19.01.2015 Views

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.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

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

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!