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FEATURES

JULY 2010VOL 35 No. 7A $7.50 (inc. GST) NZ $8.40 (inc. GST) US $7.50

AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | July 2010 3

14 Court Jesters

Tennis is a serious business, but the game’s many characters show there is also a lighter side.

16 The (Almost) Happy Sam

As runner-up in Paris, Samantha Stosur helped establish a new order in women’s tennis.

20 The Claycourt King Recrowned

Rafael Nadal returned to world No. 1 with his fifth French Open; is it a permanent shift for the men’s game?

33 Andre Agassi: Turning Full Circle

Continuing his candid interview, Andre Agassi opens up on his family relationships and plans for the future.

68 Koori Kids Courting Tennis

An innovative community program in Sydney is ensuring local kids hit the courts, not the streets.

JULY 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 Getty Images

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.

REGULARS

7 Topspin

13 Your Serve

40 Court Talk

44 Rankings

47 My Game

56 My Coach

70 Club of the Month

FROM THE EDITOR

Wins over a current and two former world No. 1 players, a first Grand

Slam final, career-best ranking and legitimate tilt at stepping up

to an even higher echelon in world tennis.

Most players would happily take that, and so too should Sam Stosur, after

becoming the first Australian woman to contest a Grand Slam final in 30

years at Roland Garros.

Granted, there was disappointment when Stosur, the outright favourite to

take home the title by the final weekend, fell at the last hurdle to a spirited

Francesca Schiavone, who was on a history making path of her own in

becoming the first Italian player in history to win a Grand Slam final.

But there were many, many positives from Stosur’s unprecedented run,

especially given how far she had progressed to reach that point.

With her Parisian success bringing back memories of the 2009 semi-final

performance, which was followed by her first professional titles on the WTA

Tour, it was easy to forget the most difficult time in Stosur’s career, when she

was sidelined for months by Lyme’s disease.

It’s testament to the Queenslander’s fighting spirit that she ultimately re-

emerged from that time to become one of the most physically commanding

and capable players in the women’s game and points to a woman who’ll not

only take her chances as they arise, but deserves every opportunity that

comes her way.

It’s a positive time for Australian tennis. Among other successes, Jason

Kubler became the world No. 1 junior male in the lead up to Roland Garros,

while Jarmila Groth, Carsten Ball and Anastasia Rodionova achieved career-

best results in the clay court major.

Stosur is delighted to imagine her French Open performance might

encourage other young Australian players to pick up a racquet. As we ponder

the next generation, there’s equal pleasure in knowing the current generation

are proving such inspirational role models.

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

484 AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | July 2010

20 AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | July 2010

AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | July 2010 21

Six French Open appearances, five titles and an incredible 38-1 match winning record. Roland Garros is

all about memorable moments for Rafael Nadal and his many fans.

But it was the picture of the Spaniard burying his face into a towel and sobbing his heart out after obliterating Robin Soderling 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in the final that might have said it all. Roland Garros really is that

special to Nadal, who is now just one title away from equalling Bjorn Borg’s record six majors in the French capital – and even without that number on his record (yet) Nadal is already regarded by most observers as the best clay courter in the game’s history.

The Spaniard arrived in Paris boasting the rare achievement of claiming every clay court Masters event (Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid) – and from the first ball he struck at Roland Garros, it was clear he was determined to ride that wave of success throughout the French Open fortnight.

Ousting, among others, Lleyton Hewitt, Thomaz Belluci, Nicolas Almagro and surprise semi-finalist Jurgen Melzer along the way, Nadal claimed his seventh Grand Slam title without the loss of a single set – a feat he also achieved in 2008 and which only two other men, Borg and Ilie Nastase, have previously managed in Paris.

Most notable for three-time champion

Mats Wilander was the fact that Nadal now seems a more complete player than on the four other occasions he’s claimed the clay court major. “He’s playing faster, hitting the ball with lower trajectory and deeper, too,” the Swede observed. “He’s serving better, too, moving the ball around.”

Others were struck by Nadal’s unmatchable mind power, which was most evident when he took to the court for the final against Soderling. Despite the subtext of his lone French Open loss to the Swede in the fourth round last year, Nadal resisted the temptation to comment on the

Roger Federer fell early but Rafael Nadal returned to world No. 1 with an emotional fifth French Open title ... leaving many to wonder whether there’s been a permanent shift in the upper echelons of the men’s game. By Kristina Moore

the Clay Court King Recrowned

“When I was crying after the match, the last thing I was thinking was (of) the No. 1 (ranking). The first thing is the title and all the hours I worked a lot to be here another time.” – Rafael Nadal

The defending champ’s nightmare ... after upsetting Rafael Nadal in 2009, the increasingly influential Robin Soderling upset Roger Federer in 2010.

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