of her caliber. It might take time, and tinkering,<br />

but there’s a lot of upside for Radwanska if she<br />

can significantly upgrade this shot. Navratilova<br />

can help Radwanska vary the spins on the second<br />

serve, making it tougher to attack.<br />

Hiring Hall of Famer Martina<br />

Navratilova as her coach and<br />

confidant, Agnieszka Radwanska<br />

has announced her intentions to<br />

the tennis world.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

7


VARY THE ATTACK<br />

Clearly, Radwanska is a great defensive player,<br />

but Grand Slam titles are won by attacking players<br />

who can construct and finish points on their<br />

terms. All four major champions from 2014 — Li<br />

Na, Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Serena —can<br />

attack in multiple ways. All too often, Radwanska<br />

is content to defend and deflect, forgoing an<br />

offensive posture in the hopes that her reactionary<br />

game will force enough errors to get by. But<br />

against today’s top players, who can drill winners<br />

from inside the court off both wings, it simply isn’t<br />

enough. It explains Radwanska’s 39-69 career<br />

record against the Top 10. She’s simply giving<br />

elite opponents too many chances to attack her.<br />

Navratilova, a menacing serve-and-volley player<br />

in her day, can certainly help her design a more<br />

offensive approach. With Radwanska’s ability to hit<br />

her spots and mix spins and angles, there’s a lot to<br />

work with.<br />

EMBRACE THE NET<br />

Radwanska has the best hands in the women’s<br />

game, and she also has a very quick set of feet.<br />

Couple that with her extraordinary ability to be<br />

precise with her shots, and Radwanska is well on<br />

her way to increasing her ratio of points won at net.<br />

Navratilova, arguably the best volleyer in woman’s<br />

tennis history, can certainly help Radwanska<br />

with her approaches, and her volley technique<br />

and tactics. Radwanska’s lack of imposing power<br />

shouldn’t hurt her here either; her touch is an asset<br />

in the front court. With her guile, deception and<br />

eye-hand coordination, she ought to be able to<br />

improve her net game immediately with Martina at<br />

the helm.<br />

GROOVE ON GRASS<br />

In reaching the 2012 Wimbledon final and taking<br />

a set off of Serena in the championship match,<br />

Radwanska proved that she is exceptionally adept<br />

at playing on Wimbledon’s grass. Aga calls grass<br />

her favorite surface and you can understand why<br />

she feels so comfortable in the lawn game. Her<br />

array of slices and flat strokes allow her to wreak<br />

havoc on her taller opponents, and with Martina’s<br />

tactical expertise on offer, all Radwanska has to do<br />

is pull up a chair, and listen while the grass<br />

guru muses.<br />

The Radwanska-Navratilova pairing has the<br />

potential to be very successful, but there are<br />

no guarantees. Radwanska has already done<br />

incredibly well with her finesse-based game in<br />

today’s power-play WTA. It will take some time<br />

and a concerted effort—from Radwanska as a<br />

player, and, perhaps more importantly, Navratilova<br />

as a coach—to get the Pole to the promised land.<br />

But if the pair can implement a five-point plan,<br />

Radwanska will make her Grand Slam breakthrough.<br />

8 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


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2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

9


FACING<br />

HEWITT:<br />

FIVE<br />

LESSONS<br />

FROM<br />

LLEYTON<br />

By Scoop Malinowski<br />

Lleyton Hewitt launches his 19th—and<br />

perhaps final—Australian Open. Author Scoop<br />

Malinowski, who spent years interviewing<br />

Hewitt’s rivals for his book “Facing Hewitt”,<br />

offers five revelations about the fiery Aussie.<br />

10 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Lleyton Hewitt isn’t the greatest Australian champion,<br />

but he may be the feistiest.<br />

Watching the career of such a ferocious, intense<br />

competitor had a direct impact on me both as a<br />

player and writer. Hewitt made tennis real and raw<br />

and exciting.<br />

So when I finished writing a book about Roger<br />

Federer, I decided to make Hewitt the focus of my<br />

book, Facing Hewitt. Given the fact Hewitt had<br />

always politely rebuffed my interview requests with a<br />

quick reason why he couldn’t talk, I decided to write<br />

the book by talking to Hewitt’s opponents.<br />

Interviewing dozens of players who faced Hewitt<br />

from all stages of his career and listening to them talk<br />

about the matches they played and the memorable<br />

moments from these matches was fascinating.<br />

Researching the book I got the feeling that I went<br />

to battle with Hewitt a hundred times! Players told<br />

me tactics they used for neutralizing Hewitt such<br />

as hitting down the middle against him to make him<br />

create offense, as opposed to challenging him to<br />

hit on the run. Brad Gilbert told me Hewitt is more<br />

dangerous and gets more speed on his swing when<br />

he hits on the run. And several players told me they<br />

think Hewitt has one of the best lobs of all time.<br />

Here are five revelations from Facing Hewitt.<br />

1. RIVALS SAW GREATNESS IN YOUNG RUSTY<br />

Skeptics sometimes dismissed the young<br />

counterpuncher. Elite players saw greatness in<br />

the teenage Hewitt.<br />

Argentine Guillermo Canas told me former world<br />

No. 1 Marcelo Rios predicted Hewitt would<br />

someday rise to the top of tennis after watching<br />

the young Aussie practicing on an adjacent court<br />

one day.<br />

“I was practicing with Marcelo Rios; at that moment<br />

Rios was No. 1 or No. 2 in the world and Rios told<br />

me ‘That guy [Hewitt] is gonna be the next No. 1,’<br />

“ Canas told me. “Even though at the time Hewitt<br />

was in the forties in the rankings. It was funny.<br />

I said ‘No way!’ And Rios was right. He told me<br />

Hewitt was gonna be No. 1 and he was right.<br />

“It was really, really tough to beat Hewitt on any court.”<br />

2. PRACTICE IS HEWITT’S BATTLE GROUND<br />

Players often call practice a “sparring session.”<br />

Hewitt treats practice like a fight. He practiced as<br />

hard as he played, often exuding the same fervor<br />

in practice that he brought to major matches.<br />

“ IT WAS<br />

REALLY,<br />

REALLY<br />

TOUGH<br />

TO BEAT<br />

HEWITT<br />

ON ANY<br />

COURT.<br />

“<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

11


American Jan-Michael Gambill, who beat Hewitt in<br />

their first meeting in the 1999 Scottsdale final, told<br />

me Hewitt was so intense in practice, he believed<br />

the young Aussie would make the final simply by<br />

seeing how hard he trained in practice before the<br />

tournament began.<br />

“The first time I saw him was in Scottsdale. I saw<br />

him and thought ‘That’s a feisty son of a bitch.<br />

I think he’s going to make the final,” Gambill<br />

recalled. “He’s never gonna give up. He’s never<br />

gonna give you an inch and that’s awesome.<br />

We played seven times and I really enjoyed all<br />

the matches.”<br />

Hewitt, who was 4-3 lifetime against Gambill,<br />

brought a fighter’s ferocity to practice.<br />

“The same type of battles would happen on the<br />

practice court,” Gambill said. “We didn’t practice<br />

much, but here and there. But the practices were<br />

always high intensity, the kind of practices I looked<br />

for. He’s just a beast out there. I would compare<br />

Hewitt to a boxer.”<br />

3. REVOLUTIONARY AND RESERVED<br />

Former world No. 3 Ivan Ljubicic, who lost a<br />

gripping 2001 Cincinnati quarterfinal to Hewitt,<br />

sees the Aussie as a game-changing — and<br />

misunderstood — player whose off-court shyness<br />

surprised his colleagues.<br />

“To win Wimbledon, to win the U.S. Open with the<br />

game he had, it was a turning point in the history of<br />

tennis. He was the first one really to win Wimbledon<br />

from the baseline,” Ljubicic told me. “He was the first<br />

one to really demolish Sampras’ serve at the U.S.<br />

Open...He’s really shy, actually, incredibly.”<br />

4. DETESTED AND RESPECTED<br />

Hewitt was such a hard-core competitor some<br />

players said they detested him on court, but<br />

admired his hunger and spirit so much they wound<br />

up respecting him.<br />

“He’s probably the best competitor I played<br />

against. It’s weird. At first we probably didn’t like<br />

each other much, and then it came to the point<br />

where we respected each other,” Andy Roddick<br />

said. “It would be hard for anyone to respect what<br />

he’s done in this game more than I do.”<br />

“ HE’S<br />

PROBABLY<br />

THE BEST<br />

COMPETITOR<br />

I PLAYED<br />

AGAINST.<br />

— ANDY RODDICK<br />

5. HUMAN TOUCH<br />

“<br />

If this is indeed Hewitt’s Melbourne farewell, it<br />

won’t be his last Australian Open appearance.<br />

Hewitt has become a respected television analyst<br />

in Australia. Former No. 1 Jim Courier calls<br />

Hewitt a commentary “superstar” and believes his<br />

success on TV has “humanized him” and made<br />

him more popular with fans down under.<br />

“Hewitt’s loss is Australian fans’ gain at the<br />

Australian Open. If he loses, he takes a day or two<br />

off, then joins us in the booth,” Courier told me.<br />

“He is tremendous as an analyst. First of all, he’s<br />

playing these guys, so he has unique perspectives.<br />

He gets his point across quickly, succinctly and<br />

articulately. He’s a superstar at commentating as<br />

well as a superstar player. He tells us some things<br />

about players he probably shouldn’t.<br />

“It’s interesting to hear him talk about the guy he’s<br />

just played. It’s fascinating. It’s made him so much<br />

more liked by the public in Australia, much like<br />

John McEnroe in this country. It’s humanized him.”<br />

12 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


SCOOP<br />

ON<br />

HEWITT<br />

I presented Hewitt with a copy<br />

of the book after his victory<br />

over Steve Johnson in the<br />

Newport quarterfinals last July<br />

and we posed for a couple of<br />

photos. A writer handed Hewitt<br />

a copy of the book, and asked<br />

him to sign it for his son, whom<br />

he had named after Lleyton.<br />

Hewitt’s no-nonsense response<br />

was simple: “How do you spell<br />

his name”<br />

Hewitt signed the book then<br />

went on to sweep both singles<br />

and doubles titles in Newport.<br />

I like to think perhaps reading<br />

the book, and reliving all the<br />

stories his rivals shared, could<br />

have inspired Hewitt just as he<br />

inspired us all these years.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

13


CHANGING OF<br />

THE GREEN-<br />

AND-GOLD<br />

GUARD<br />

MY GOAL IS TO BECOME<br />

THE NO. 1 PLAYER IN<br />

THE WORLD.<br />

— Nick Kyrgios<br />

By Erik Gudris<br />

While several Australian<br />

veterans will try to win their<br />

home Grand Slam this year,<br />

rising new stars may shine<br />

in the future.<br />

Every January, the tennis world<br />

turns its gaze down under to the<br />

Australian Open. That focus also<br />

shines a spotlight on Australia’s<br />

best players as they seek glory at<br />

their home Slam. While the nation<br />

is proud of its rich tennis heritage,<br />

an Aussie man or woman hasn’t<br />

won the Australian Open singles<br />

title since the mid-1970s.<br />

Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt came<br />

the closest when he reached<br />

the men’s final in 2005, winning<br />

the opening set before falling to<br />

Marat Safin in four sets. This year,<br />

Hewitt will make a record 19th<br />

appearance at the event. While his<br />

chances of reaching the final are<br />

slim, everyone will cheer Hewitt on<br />

across the country in what could<br />

be his final bow in Melbourne.<br />

While Sam Stosur tasted Grand<br />

Slam glory by winning the 2011<br />

NICK KYRGIOS<br />

U.S. Open, her struggles at home<br />

are well known. Nerve-wracking,<br />

early-round losses on home soil<br />

aren’t exactly confidence-boosters<br />

for the Queensland native’s<br />

Melbourne chances. Stosur, who<br />

has never surpassed the fourth<br />

round in 12 Australian Open<br />

appearances, she says she’s<br />

relaxed entering the event.<br />

Casey Dellacqua, who took time<br />

off due to injury and to start<br />

a family, is enjoying a career<br />

resurgence at age 29. The Perth<br />

native reached her second<br />

Australian Open round of 16 last<br />

year. Though she may not be a<br />

factor in the second week, she’ll<br />

enjoy solid crowd support.<br />

With Australia’s veterans looking<br />

more like long shots to make deep<br />

runs this year, the nation pins its<br />

hopes on a crop of future talent.<br />

DARIA GAVRILOVA<br />

Nick Kyrgios gained global<br />

attention after slamming a careerhigh<br />

37 aces to upset then<br />

world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in the<br />

Wimbledon fourth round. That<br />

triumph came after Kyrgios fought<br />

off nine match points in an inspired<br />

rally from two sets down to defeat<br />

Richard Gasquet, 10-8 in the fifth<br />

set, at Wimbledon. Possessing<br />

uber-confidence in his game and<br />

an exuberant personality, Kyrgios<br />

has been touted by many as<br />

future Australian Open champion.<br />

But how he deals with his new<br />

fame and frequent injuries could<br />

determine his chances over the<br />

next few years.<br />

The 19-year-old Aussie joined<br />

Borna Coric as one of two<br />

teenagers to finish in the Top<br />

100 in 2014. Kyrgios isn’t<br />

lacking confidence in his ability<br />

or aspirations.<br />

14 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


BERNARD TOMIC<br />

THANASI KOKKINAKIS<br />

AJLA TOMLJANOVIC<br />

“My goal is to become the No. 1<br />

player in the world,’’ Kyrgios said.<br />

‘’I think it’s just a long journey.<br />

There’s going to be a lot of ups<br />

and downs. I’ve just got to do all<br />

the right things, work hard, keep<br />

having great effort. Hopefully if<br />

you marry that up with your ability<br />

on the court, anything is possible.’’<br />

Once considered Australia’s next<br />

great hope, Bernard Tomic is now<br />

something of a question mark<br />

despite all of his innate talent and<br />

silky smooth ball striking skills.<br />

Several years of off-court drama<br />

and hip surgery last year slowed<br />

Tomic down though he did win<br />

his second career title in Bogota.<br />

Looking forward to a fresh start<br />

and season, Tomic just might<br />

surprise in Melbourne.<br />

The 22-year-old Tomic often plays<br />

his best tennis on home soil. Tomic<br />

won his first ATP title at the 2013<br />

Sydney International and was<br />

runner-up to Juan Martin del Potro<br />

in Sydney last year. Tomic has<br />

had tough luck in recent Australian<br />

Open draws, losing twice to both<br />

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer<br />

in the past four years.<br />

No. 147 Thanasi Kokkinakis comes<br />

from Lleyton Hewitt’s hometown of<br />

Adelaide and could also become<br />

yet another Aussie to crack the<br />

ATP Top 100 very soon. His recent<br />

win over France’s Julien Benneteau<br />

in Brisbane proved the 18-year-old<br />

Kokkinakis is ready to make his<br />

move up the rankings. Kokkinakis<br />

won his first Australian Open main<br />

draw match last January before<br />

bowing to Rafa in round two.<br />

On the women’s side, two young<br />

prospects who are becoming<br />

Australian citizens may well be future<br />

Australian No.1 players soon.<br />

Born in Croatia, 21-year-old Ajla<br />

Tomljanovic will compete for<br />

Australia once her citizenship<br />

is finalized. With a big<br />

overall game and down to<br />

earth likable personality,<br />

Tomljanovic is best known<br />

for upsetting Agnieszka<br />

Radwanska at last year’s<br />

French Open. The powerful<br />

Tomljanovic moved to Brisbane in<br />

November, is coached by Aussie<br />

David Taylor, receives funding from<br />

<strong>Tennis</strong> Australia and says she’s<br />

having fun soaking up the culture.<br />

“My roots are Croatian — it’s<br />

not like I’m trying to completely<br />

forget about where I was born,”<br />

Tomljanovic said. “But embracing<br />

the Aussie culture and playing for<br />

Australia, it’s really an honor.”<br />

Moscow-born Daria Gavrilova is<br />

a former junior No. 1 who also<br />

decided to switch nationalities in<br />

hope of better opportunities in<br />

Australia. Despite dealing with<br />

several injuries, the 20-year-old<br />

recently won the Australian Open<br />

wild card playoff giving her a<br />

coveted spot in the main draw two<br />

years after she qualified for her first<br />

Australian Open.<br />

… PLAYING FOR AUSTRALIA, IT’S REALLY<br />

AN HONOR.<br />

Young Aussies could make the greenand-gold<br />

guard a formidable force in<br />

Melbourne in the coming years.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

15


WILL<br />

SERENA<br />

SOAR OR<br />

STUMBLE<br />

By Erik Gudris<br />

Despite early-season<br />

struggles, can Serena<br />

Williams win her sixth<br />

Australian Open and hold<br />

off Maria Sharapova to<br />

retain No. 1<br />

Is World No. 1 Serena Williams the favorite to win<br />

this year’s Australian Open Or is she the favorite<br />

to be the highest seed to lose early If you ask<br />

many tennis fans, the answer might be “both.”<br />

It’s hard to believe that Williams isn’t entering<br />

Melbourne as the clear favorite. After all,<br />

Williams has won the title five times and often the<br />

Australian Open was her go-to Slam. Yet, it’s now<br />

been five years since Williams won it in 2010 in<br />

that classic final against Justine Henin. Serena<br />

defeated Petra Kvitova, Carla Suarez Navarro,<br />

Samantha Stosur, Victoria Azarenka and Li Na<br />

just to get to that 2010 final. It was a powerful<br />

performance, but she hasn’t really been the same<br />

in Melbourne since that impressive title trip.<br />

Since then, Williams endured a health crisis,<br />

injuries, and determined opponents that either<br />

prevented her from competing at the event at all<br />

or losing early in the first week.<br />

Despite finishing as year-end No. 1 in 2014,<br />

Williams enters Melbourne with question marks<br />

hanging over her head. Her recent uneven<br />

16 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


performances at the warm-up Hopman Cup event<br />

did see her win matches, but often with a lack of<br />

authority or energy. She also suffered a blow-out<br />

loss to Eugenie Bouchard and her first ever loss to<br />

Agnieszka Radwanska. Was Williams just saving<br />

energy for the big event some wondered Or was<br />

Williams weary from a long 2014 season and<br />

already searching for answers to find her best form<br />

in time for Melbourne<br />

Amid all her triumphs last year, including winning a<br />

sixth U.S. Open title, Williams also endured headscratching<br />

losses where she appeared to have no<br />

energy or motivation at all. Then, there was her<br />

bizarre doubles match at Wimbledon with sister<br />

Venus where Serena appeared disorientated and<br />

could barely serve before she retired.<br />

The reality is that at the dawn of this new season,<br />

like much of 2014, it’s hard to predict which Serena<br />

Williams will show up on court. Can Williams easily<br />

turn on the power and focus that we expect to<br />

see out of her Or, at age 33, are the years finally<br />

catching up to her<br />

Perhaps Serena won’t know the answer herself<br />

until she gets out on court and starts swinging.<br />

While it’s often been “Serena and then the rest<br />

of the field” every time a new Grand Slam rolled<br />

around, this year’s Australian Open feels different.<br />

The field has been catching up to Williams with a<br />

mix of rising young stars and established veterans<br />

all getting better and closing the long gap that<br />

Williams has placed between herself and other<br />

WTA players. Williams will face a stiff challenge<br />

from current No. 2 Maria Sharapova depending on<br />

how results in Melbourne play out. Even if Williams<br />

maintains her top ranking post-Melbourne, she will<br />

have to fight all year long if she wants to keep it.<br />

Soon after winning her 18th Grand Slam singles<br />

title in New York, Williams said she was already<br />

thinking about winning number 19. At age 33,<br />

Williams’ focus now is certainly on extending<br />

her incredible legacy as she rises even higher<br />

among the sport’s all-time greats and re-writes<br />

records. But if Williams wants this year’s Australian<br />

Open to be her 19th major title, she may have to<br />

work harder than she ever has before against a<br />

talented, hungry and deep field with many players<br />

who feel more confident of their chances against<br />

Williams than ever before.<br />

Certainly a major challenge stands before Serena<br />

Williams to start strong in Melbourne and set<br />

the tone for yet another winning chapter in her<br />

standout career. We might not be quite sure what<br />

to expect from her down under, but if anyone has<br />

proven over the years she can start slow but finish<br />

strong, it’s Serena.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

17


ODDS<br />

ON<br />

OZ<br />

WOMEN’S<br />

PREVIEW<br />

World No. 1 Serena Williams still sees<br />

her toughest opponent in the mirror.<br />

Rivals looking over her shoulder are<br />

aiming to reconfigure that view.<br />

Shifting sight lines and ongoing power<br />

struggles are among the story lines<br />

popping off the page in the women’s<br />

draw.<br />

Collecting her 18th career Grand Slam<br />

title at the U.S. Open to equal Chris<br />

Evert and Martina Navratilova on the alltime<br />

list was supposed to be liberating<br />

for Williams, right<br />

Now that she’s even with Chris and<br />

Martina, the theory went, Serena can<br />

shrug off the Unisphere of pressure<br />

she’s been lugging around on her<br />

shoulders, forget about her Wimbledon<br />

watershed, swing freely, have fun and<br />

spend her tennis golden years wracking<br />

up Grand Slam silverware the way she<br />

throws down aces on break point.<br />

The only problem with that theory is it<br />

fails to fully consider the complexity of<br />

the subject.<br />

When you’re the reigning world No. 1<br />

who has won every Grand Slam title in<br />

singles and doubles and attained iconic<br />

status at the age of 33, the expectations<br />

— from yourself and the world — are<br />

immense and the pressure intense.<br />

Will Serena regain the title and<br />

retain No Can Maria, Simona,<br />

Petra, Aga or Vika rise in Oz We<br />

preview the Top 10 women’s seeds<br />

and offer odds —by bookmaker<br />

Ladbrokes.com —of each winning.<br />

The woman whose Hopman Cup coffee<br />

break went viral does not need a wakeup<br />

call to know what’s at stake. Serena<br />

starts every Grand Slam knowing<br />

anything less than taking home the title<br />

is a major letdown and enters Australia<br />

knowing a first-week falter could cost<br />

her the top spot. At this stage of her<br />

career, major titles matter more to<br />

Serena than the ranking.<br />

Meanwhile the pack is gaining ground.<br />

Maria Sharapova hasn’t beaten<br />

Williams in more than 11 years, but<br />

could surpass her to regain the No. 1<br />

ranking with a strong showing in Oz.<br />

The second-ranked Russian opened the<br />

season buzzing to the Brisbane title and<br />

arrives in Melbourne trailing Williams by<br />

less than 700 points in the rankings.<br />

Third-ranked Simona Halep opened her<br />

2015 season winning the Shenzhen title<br />

to move to within 1,500 points of the<br />

top spot as she plays for her first Grand<br />

Slam title. Simona and Serena traded<br />

lopsided victories at the WTA Finals<br />

with Williams thumping Halep in the title<br />

match.<br />

Then there’s two-time former champion<br />

Victoria Azarenka, who should be a<br />

dangerous floater, and Wimbledon<br />

champion Petra Kvitova, who looks fitter<br />

and faster this season.<br />

A stressed Serena suffered upsets at<br />

three of the four Grand Slams last year:<br />

to No. 14 Ana Ivanovic at the Australian<br />

Open, to 35th-ranked Garbine<br />

Muguruza in the Roland Garros second<br />

round and to No. 24 Alize Cornet in the<br />

Wimbledon third round. All three women<br />

had some success pressuring Serena’s<br />

second serve and playing drives deep<br />

down the middle to tie up the top<br />

seed and deny her angles. It’s a tactic<br />

opponents will try to apply in Oz.<br />

Five years removed from her last<br />

Australian Open final, Williams sees the<br />

reflection of a five-time champion — and<br />

the challenges ahead.<br />

Here’s our analysis of the Top 10 seeds’<br />

strengths and weaknesses, their odds of<br />

winning the tile (provided by Ladbrokes.<br />

com) and their projected finish for the<br />

2015 Australian Open.<br />

Please note because of the deadline for<br />

this issue, predictions were done before<br />

the draws were conducted.<br />

18 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


SERENA WILLIAMS<br />

2014 RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

BEST RESULT: Five-time champion<br />

(2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010)<br />

AD IN: The world’s most dangerous<br />

player can dictate on serve and<br />

return. Six of Williams’ seven titles<br />

in 2014 came on hard courts where<br />

she can seize control of rallies from<br />

the first strike. Serena is explosive<br />

on the run, remains the best closer<br />

in the game and may feel less<br />

pressure after collecting her 18th<br />

Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open.<br />

AD OUT: It’s been five years since<br />

Serena made the final. She looked<br />

a bit creaky and cranky in recent<br />

Hopman Cup exhibition losses and<br />

plays with the added pressure of<br />

knowing an early exit could cost<br />

her the No. 1 ranking. When she’s<br />

nervous, Williams sometimes drifts<br />

behind the baseline and reaches for<br />

the ball with her arms rather than<br />

setting up for her shots with her feet.<br />

ODDS: 5/2<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Final<br />

MARIA SHARAPOVA<br />

2014 RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

BEST RESULT: Champion (2008)<br />

AD IN: Sharapova was sharp<br />

collecting her 34th title in Brisbane<br />

in preparation for Melbourne. The<br />

Roland Garros champion is a<br />

ruthless competitor experienced<br />

at imposing her massive<br />

groundstrokes, menacing power<br />

and methodical pace of play on<br />

opponents. The second-ranked<br />

Russian trails the top-ranked<br />

Williams by less than 700 points<br />

and should be inspired knowing<br />

she can close the gap with an<br />

extended run.<br />

AD OUT: Maria can’t solve<br />

Serena. Because her game lacks<br />

options, Sharapova’s concept<br />

of problem solving is blasting<br />

bigger shots closer to the lines.<br />

Sharapova can lose the plot on<br />

serve in spraying double faults,<br />

she is averse to hitting overheads<br />

and she’s not as quick as top<br />

rivals, making her vulnerable when<br />

stretched to the forehand side.<br />

ODDS: 9/2<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

19


ANA IVANOVIC<br />

2014 RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Final (2008)<br />

AD IN: The former No. 1 can use<br />

her flat forehand to pound returns<br />

and control the center of the court;<br />

she used both weapons upsetting<br />

Serena in the 2014 Australian Open.<br />

Ivanovic is at her best stepping<br />

inside the court, taking the ball<br />

on the rise and finishing moving<br />

forward.<br />

AD OUT: Under duress, Ivanovic’s<br />

toss can stray to the right resulting<br />

in a swerving slice serve she can’t<br />

always control. Ivanovic is a power<br />

player who lacks the speed and<br />

defensive skills of faster rivals. Her<br />

two-handed backhand is not as<br />

potent as other top players, though<br />

she can use the slice as a change of<br />

pace and recovery shot.<br />

ODDS: 20/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

SIMONA HALEP<br />

2014 RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

(2014)<br />

AD IN: Arguably the best mover<br />

in the game, Halep doesn’t play<br />

small ball. The 5’6” Romanian<br />

is an all-court player who packs<br />

surprising sting on her first serve<br />

and is skilled driving the ball down<br />

the line. Halep’s anticipation,<br />

accuracy and ability to read the<br />

game are all assets that were on<br />

display as she won the tune-up<br />

tournament in Shenzhen.<br />

AD OUT: Pressure and a power<br />

shortage. Halep concedes she<br />

felt nerves in New York, losing<br />

to 121st-ranked qualifier Mirjana<br />

Lucic-Baroni in the U.S. Open<br />

third round. Halep has been<br />

bounced from the first round in<br />

two of her last three Australian<br />

Open appearances. While she’s<br />

skilled in all areas of the game<br />

and can take the ball on the rise,<br />

the compact Romanian lacks the<br />

declarative power Serena, Maria<br />

and Petra possess.<br />

ODDS: 7/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Final<br />

20 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


PETRA KVITOVA<br />

2014 RESULT: First Round<br />

BEST RESULT: Semifinals (2012)<br />

AD IN: A pure ball striker and<br />

instinctive shotmaker, the lefthanded<br />

Czech can be overpowering<br />

on all surfaces. Kvitova can<br />

detonate points with her down the<br />

line drives, she’s a fine volleyer and<br />

hired 2014 champion Li Na’s trainer,<br />

Alex Stober, in an effort to improve<br />

strength and fitness.<br />

AD OUT: Streakiness and shot<br />

selection. The two-time Wimbledon<br />

winner’s best level is good enough<br />

to beat anyone, the problem is<br />

Kvitova can’t consistently produce<br />

it and sometimes seems to space<br />

out mid match. Kvitova owns all<br />

the shots, but doesn’t always play<br />

points wisely; her asthma can be an<br />

issue in the Melbourne heat.<br />

ODDS: 9/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Semifinal<br />

AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA<br />

2014 RESULT: Semifinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Semifinals (2014)<br />

AD IN: Her court sense is so<br />

sharp Aga sometimes seems<br />

to be replaying points she’s<br />

already plotted in her mind.<br />

Radwanska relies on her twohanded<br />

backhand, sculptor’s feel<br />

and savvy counter-punching to<br />

introduce opponents to obscure<br />

areas of the court. Radwanska<br />

hired Martina Navratilova as a<br />

coaching consultant hoping the<br />

Hall of Famer can help her apply<br />

her variety to play proactive tennis.<br />

AD OUT: Listed at 5’8”, 123<br />

pounds, Aga lacks the physicality<br />

and heavy shots to stand up<br />

to premier power players.<br />

Radwanska is skilled playing<br />

off pace, but not nearly as<br />

comfortable generating her own<br />

pace, particularly off the forehand.<br />

When stressed, she sometimes<br />

spins sub 75 mph second serves<br />

into the box, which can be fodder.<br />

ODDS: 25/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

21


CAROLINE WOZNIACKI<br />

2014 RESULT: Third Round<br />

BEST RESULT: Semifinals (2011)<br />

AD IN: The New York City<br />

marathoner is a tireless mover<br />

and resourceful competitor as she<br />

showed reaching her second U.S.<br />

Open final. Wozniacki operates<br />

under the theory that no shot is<br />

beyond her reach. Her exhaustive<br />

court coverage and unerring<br />

consistency can drain opponents<br />

into errors.<br />

AD OUT: Cross-court predictability<br />

and the lack of a kill shot can<br />

make her game look toothless<br />

against power players. Though<br />

her backhand down the line is<br />

a weapon, Wozniacki tends to<br />

telegraph her forehand crosscourt.<br />

The former No. 1, who struggles<br />

to create offense against the elite,<br />

withdrew from her Sydney opener<br />

citing a wrist injury.<br />

ODDS: 12/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

EUGENIE BOUCHARD<br />

2014 RESULT: Semifinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Semifinals (2014)<br />

AD IN: A bold game and defiant<br />

spirit helped Genie mobilize<br />

an army of Aussie fans — and<br />

assortment of stuffed animals<br />

— last year. Bouchard stalks the<br />

baseline, swings big off both wings<br />

and tries to rob opponents of<br />

reaction time by taking the ball on<br />

the rise.<br />

AD OUT: Bouchard’s style is<br />

predicated on ultra-aggressive<br />

court positioning — she’s<br />

committed to beating opponents<br />

to the punch — but when her<br />

timing is off, she’s vulnerable<br />

to blow-outs. The 20-year-old<br />

Canadian looked spent at the end<br />

of 2014, absorbing beatings at<br />

the WTA Finals. Will there be any<br />

repercussions in Melbourne<br />

ODDS: 12/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

22 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


ANGELIQUE KERBER<br />

2014 RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

BEST RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

(2013, 2014)<br />

AD IN: The grinding German<br />

likes the low ball, redirect paces<br />

effectively and cracks her compact<br />

two-handed backhand crosscourt<br />

or up the line accurately. Kerber<br />

marches through matches like a<br />

middle distance runner capable of<br />

picking up the pace when pushed.<br />

She’s comfortable playing extended<br />

rallies and confident hitting angled<br />

counterstrikes on the run.<br />

AD OUT: Though Kerber calls<br />

Australia her favorite major, it’s<br />

an unrequited affair: She’s never<br />

surpassed the fourth round. Kerber<br />

can be a very draining opponent,<br />

but her serve does not scare power<br />

players and she has yet to beat a<br />

Top 20 opponent in Melbourne.<br />

ODDS: 50/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

EKATERINA MAKAROVA<br />

2014 RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

BEST RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

(2012, 2013)<br />

AD IN: A Grand Slam doubles<br />

champion who can open the court<br />

with her slice serve and disguises<br />

her shots well, Makarova should<br />

be confident coming off her first<br />

major semifinal in September. The<br />

left-hander often shines in Oz.<br />

Makarova owns Australian Open<br />

victories over Serena Williams,<br />

Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic<br />

and was a 2014 Australian Open<br />

doubles finalist.<br />

AD OUT: The Russian can play<br />

comfortably from all areas of the<br />

court but doesn’t dominate from<br />

any single spot. Makarova needs<br />

a bit more time to uncoil her<br />

looping forehand swing and can be<br />

vulnerable in running rallies.<br />

ODDS: 50/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

23


BULL RUN:<br />

WHY RAFA WILL<br />

GO DEEP AS<br />

DARK HORSE<br />

By Chris Oddo<br />

Nadal’s stock is lower than it<br />

has been in years. It’s time<br />

to start buying.<br />

Since Rafael Nadal opened the new season<br />

enduring a disconcerting Doha loss to 124thranked<br />

Michael Berrer, the 14-time Grand<br />

Slam champion’s stock has dropped, dipping<br />

to 12-month low.<br />

Dating back to his 2014 Wimbledon upset at<br />

the hands of Aussie teenager Nick Kyrgios,<br />

Nadal has lost five of nine matches, with three<br />

of those losses coming to opponents ranked<br />

outside the Top 100.<br />

That’s a pretty scary development when you<br />

think about it.<br />

Consider since 2008 Nadal had only lost one<br />

match to a player outside the Top 100 —<br />

falling to 135th-ranked Belgian Steve Darcis<br />

at 2013 Wimbledon — and had gone 60-1 vs.<br />

players outside the Top 100. Given that track<br />

record, for Nadal to lose to three outsiders in a<br />

nine-match span has to raise red flags for even<br />

the most ardent Rafa supporters.<br />

24 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Are we watching the body of one of the greatest<br />

champions of all-time crumble before our very<br />

eyes Are we seeing the slow decline of the<br />

game’s greatest fighter Is the hard-charging<br />

Spaniard on the fast track to tennis oblivion<br />

Not so fast.<br />

Clearly Nadal is not the Australian Open favorite,<br />

but opening day in Oz is not doomsday for Rafa.<br />

In fact, underdog status could actually help the<br />

third-ranked Spaniard as he tries to rebuild his<br />

form at the season’s first Grand Slam.<br />

The 2009 champion will be hungry to establish<br />

rhythm, prove himself and win. We all know<br />

passion and Rafa are a lethal combination, and for<br />

the first time in a long time, Nadal may actually be<br />

underestimated by his opponents. Then there’s<br />

the fact Nadal usually grows stronger as he<br />

progresses in major tournaments.<br />

Could Rafa actually sneak in under the radar, play<br />

himself into sparkling form, and come away with his<br />

second Australian Open title by the end of January<br />

The answer is a resounding yes.<br />

There are several good reasons why Nadal will be<br />

a factor in Melbourne this month.<br />

The 2014 finalist’s Slam experience and freshness<br />

of his oft-injured body will help. Despite the loss to<br />

Berrer in Doha, Nadal showed flashes of his power<br />

and movement, which will become more prevalent<br />

as Rafa shakes of the rust. Nadal’s physicality and<br />

willingness to play grinding rallies are strengths in<br />

the swelter of Melbourne.<br />

With a favorable draw, Nadal could play himself<br />

into form by the second week, and if he does he’d<br />

have at least nine more competitive sets under<br />

his belt. That could be enough for Nadal to dial<br />

in his ground-stroke timing and serve mechanics<br />

and it could all correspond nicely with an uptick in<br />

Nadal’s fast-twitch motor, which is already rearing<br />

to go after the long layoff.<br />

In other words, discount Rafa at your own peril.<br />

If it’s historical perspective that you’re seeking,<br />

consider the Spaniard’s last long hiatus and his<br />

resulting arc back to invincibility. Nadal<br />

was off for eight months from June 2012<br />

to February 2013, came back to much<br />

scrutiny and doubt about his long-term<br />

prospects and, after he was upset by<br />

No. 73 Horacio Zeballos in his comeback<br />

final in Vina del Mar, saw his stock<br />

plummet to a career low.<br />

Anyone who boldly—and as it turns out,<br />

wisely—bought in at that time saw the<br />

Bull rampage to titles in seven of his<br />

next eight tournaments. Nadal turned<br />

a comeback campaign into a classic<br />

season winning 10 titles in a career-high<br />

14 finals that year, including Roland<br />

Garros and the U.S. Open.<br />

That 2013 comeback season was a<br />

banner year for Nadal, one that started<br />

in swirling doubt and ended in trophychomping<br />

coronation. Nadal not only<br />

proved he could still play in 2013, he<br />

proved that he could elevate his game, particularly<br />

on hard courts, to a new level.<br />

Who are we to say that Nadal can’t reproduce<br />

the type of resurgence that he’s already achieved<br />

once in his career Rafa tends to repeat powerful<br />

patterns in rallies and in his career. At 28 he’s two<br />

years older than he was in 2013, but his desire<br />

remains strong. And if there’s one thing that we’ve<br />

learned about Nadal’s body it’s that it responds<br />

well to long periods of rehabilitation.<br />

Recent months have provided recovery time<br />

as Nadal had treatment for a wrist injury, had<br />

his appendix removed and underwent stem cell<br />

treatment for his ailing back. It was, no doubt,<br />

harrowing, but it’s all behind him now. He may not<br />

be in top form yet, but if Nadal can find his form<br />

and timing in the Australian Open’s first week,<br />

watch out for a deep run in week two.<br />

Don’t be surprised to see the hungry bull transform<br />

from dark horse to dominating force in a fortnight.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

25


ODDS<br />

ON<br />

By Richard Pagliaro<br />

OZ<br />

MEN’S<br />

PREVIEW<br />

Four former champions — and a slew of<br />

compelling story lines — are embedded<br />

among the Top 10 seeds in the Australian<br />

Open field.<br />

Can four-time champion Novak Djokovic,<br />

who is 1-3 in his last four Grand Slam finals,<br />

produce his best tennis when it matters<br />

most on his favorite Grand Slam stage<br />

How will 2009 champion Rafael Nadal<br />

respond after injury and illness ravaged<br />

his 2014 season depriving the Spaniard<br />

of match play<br />

Former champions and a wave<br />

of young talent converge in<br />

Melbourne. We preview the Top<br />

10 men’s seeds and offer odds —<br />

by bookmaker Ladbrokes.com —<br />

of each winning.<br />

and confidence<br />

ahead<br />

of Australia<br />

After an<br />

extended<br />

2014 season,<br />

can Roger<br />

Federer extend<br />

his run of 11<br />

straight semifinals and advance to his first<br />

Australian Open final in five years<br />

How will reigning champion Stan Wawrinka<br />

withstand the pressure of defending a major<br />

for the first time — with his Top 10 spot on<br />

the line<br />

Will the next wave of gifted young talents<br />

— Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and Grigor<br />

Dimitrov — erode Big 4 domination or<br />

recede without a second week splash<br />

The first Grand Slam of the season offers<br />

plenty of possibility, and the opportunity to<br />

consider probable outcomes. Here’s our<br />

analysis of the Top 10 seeds’ strengths<br />

and weaknesses, their odds of raising<br />

the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup<br />

and their projected finish for the 2015<br />

Australian Open.<br />

Please note, due to our deadline these<br />

predictions were made before the draw<br />

was conducted with odds posted as of<br />

January 14th.<br />

26 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


NOVAK DJOKOVIC<br />

2014 RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Four-time<br />

champion (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013)<br />

AD IN: Oppressive in Oz, Novak<br />

has won 25 of his last 26 Melbourne<br />

matches. Buzzing court coverage,<br />

endurance and an escape artist’s<br />

flexibility are all assets. Djokovic is<br />

a lethal returner, has sharpened his<br />

serve, is striving to shorten points<br />

and can end points off both wings<br />

AD OUT: Cramming a lot of living<br />

into 2014 — he won seven titles,<br />

got married, became a father and<br />

adopted an attack mentor in coach<br />

Boris Becker — can the No. 1<br />

manage energy and expectations<br />

Down Under Djokovic has won<br />

three Grand Slam titles in the last<br />

three years, while losing five major<br />

finals in that span so finding the<br />

finish line can be a challenge for<br />

the favorite.<br />

ODDS: 10/11<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Final<br />

ROGER FEDERER<br />

2014 RESULT: Semifinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Four-time<br />

champion (2004, 2006, 2007, 2010)<br />

AD IN: Fresh off his 1000th career<br />

win in the Brisbane final, Federer<br />

is playing fast, moving fluidly and<br />

attacking with conviction. The<br />

Swiss’ serve-forehand combination<br />

remains commanding and can be<br />

even more effective when the roof<br />

is closed. Federer held serve 91<br />

percent of the time last season<br />

— third-best mark on the ATP —<br />

and his 17-5 record vs. Top 10<br />

opponents was second-best to<br />

Djokovic’s 19-5 record vs. the Top<br />

10 in 2014.<br />

AD OUT: Federer hasn’t found<br />

a way to defend his backhand<br />

against Djokovic, Nadal and<br />

Murray in recent Melbourne<br />

semifinals. The 33-year-old Swiss<br />

looks energetic, but will a draining<br />

‘14 season that included a Davis<br />

Cup championship drain his legs<br />

and endurance if sweltering heat<br />

hits Melbourne<br />

ODDS: 5/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Semifinals<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

27


RAFAEL NADAL<br />

2014 RESULT: Finals<br />

BEST RESULT: Champion (2009)<br />

AD IN: One of the game’s greatest<br />

fighters always brings the ferocity<br />

to the Grand Slams. Rafa figures<br />

to be well-rested, healthy and<br />

eager for action after a wrist injury<br />

and appendicitis sidelined him<br />

for stretches of 2014. He hit his<br />

forehand with more power and<br />

purpose partnering Juan Monaco<br />

to the Doha doubles title in his<br />

opening tournament. Though Rafa<br />

is lacking match play, he typically<br />

grows stronger as he advances in<br />

tournament play.<br />

AD OUT: Rafa is a rhythm player<br />

sputtering to get in tune with a<br />

4-4 record since Wimbledon while<br />

looking rushed on hard courts. Five<br />

of his last six losses have come<br />

vs. opponents ranked outside the<br />

Top 50. When Nadal lacks match<br />

play, his confidence — and shots<br />

— can fall short as he retreats into<br />

defensive positions well behind the<br />

baseline.<br />

ODDS: 9/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Final<br />

STAN WAWRINKA<br />

2014 RESULT: Champion<br />

BEST RESULT: Champion (2014)<br />

AD IN: A whipping one-handed<br />

backhand, jolting power and<br />

unsettling variety make Wawrinka<br />

fun to watch and frustrating to<br />

face. Wawrinka was 8-3 vs. Top<br />

10 opponents in 2014, becoming<br />

the first man to beat Djokovic<br />

and Nadal in the same Slam.<br />

Under coach Magnus Norman’s<br />

guidance, Stan is making better<br />

decisions, playing sounder allcourt<br />

tennis and limiting his urge to<br />

indulge the risky one-shot winner.<br />

AD OUT: The sturdy Swiss has lost<br />

a Grand Slam first-rounder in five<br />

of the last six years. How will he<br />

withstand the pressure of defending<br />

a major title knowing an early round<br />

exit could cost him his Top 10 spot<br />

When he’s tight, Wawrinka can flat<br />

line his forehand into net.<br />

ODDS: 14/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

28 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


ANDY MURRAY<br />

2014 RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Three-time finalist<br />

(2010, 2011, 2013)<br />

AD IN: Conditions and court speed<br />

in Melbourne suit Murray. When<br />

he isn’t busy barking at himself<br />

or tugging at various body parts,<br />

the lanky Scot seems to run down<br />

everything in sight. Murray’s twohanded<br />

backhand, flat first serve,<br />

eye-popping court coverage and<br />

skill making mischief in the front<br />

court make him a contender.<br />

AD OUT: Under pressure, Murray<br />

can float his second serve,<br />

decelerate on his forehand, play<br />

passively when denied angles and<br />

beat himself up over errors. At<br />

coach Amelie Mauresmo’s urging,<br />

Murray is trying to make more use<br />

of his soft hands and slick net skills,<br />

but will he venture forward at critical<br />

stages<br />

ODDS: 7/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

KEI NISHIKORI<br />

2014 RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

BEST RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

(2012)<br />

AD IN: Blurring hand speed to<br />

take the ball on the rise, quickness<br />

around the court and his clean,<br />

compact strokes are the tools<br />

Nishikori wields turning the court<br />

into a carving board. The U.S.<br />

Open finalist is a dangerous<br />

returner, extremely accurate, at<br />

home on hard courts and usually<br />

cool at crunch time. Kei’s 21-3<br />

record in decisive sets (.875<br />

winning percentage) was secondbest<br />

to Djokovic’s .882 winning<br />

percentage in 2014 deciders.<br />

Despite his slender frame and sub<br />

six-foot stature, he is 10-2 lifetime<br />

in five-setters.<br />

AD OUT: Marathon five-set wins<br />

over Raonic and Wawrinka at the<br />

U.S. Open showed Nishikori’s<br />

improved fitness, but durability<br />

during a Slam remains a question.<br />

The 5’10” Japanese has failed<br />

to surpass the fourth round in 20<br />

of 21 Grand Slam appearances;<br />

his second serve can be attacked<br />

under pressure and he has been<br />

bothered by lower-body injuries.<br />

ODDS: 14/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Semifinals<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

29


TOMAS BERDYCH<br />

2014 RESULT: Finals<br />

BEST RESULT: Semifinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Semifinals (2014)<br />

AD IN: When the flat-hitting Czech<br />

is thumping his serve and driving<br />

the deep ball with conviction he can<br />

power through opponents on hard<br />

court. Big Berd spent a productive<br />

offseason training with new coach<br />

Dani Vallverdu and contested the<br />

Doha final in a solid tune-up.<br />

AD OUT: Berdych can look<br />

befuddled facing better movers and<br />

can be boxed in by a predictable<br />

power baseline style. If his flat<br />

drives aren’t landing, Berdych lacks<br />

the spins to play sharp angles and<br />

the quickness to run with the elites:<br />

He has never beaten Djokovic,<br />

Nadal or Federer in Melbourne.<br />

ODDS: 33/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

MILOS RAONIC<br />

2014 RESULT: Third Round<br />

BEST RESULT: Fourth round<br />

(2011, 2013)<br />

AD IN: A wrecking ball serve,<br />

explosive forehand and imposing<br />

tie break presence (ATP-best .750<br />

winning percentage in 2014 tie<br />

breakers) make the one-sleeved<br />

Canadian a full-fledged contender.<br />

Raonic aimed to strengthen his<br />

backhand and transition game<br />

training with Djokovic in the<br />

offseason and opened the new year<br />

with a run to the Brisbane final.<br />

AD OUT: The 6’5” Raonic is not<br />

nearly as mobile or flexible as<br />

fellow Top 10 players, struggles to<br />

break serve and is still learning to<br />

assert his authority at crunch time.<br />

ODDS: 40/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

30 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


DAVID FERRER<br />

2014 RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Semifinals<br />

(2011 2013)<br />

AD IN: An appetite for the fight, an<br />

accurate inside-out forehand and<br />

the confidence from winning his<br />

22nd career title in Doha should<br />

empower Ferrer, who has reached<br />

the Australian Open quarterfinals<br />

or better four years in a row. He’s<br />

adopted a more aggressive baseline<br />

mind-set, but retains the grinder’s<br />

heart and only likes it better when<br />

the sun, sweat and pain start oozing<br />

in Oz.<br />

AD OUT: The 5’9” Spaniard has<br />

spent his career defying limitations,<br />

but isn’t explosive enough to crack<br />

the code against Grand Slam<br />

champions in the semifinal stage.<br />

ODDS: 80/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Fourth Round<br />

GRIGOR DIMITROV<br />

2014 RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

BEST RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

(2014)<br />

AD IN: Athleticism, a dynamic<br />

all-court game and brilliant<br />

shot-making on the run were on<br />

display as Dimitrov reached his<br />

first Grand Slam semifinal at the<br />

2014 Wimbledon. The Bulgarian<br />

owns a complete game, is adept<br />

at improvising and has grown<br />

physically stronger and more<br />

disciplined working with coach<br />

Roger Rasheed.<br />

AD OUT: Grigor is often grace<br />

without grit in Grand Slam<br />

matches. Dimitrov has failed to<br />

survive the second round in 13<br />

of 17 majors. The 23-year-old<br />

Bulgarian has all the elements to<br />

reach a major final, but sometimes<br />

looks perplexed trying to put<br />

solid points together against top<br />

players. Dimitrov is 8-34 lifetime<br />

against Top 10 opponents, losing<br />

his last six matches vs. Top 10<br />

players.<br />

ODDS: 33/1<br />

PREDICTED RESULT: Quarterfinals<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

31


NEW<br />

YEAR<br />

NEW<br />

CLOTHES<br />

Simona<br />

Halep<br />

Halep is all smiles in head to toe black<br />

from adidas. And who can blame her, with<br />

cutaway straps for enhanced mobility and a<br />

skirt that allows free range of motion – plus<br />

a little sparkle at the neckline!<br />

Roger<br />

Federer<br />

Federer kicks off the grand slam season<br />

in a casual, collarless tee by Nike with a<br />

cool graphic across the chest. He’ll add<br />

neutral shorts and his signature shoe for<br />

a balanced look that’s all RF.<br />

32 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Denis<br />

Istomin<br />

Denis Istomin scores<br />

big for taking his<br />

effortless look by<br />

Lotto to the next<br />

level with matching<br />

eyewear. The bright<br />

white with minimal<br />

colorblocking will<br />

keep him cool on<br />

the courts while also<br />

looking stylish.<br />

Elina<br />

Svitolina<br />

Svitolina tends to go traditional<br />

and Oz will be no different with<br />

a sleeveless, split collar top and<br />

pleated tennis skirt by Ellesse.<br />

Maria<br />

Sharapova<br />

Ana<br />

Ivanovic<br />

Ivanovic dresses for success in<br />

her little black dress by adidas and<br />

adds punches of color with her<br />

visor and wristbands when she<br />

does doubles, for some good oldfashioned<br />

team spirit!<br />

Will Sharapova’s<br />

Daring Red Oz Dress<br />

give her the boost she<br />

needs to take the title<br />

With a built in padded<br />

bra and back cutout<br />

for ventilation it will<br />

definitely give her plenty<br />

of practical support.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

33


Jeremy<br />

Chardy<br />

Chardy’s traditional<br />

tennis polo and shorts<br />

by Lacoste make for a<br />

clean, classic look so<br />

fans will be focused on<br />

his performance and<br />

not be distracted by<br />

his apparel.<br />

Rafael<br />

Nadal<br />

Milos<br />

Raonic<br />

Nadal is no shrinking violet in his vibrant<br />

sublimated shirt and coordinating shorts<br />

from Nike. We’ll see if the latest edition<br />

of his Lunar Baliistecs make it all the way<br />

through the tourney this time around.<br />

Zheng Jie<br />

Zheng Jie brings high fashion<br />

to the court with this dress, right<br />

down to the accessories. Details<br />

like the strategic cutout will do<br />

double duty to serve up the<br />

fashion and function, allowing for<br />

increased air flow.<br />

The high-energy<br />

colors of Raonic’s<br />

New Balance<br />

pieces will make<br />

him easy to follow<br />

during play day<br />

or night, while flat<br />

seam construction<br />

will keep him<br />

comfortable and<br />

chafe-free.<br />

34 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Thiemo<br />

de Bakker<br />

Thiemo foregoes trendy colors and thin pinstripes<br />

for adidas’ loose-fit polo and simple shorts that<br />

won’t get lost against the background.<br />

Nishikori keeps it relaxed and simple with updated<br />

versions of the tried-and-trues - like this Uniqlo,<br />

athletic fit polo and pull on shorts in solids accented<br />

by only a contrast color logo and placket.<br />

Kei<br />

Nishikori<br />

Daniela<br />

Hantuchova<br />

Hantuchova continues the all-black<br />

adidas trend in a tank and skirt set in<br />

a polyester and spandex blend that’s<br />

made for play. Mesh insets and moisture<br />

management lend long-lasting comfort<br />

for intense matches.<br />

Serena<br />

Williams<br />

The strappy tunic<br />

and printed ball<br />

short Williams will<br />

wear are a cheery<br />

combination of citrus<br />

colors and cool,<br />

lightweight fabrics<br />

that will keep Queen<br />

Rena going during<br />

those long matches.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

35


Our man in<br />

Melbourne—<br />

noted Australian<br />

photographer Mark<br />

Peterson—offers this<br />

behind-the-scenes<br />

view of the stars<br />

preparing for Oz,<br />

while photographer<br />

Christopher Levy<br />

captured top women<br />

training in Brisbane<br />

and Hobart.<br />

36 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


2015 AUSTRALIAN 2014 OPEN YEAR PREVIEW IN 37


Photo by Mark Peterson/corleve<br />

NOVAK DJOKOVIC<br />

“You cannot count out Rafa, neither Roger,<br />

because both of them, they are great<br />

champions and they are still, my biggest<br />

rivals and there is no question about it,”<br />

said world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.<br />

38 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Photo by Christopher Levy<br />

VIKA AZARENKA<br />

Victoria Azarenka ponders her next<br />

move, while coach Sam Sumyk watches.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

39


Photo by Christopher Levy<br />

ANDREA PETKOVIC<br />

A smiling Andrea Petkovic, looking<br />

a bit like the young Jennifer Garner,<br />

hits the practice court.<br />

40 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Photo by Mark Peterson/corleve<br />

STAN WAWRINKA<br />

Stan Wawrinka remains the (sweat-soaked)<br />

Man while taking in some shade before<br />

launching his Australian Open title defense.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

41


Photo by Mark Peterson/corleve<br />

ANDY MURRAY<br />

Don’t let the calm disposition<br />

fool you: Andy Murray is about to<br />

bamboozle his practice partner with<br />

the drop shot.<br />

42 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Photo by Mark Peterson/corleve<br />

GAËL MONFILS<br />

Flashy Gael Monfils is a striking figure even<br />

when he’s not striking the ball.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

43


Photo by Mark Peterson/corleve<br />

AMÉLIE MAURESMO<br />

Former Australian Open champion Amelie<br />

Mauresmo tosses practice balls to her<br />

charge, Andy Murray, on Rod Laver Arena.<br />

44 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Photo by Mark Peterson/corleve<br />

RAFAEL NADAL<br />

In constant motion for much of his practice<br />

session, Rafa pauses to take in a few<br />

observers watching him work.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

45


Photo by Christopher Levy<br />

MARIA SHARAPOVA<br />

Sporting her customary practice shorts,<br />

Maria Sharapova shows some leg strength<br />

bending low for his backhand in Brisbane.<br />

46 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW


Photo by Mark Peterson/corleve<br />

TOMAS BERDYCH<br />

Former semifinalist Tomas Berdych<br />

takes a break.<br />

2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

47


2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW<br />

www.<strong>Tennis</strong>Now.com<br />

48 2015 AUSTRALIAN OPEN PREVIEW

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