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SERENA’S HOLD ON HISTORY

YOUR GAME • TIEBREAK TIPS • BACKHAND GUIDE• SCOUTING FOR SUCCESS • PRIME COURT POSITIONING

WIMBLEDON WRAP

RAFAELNADALA HERO’S JOURNEY

ROGER FEDERERFED UP?

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FEATURES

AUgUST 2010VOL 35 No. 8A $7.50 (inc. gST) NZ $8.40 (inc. gST) US $7.50

AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | August 2010 3

14 What a girl Wants

Maria Sharapova could have anything ... but what she really wants is to simply keep on competing.

16 A Date With Destiny

After storming to a second Wimbledon title, Rafael Nadal can focus on completing his Grand Slam collection at the US Open.

20 More than a Hero

Serena Williams’ 13th major victory entrenches her among the greats – but she’s determined to be remembered for more than her game.

32 Higher Ambitions

Jason Kubler is planning how to replicate junior success at the professional level.

40 Oh What a Feeling

After two breakthrough Grand Slam performances, could Jarmila Groth become the next Australian woman to crack the top 10?

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AUgUST 2010

EDITOR Vivienne Christie CONSULTINg EDITOR Alan Trengove ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniela ToleskiART DIRECTOR Naomi O’BryanADVERTISINg MANAgER Jackie CunninghamADMINISTRATION & SUBSCRIPTIONS MANAgER Sherryn Dove MY COACH CONTENT Travis Atkinson, Karen Clydesdale PHOTOgRAPHS Getty Images, John Anthony (All photographs by Getty Images unless specified)COVER PHOTO John Anthony

Australian Tennis Magazine is published monthly by TENNIS AUSTRALIA LTD, Private Bag 6060, Richmond, Vic 3121. Ph: (03) 9914 4200 Email: editor@tennismag.com.au

Distributed by Network Distribution CompanyPrinted in Australia by Webstar

The views expressed in Australian Tennis Magazine are not necessarily those held by Tennis Australia. While the utmost care is taken in compiling the information contained in this publication, Tennis Australia is not responsible for any loss or injury occurring as a result of any omissions in either the editorial or advertising appearing herein.

REgULARS7 Topspin

13 Your Serve

40 Court Talk

46 Rankings

48 Scoreboard

49 My game

58 My Coach

70 Club of the Month

FROM THE EDITOR

Thank goodness for Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams. From

unthinkable record-breaking matches to a rare royal visit from

Queen Elizabeth and an enduring London heatwave, there were

some unexpected happenings at SW19 before the respective No. 1s once

again hoisted the Wimbledon silverware.

But even as those popular champions donned their best party outfits

and most dazzling smiles to celebrate their success at the traditional

champion’s ball, there was a sense that the established order is changing

at the All England Club.

Venus Williams faltered before the final for only the third time since

2000, ousted in the quarter-finals by the unfamiliar Tsvetana Pironkova.

Equally surprising was the demise of Roger Federer, the six-time champion

sent packing in the quarter-finals by an increasingly accomplished Czech

Tomas Berdych.

In Federer’s case, it wasn’t so much the loss that shocked us, but the

way he reacted to it. Granted, the 16-time major winner was in unfamiliar

territory as a Wimbledon loser, but his typically-gentlemanly demeanour

was absent as he sulked his way through the post match press conference,

blaming back and leg injuries for the unexpected result, and only

reluctantly acknowledging Berdych for the biggest win of his career.

We can excuse the occasional bad day from a man who has typified

classy behaviour, both on and off the court, for the best part of a decade.

At the same time we also hope Federer took note of the criticism that

followed his Wimbledon exit.

Whether he claims more Grand Slam titles or not, Federer has a legacy

that may never be matched. While his fans will fret over whether the Swiss

star will regain his best form, a more worrying scenario would be a demise

of the personal qualities that have made him such a tremendous role

model.

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

354 AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | August 2010

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From the tips of her extravagantly self-decorated nails to the depths of her philosophies on everything

from fashion to football, Serena Williams has always made it clear her personal interests aren’t confined to tennis alone – a broad-minded view that has at times been accompanied by whispers of disapproval.

But for the champion herself, who freely admits she’s never been fussed by

public criticism, that ability to multi-task may have contributed to a longevity that many similarly-aged peers – such as Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis, who failed to make an impact even in the women’s doubles invitational event at Wimbledon – can only dream about.

“I definitely feel like I’m obviously a veteran on the tour,” the American conceded at the All England Club. “But you know, there’s so many other things I do in life that I feel really young yet.”

The balanced approach clearly suits. Despite disappearing from the tour for months at time, Serena possesses an unparalleled knack for performing at her best when it truly matters: in her case, the Grand Slams.

Never was that fact better demonstrated than at Wimbledon 2010. In just her sixth tournament for the season, the world No. 1 was barely tested in her path to claiming a fourth All England Club victory and 13th overall major– a tally that commenced more than a decade ago with victory at the 1999 US Open, and one that clearly shows no signs of abating yet.

In arguably the most dominant form of

her now-lengthy career, Serena defended the title she’d wrestled from sister Venus in 2009 without the loss of a single set, the only potential glitches occurring when Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, held set points in their fourth round match and Petra Kvitova pushed her to a tiebreaker in their semi-final.

While it had to be noted Serena didn’t face a single top-10 opponent during a topsy-turvy fortnight that produced many surprise winners, it’s also true that it’s unlikely to have mattered.

Hitting a new tournament record 89 aces, which obliterated her own record of 72 aces in 2009 and was 59 more than any other woman amassed at the tournament, Serena’s awesome display saw her dubbed

20 AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | August 2010

MORE THAN A HERO

“I would like to be remembered as ‘OK, yeah, she was a tennis player. But wow, she really did a lot to inspire other people and help other people’.”

Serena Williams further elevated her status among the greats with her 13th Grand Slam victory at Wimbledon – but while others eye her place in tennis history, Serena’s focus extends well beyond her title tally. By Kristina Moore

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AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | August 2010 21

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