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Tennis World n° 2
Transcript of Tennis World
TENNISWORLD SA A
www.tennisworldsa.com November/December 2009 R39,95 incl VAT ISSN 2075-6526
SATA news
The 2010 SA Open
Federer special part 2
Interviews, opinions, rankings & more...
B TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 1
FROM THE EDITOR…The year 2009 was a special year for South African tennis, a year in which
SATA has done many good things and only the future will tell whether this
movement will once again return to the greatness it boasted for so many
years.
Tennis has, especially in terms of organisation, left more important traces
than any other sector in 2009. This achievement can be attributed to the
return of the great traditional Johannesburg tournament and the important
sponsorship of South African Airways, which placed this tournament at the
top of the international circuit.
The Federation, coaches and academies are working hard to nurture
champions.
South Africa had a big chance in the Davis Cup against India to return to the
World Group. I hope that Kevin Anderson could in the future honour this
important and unique event.
Never before have I seen such a profound difference between those who play
tennis for fun and those who really want to reach the highest tennis goals.
On the one hand we have many tennis players who compete regularly and
train hard but unfortunately their results do not refl ect their efforts accurately
and on the other hand those who have achieved their tennis goals.
Why does hard training not do the trick for most? Why can young boys and
girls who train morning, noon and night not get meaningful results?
Ray Kroc (founder of Mc Donald’s) wrote: “Nothing in the world can replace
tenacity. Neither talent nor genius does the trick, but only tenacity and
determination are invincible.”
The big shots of tennis are not much different from those who are attempting
or have attempted to reach their tennis goals, but the big shots never let go.
They know what they wantand they work hard to achieve that goal.
One must have the vision these big shot tennis players have.
Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Henin, Serena Williams, Venus Williams . . . are very
special in their own right.
Yet on paper, many tennis players have the same credentials which will enable
them to reach their goals, but those with a stronger conviction will be able
to tip the scale their way.
In life there is only one kind of success: making your life what you want it
to be!
I take this opportunity to thank the readers who read the fi rst issue of
TennisWorld SA and those who have committed to a year’s sucscription.
TennisWorld Ltd is constantly changing! We are always looking for new
services to be included in this magazine in order to meet your needs! This is
our mission.
If you have ideas, requests or the desire to have your say in this magazine,
please write to [email protected]!
Do not forget to visit the magazine’s website – www.tennisworldsa.com –
where you will be able to participate in numerous forums and discuss this
wonderful sport.
Yours in tennis,
FCFederico Coppini
TENNIS WORLDS SOUTH AFRICA
Published by Matchball Tennis
EDITOR & DIRECTOR
Federico Coppini
CONTRIBUTORS
Nannie de Villiers, Pietie Norval, Danie Morkel,
Matt Traverso
COLLABORATION
Tennis World SA is published in collaboration
with Matchpoint Tennis Magazine (Italy).
Special thanks to director Daniele Azzolini and
his editing team.
Matchpoint Tennis Magazine,
Via Santa Giovanna Elisabetta 36/F 00189 Roma
Tel: + 00 39 063 638 2189
David Yutar – Copy Editor
Francois Smith – Subscriptions and Logistics
Nelize Ernst – Advertising Sales
BUSINESS DETAILS
MatchballTennis (Pty) Ltd
85 Jonkershoek Road
Stellenbosch, South Africa
ADVERTISING
SUBSCRIPTIONS
MARKETING & PR
Nicolette Booyens
082 856 0209
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INTERNET
www.tennisworldsa.com
Untitled-1 1 2009/11/19 11:01:54 AM
TENNISWORLD SA 3
GENERAL4 Emotional fi tness
6 Ankle ligament injuries
7 Nannie de Villiers
8 Interview with Pietie Norval
10 Jet set
12 Agassi
76 Growing up
80 Geography of tennis
DAVIS CUP14 Overview
18 Second indoor clay fi nal
SHANGAI20 Kolya stamps his timecard
21 Shangai scorecard
22 Shangai results
DOHA MASTER24 From our envoy in Doha
27 Behind the scenes
28 Doha results
29 Dinara’s disappointment
INTERNATIONAL NEWS30 Tough at the top
32 Henin is back!
34 The colour of tennis
FEDERER SPECIAL44 Wimbledon 2006
48 US Open 2006
52 Australia 2007
56 Wimbledon 2007
60 US Open 2007
64 US Open 2008
78 Parigi 2009
72 Wimbledon 2009
RANKINGS AND RESULTS84 ATP ranking
86 WTA ranking
88 ITF junior rankings
89 Wheelchair Tennis RSA
90 SA doubles results
92 SA singles results
94 WTA results
TENNIS CLINIC95 Playing in a trance
96 Psychological test
99 How much do points weigh?
100 Coaches as in football
REVIEWS104 Babolat Pure Drive Lite
105 Head You Tek Radical Pro
SATA106 SATA tournament calendar
106 A message from CEO, Ian Smith
106 Jessica Motaung appointed
107 African 14 & under masters
107 Two titles for SA
108 Junior tennis
111 Open tennis
112 Wheelchair tennis South Africa
113 Tournament rule changes
114 The SA Open
115 Gauteng Central challenges parents
115 Bedfordview Country Club
10 20
12
34
32
110
29
42
18
14
111
TENNISWORLD SA 5
An international leading authority
on peak performance and success
coaching, Matt Traverso has helped
thousands of people achieve
breakthrough results and he is regularly
featured in the press, on radio shows
and on TV.
Matt has been training individuals,
organisations, and teams for over
10 years across Europe and around the
world. His mission in life is empowering
people to create fulfi lling lives – helping
people make personal breakthroughs
that unleash their true potential, personal
effectiveness, and leadership.
Through a unique approach of personal
action and emotional resourcefulness
that combines the latest advancements
in neuroscience, peak performance, and
accelerated learning technologies, Matt
delivers personalised solutions to both
individuals and organisations.
As a trainer Matt has empowered and
taken the work forces of multinational
corporations to new heights. Companies
like, American Express, the United
Nations, HSBC, RAS, Monte Dei Paschi,
Starwood, L’Oréal, GTS Group are just
a few of the companies that have used
Matt’s insightful and engaging style to
train their most valuable asset, their
people.
He’s worked with speakers like Wayne
Dyer, Deepak Chopra, Richard Bandler,
Paul McKenna, Robert Dilts, John
Grinder, Norman Schwartzkoff, Zig
Ziglar, Jim Rohn, and is one of the very
few Anthony Robbins Senior Mentors in
the world.
A sought after speaker for meetings,
conventions, and conferences, he’s also
a supervisor to a number of training
companies for quality control purposes
and leads the annual International
Coaching Conference in Nice, France.
As a professional keynote speaker,
Matt delivers compelling speeches
on a variety of life-changing subjects
such as personal achievement, peak
performance, and extreme health.
He’s also written four books – Realise
Your Ture Potential; The Abundance
Zone; The Offi cial NLP Practitioner
Manual; and The Bible of Quantum
Coaching.
HEALTH TALK
EMOTIONAL FITNESS:That’s What It’s All About!
M AT T T R AV E R S O
Everything we do or fail to
do is directly linked to our
feelings. Think about it. Is there
anything you do that is not ultimately
related to the way you feel? What, is
there anything? The bottom line is
everything you do is to create a shift in
your emotions and therefore experience
a new set of sensations. Emotions are the
vital energy source inside each of us that
we can all harness and direct in a positive
way to promote peak performance,
optimal health, mental clarity, creativity
and more satisfying relationships.
Now, what’s exciting is that you are the
creator of all your emotions – yes you
are. See, emotions don’t just happen
– you DO them. Read that paragraph
again and really listen to what I am
saying. Don’t read any further until the
impact of that statement hits you not just
intellectually, but emotionally. I need you
to make a shift if you are to experience
the life you really want. That’s not going
to happen if you’re just skimming
through, going “I know that already” and
then moving on without committing to
act on what you know.
MAKE A COMMITMENT
All knowledge must end in action. Make
a stand, decide right now to change;
to do whatever it takes to learn to take
control of your thoughts and muster
your emotions. If you focus on your
wishes to the absolute exclusion of all
doubt, then you really experience the
power of your mind. When you alter
your thoughts, you create a shift in your
beliefs and your actions.
EMOTIONAL FITNESS IS THE FOUNDATIONAL KEY TO ACHIEVING HIGH PERFORMANCE IN SPORTS, IN BUSINESS AND IN JUST ABOUT ANY AREA OF YOUR LIFE; IT’S WHAT MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN THE LEVEL OF YOUR RESULTS.
So often people get stuck doing things
the same way, hoping for different
results. But as you know, doing the same
thing over and over again and expecting a
different result is madness! We get caught
on the hamster wheel, running faster and
faster, hoping it will work if we just try
a little harder. We often fear the idea of
changing our course of action, because
a new path would be foreign to us...
it’s unknown. This sense of uncertainty
is what keeps people in a place where
they feel stuck. It’s like boiling a frog.
They say if you drop a frog into a pot of
boiling water, he’ll leap right out. But if
you place him gently into warm water,
he likes it, and then you slowly bring the
water to a boil and he doesn’t even notice
that he’s getting cooked. That’s exactly
what’s happening to most people…
they’re getting cooked, slowly, just by
getting used to the heat and the pressure
of life and not doing anything about it.
In order to truly achieve our vision and
live the life we want, we must jump off
the hamster wheel of our life to stop
and re-evaluate. We must ask ourselves,
“Where is it that I want to be, what am
I doing to get there, and what is holding
me back from being there now?” The
biggest mistake I see people making is
that they get stuck; they keep doing the
same things, so they keep getting the
same results.
PROGRAM YOURSELF FOR SUCCESS
Every day you are subtly being
programmed by your surroundings
– television, the media, movies and
the people you associate with. The
downside is, most of this is negative
“lack” programming which undermines
your self-confi dence and creates doubt.
Consequently, if you are not conditioning
yourself for success, your environment
is conditioning you for failure!
ACT IN SPITE OF FEAR
I understand that making these changes
might be a little diffi cult (at least in the
beginning) because changing habits
means pioneering a new way of life. But
the benefi ts you get from reconditioning
your mind and your emotions are
well worth the effort. Yes it does take
courage to make a shift. But contrary
to what many people think, courage is
not something you have, but rather it’s
something you do. It is to act in the face
of fear, and seems to develop almost like
a muscle – the more you use it and the
“heavier” the fear, the faster and stronger
it grows. Anyone who’s ever achieved
any great success – whether it be a guy
like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael
Jordan, or Andre Agassi – had to grow
emotionally through diffi culties and
struggles to become the kind of person
capable of doing what they’ve done.
It takes courage and an unstoppable
commitment to your dreams to reach
your goals and achieve your destiny, even
when it rains on your parade and you
don’t get the support you need – you still
must stay committed to your decision.
Ultimately, it is your psychology – the
way you interpret the world and how
you evaluate what’s going on around you
– that shapes how you feel, what you do
and ultimately who you become.
Take for example Nelson Mandela; here’s
a guy who didn’t want to live where
people couldn’t do things together.
He became a lifelong warrior to help
free South Africa. His career was cut
short when he was sentenced to life
imprisonment; and even when he was
in prison, he still struggled to help free
South Africa. After 27 years in prison,
he was freed, and then he won the
Noble Peace Prize and was
elected to become
President of South
Africa.
STEP OUTSIDE YOUR
COMFORT ZONE
Most of us, most
of the time, avoid
risk, and too often,
we really don’t want to
discover the limits of our
ability. From early Arctic
explorers to Sir Edmund
Hillary and modern astronauts,
the decision to risk it all by
pushing the limits of our strength,
endurance, courage and ability
inspires us. Few ever make
the decision or take the risks.
Most people are more at ease
doing things they are familiar
with. We know the things
within our comfort zone.
But comfort can be a curse –
it limits your decisions and
therefore your actions. Success
lies beyond the comfort zone.
It lies in risking the unknown;
that’s the only place you will
fi nd success.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
The vast majority of people spend their
lives waiting for their “ship to come
in” or for “opportunity to knock”, or
for “tomorrow”. They are waiting for
the right conditions, or for a better day.
They are waiting for more money, or
better health, for a more understanding
boss, or for the economy to grow
stronger. Too often, they end up spending
their entire lives waiting. Waiting is a
trap. There will always be reasons to
wait. Instead know that today is the only
day that counts. Goethe reminds us that
“Nothing is more valuable than this day.”
Today is the time to live with passion,
with faith, with determination, and
with courage. Great athletes know that
success is always under
construction and they
practice every day, so that
when the opportunities
arrive, they are
prepared. Don’t wait
another day to start
this process –
start today, start
right now.
THE BENEFITS YOU GET FROM RECONDITIONING YOUR MIND AND YOUR EMOTIONS ARE WELL WORTH THE EFFORT.
4 TENNISWORLD SA
6 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 7
HEALTH TALK
HOW TO PREVENT ANKLE LIGAMENT INJURIES
The most important factor in prevention of
ankle ligament injuries is the shoes. Not only
must the shoes have a good heelcup to prevent
heel tilting, but it must also have good mid
foot support. The grip of the sole on the court
(torque) is also very important. In South
Africa where most of the tennis is played on
hardcourts and where traction is quite similar,
we can get away with one pair of tennis
shoes, but one must be careful for worn-out
shoes on slippery courts. It is when one goes
from indoor carpet or wood to European clay
that one realises the difference in torque and
the need for the right shoes. The sole must
also offer good shock-absorption (especially
for unforgiving hardcourts) but the foot
must not be too elevated by too thick a sole.
Some players use a basketball boot for the
stability the lace-up boot provides, but in my
experience those shoes often don’t last well
and offers less shock-absorption (They also
come in extra large sizes). It goes without
saying that playing on a slippery surface when
it is wet will lead to injuries.
Well-conditioned muscles will protect the
ligaments when they are under strain.
Proprioception, sense of position, is another
neurological function that is an important
factor that plays a role in stability of the ankle.
It is therefore important that a gradual training
program is followed, especially when a player
returns to competitive tennis after injury.
HOW DOES ONE INJURE ANKLE LIGAMENTS?
“Going over the outside of the ankle”
causes the most common injury to the ankle
ligaments (inversion injury) and injuring the
outside (lateral) ligaments. The lateral ligament
complex consists of three separate ligaments.
Ankle ligament injuries are also divided in
three degrees like all ligament injuries. The
grading from one to three roughly divides
ankle ligament injuries from 50% of fi bres
ruptured in grade one, 75% of fi bres ruptured
in grade two to total rupture in grade three.
In ankle ligaments the three lateral collateral
ligaments can be ruptured separately, but most
often at least two of the three. Injuries to the
ligament in between the long bones of the
lower leg (tibia and fi bula) can occur, although
rare and also to the ligament on the inside of
the ankle (medial collateral). We must always
keep in mind that with the same mechanism of
injury, that bone can break or tendons rupture
and damage to the joint cartilage can occur.
HOW TO TREAT ANKLE LIGAMENT INJURIES
In the acute injury, the initial treatment,
like for all soft tissue injuries stay the same,
namely:
Rest, ice, compression and elevation.
To this we can add anti-infl ammatory drugs.
It is essential that the right diagnosis is made
and most often X-rays are needed and some
times a day or two to allow for the swelling
to subside. In that period the ankle must be
immobilised suffi ciently. Once fractures (bone
breaks) or tendon injuries are excluded the
injury graded and must be decided on the
method and time period of immobilisation.
Methods of immobilisation can vary from a
plaster or fi berglass cast to brace to strapping.
Depending on the severity of the injury I
prefer to immobilise the severe grade three
injuries in a cast for three weeks and to back
that up with a lace-up ankle brace like the
rocket-sock or speed brace.
Studies have shown that there is little place
for surgical ankle ligament repair in the acute
phase.
In the chronic instability where a full
rehabilitation program has been followed,
there is a place for reconstruction of the
ligament complex.
After suffi cient immobilisation, 4–6
weeks depending on the grade of injury,
physiotherapy is started and it consists
of soft tissue treatment, regaining loss of
movement in the surrounding joints (due
the immobilisation) and a strengthening
program. The strengthening program focuses
especially on the peroneal muscles but also on
reconditioning the sense of position, which is
compromised due to the ligament injury.
It is important that the ankle ligaments are
protected in training for at least three months
and therefore the lace-up braces functions well.
Some professional players will use a laced
up ankle brace for extended periods of their
careers or even permanently, like we see in
other sports.
Return to tennis depends on the severity
of the injury. If the ankle stays painful or
swollen, there must be concomitant injuries.
The diagnosis could also be wrong.
I once again would like to stress that it is
important that the right diagnosis must be
made initially and therefore urges you to
see a doctor with interest in sports injuries,
sooner rather than later.
Overuse injuries in the older, wiser players
need to be investigated properly.
Ankle ligament injuries are common in tennis players of all levels of play. It is an injury that if not treated
well, will lead to complications.
“I have weak ankles” is a comment that I often hear in my practice and amongst tennis friends. In almost
all of those cases the very fi rst injury was not treated suffi ciently. There are certainly players with a general
ligament laxity and in those cases it is diffi cult to offer them much help and quite often they will also have
symptoms from other joint due to increased laxity, for instance shoulders.
Ankle ligament injuries D A N I E M O R K E L
McENROES gone?
Where have all theN A N N I E D E V I L L I E R S
I don’t think there is anyone in the
world that doesn’t know who John
MacEnroe is. He was a winner
and a whiner on court, a super talent
nicknamed “Superbrat”. A lefthander
with all the right strokes, but no tact
when it came to dealing with people.
There is only one of two reactions you
could have when hearing his name…
you either loved him or you hated him…
but he sold tickets! Lots and lots of
tickets!
I have been watching the way tennis has
been going in the last few years and it
worries me that the sport is becoming
a little boring. We have these wonderful
talented players with super cool exteriors
who run around the court for 5 sets
looking like human machines that can
keep going for hours and hours. If they
dare show a little emotion they get
reprimanded right away and a warning
gets issued and the monetary fi nes
starts rolling in. A point penalty could
even cost you a game or even worse,
in Serena Williams’s case, the match!
The perpetrator then has to sit in front
of a bunch of media people and try
and justify why they reacted that way.
I watched some of the press footage that
was put on the Internet after Serena’s
match and it was amazing to see the silly
questions the media asked about the
incident. Of course none of the question
were actually about the tennis in the
match!
We need “MacEnroe” back!
“I WANTED TO SPEND [THE NIGHT] WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAD SUPPORTED ME, NOT A BUNCH OF STIFFS WHO WERE 70-80 YEARS OLD, TELLING YOU THAT YOU’RE ACTING LIKE A JERK,” SAYS JOHN MCENROE ON ESPN CLASSIC’S SPORTSCENTURY SERIES ABOUT WHY HE DIDN’T ATTEND THE TRADITIONAL WIMBLEDON WINNERS DINNER IN 1981.
Tennis in South Africa and internationally
is really fi nding it hard to keep up with
other world sport. Even women’s pole-
vaulting has been getting more media
than tennis. Most people don’t even
know that the tour runs all year round
and does not only consist of the Grand
Slams.
How can we keep attention on the sport
when there is no drama to entertain
people? Does anyone in South Africa even
know who Kevin Anderson and Chani
Scheepers are? Well, unlike when Wayne
Ferreira was number one in South Africa,
only true tennis fans would know that
they are our current numbers ones in
the country.
Its not that they are not good enough …
its just that they are both two very well
brought up South African kids that are
representing there country in the best
way they now how… by trying their best
and behaving well on court. But who
didn’t know Wayne Ferreira? Everybody
always spoke about how he needed to be
calmer and concentrate better and that
maybe then he would be number one
in the world. He had South Africa right
there on the map with all the other big
tennis countries … even if he couldn’t
keep himself from breaking his racquets!
We are a nation that loves sport. Yet
tennis is not getting nearly enough
support form the public. The rules
and regulations of tennis internationally
are becoming so strict that people don’t
fi nd it interesting to watch.
In America Billy Jean King has been
running with a “tournament” called
World Team Tennis, which runs for
3 weeks after Wimbledon every year.
The teams consist of professional players
that are drafted from a list. Two men and
two women play singles, doubles and
mixed…and every game counts. If the
singles player is doing badly then the
doubles or mixed team need to make up
the points! This makes for a very exciting
action packed format with loud music
blaring, people cheering and even a DJ
making nasty remarks to the visiting
teams players.
Maybe we don’t need to go that far but
I can tell you that it is fun to watch and
everybody gets to support their team.
Cricket is doing it with the IPL and it
works like a charm. I will watch IPL but
not regular cricket because it’s too boring!
How are we going to get tennis back on
the map? Loosen the rules a bit and tell
players to live out their emotions? Or do
we need a whole new format for tennis?
I would love to see tennis players back
on the front page of the newspapers,
whether it is for winning a tournament
or because their love lives reminds one
of soap opera! Either way…this is what
makes people watch the Wimbledon fi nal
on TV.
Maybe we could call MacEnroe and ask
him to go give some lessons on the tour!
They say that there is no such thing as
bad publicity!
Coach, international tennis commentator and junior winner
of Wimbledon doubles 1994, Nannie de Villiers needs
no introduction. Her professional career includes winning
27 international women’s single and doubles titles and
playing 32 grand slam tournaments. We asked her to tell us
what is on her mind…
8 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 9
INTERVIEW
Transition from player to coach
When a professional player retires and starts
thinking about what to do next, one of the
last things that come to mind is becoming
a coach. The interesting thing that happens
next, is that most ex-pros stay in the game
one way or the other. Most of my fellow
ex-pros all over the world are still involved
in the game of tennis, either through
coaching on the tour, an academy, resort
coaching, college team coaching in the
USA, commentating or sport management.
The love of the game is what always brings
us back to what we do best.
For an ex-pro the transition from player
to coach is very easy concerning all the
knowledge that was gained on tour
and passing it on to your students. The
challenging part is to fi t into a routine
and start earning your living the hard way.
Technical knowledge of the game as a coach
can only be gained through experience and
the ex-pro needs to be open to learn from
more experienced people in this area. Tactical
coaching, high intensity training, touring
and the mental side of the game are the areas
where the ex-pro have a huge advantage over
coaches that never played the game at the
highest level.
How useful are studies on tennis such as
biomechanics, psychology and physiology?
I believe that the research that is done on
tennis is very valuable and assists coaches
hugely on where the game of tennis
is headed and staying on top of changes
at international level. In all the areas of
working with a good player, there are new
ways to fi x problems that are frequently
publicised and used at the top level of
the game and it is the responsibility
of coaches to be on top of the changes.
In South Africa we unfortunately have many
coaches that have limited knowledge of the
game that are working with good players.
The challenge for these coaches is to travel
abroad as much as possible if they want to
work with players that are aspiring to play
at international level.
INTERVIEW WITH PIETIE NORVALF E D E R I C O C O P P I N I
How to manage quality vs quantity in training?
I always believe that you practice the way the
pros practice. Not many coaches understand
this principle, unless they were pros or have
traveled on the tour as coaches.
This means that the quality of a training
session is everything. When the intensity of
the session starts going down, the player is
training in “bad habits”. So it really depends
on how long the player can practice at his or
her highest level. It is always good to have
your sessions split into 20-minute sections
to improve quality. Once the sessions
become too long without a break, you run
the risk of players losing their intensity.
Do you choose the fi tness coach?
It is always good for a coach to build a
relationship with a fi tness trainer that knows
how to work with tennis players. Frequently
in South Africa tennis players are using
fi tness trainers that know nothing about
tennis and this can be dangerous for the
development of the player. At the Kainos
Tennis Academy, we have used the same
fi tness trainer (Jaco Burger) for the past
four years and he has daily contact with all
the performance players as well as pros that
practice at the Academy. This is ideal, seeing
that tennis specifi c strength and conditioning
are being implemented daily in partnership
with the player’s coach. Problems arise when
parents of juniors choose fi tness trainers for
their kids, instead of the coach doing it.
Do you believe in having a mental trainer in the
Academy? Is mental training important?
Having a mental trainer or sport psychologist
at an Academy is very important, seeing
that the mental side of the game is the
most important part of performance tennis.
Mental trainers have a way of making young
players understand where they are headed
with their game and how to handle the
pressure that comes with improving. Young
players are under severe pressure these days
and they have huge expectations, which
normally they create themselves. Mental
trainers can help the players put everything
they do into perspective and also help them
deal with the challenges that come with
trying to balance tennis with academics,
relationship with family and friends and
their social life.
Is it important for the coach to choose the
player’s physical preparation and attend to
it closely?
The coach of a performance player should
be involved in the process of planning
the player’s physical preparation for
tournaments, but not leading it. This is
the job of the strength and conditioning
trainer. Communication between coach
and fi tness trainer is very important on a
daily basis, seeing that there would be times
when harder work is done on court and less
work would then be needed off-court, and
vice versa.
How should you manage your Davis Cup
schedule with your tournament schedule?
I played Davis Cup for South Africa seven
times and always gave priority to playing for
my country above my ATP Tour schedule.
This is obviously much more diffi cult to do
for the top 20 players in the world, seeing
that they need time for their bodies to
recover in-between tournaments. I believe
that if you are not ranked in the top 100
players in the world, you should always
make yourself available to play for your
country. Davis Cup should be a priority in
most players’ schedules.
How could you improve tennis as a sport in
South Africa?
I would like to see the sport of tennis get
more recognition at corporate level. This
is always easier said than done, seeing that
recognition comes from good results, which
SA tennis lacks. The return of the SA Open
in February is a step in the right direction,
but if this does not result in more Futures
(smaller pro tournaments) coming to South
Africa, the opportunity will be lost to give
our young players exposure.
We need to fi nd a way to save club tennis
and come up with ideas to improve the
league system. Tennis exposure at social level
needs attention. We can also have more local
senior tournaments to help bridge the gap
between junior and veteran tennis.
Compare coaching guys with girls and what
is the differences (programming, mental
and technical)
In my experience, there is a huge difference
between coaching boys and girls and also
men and women at pro level. What makes
the sport of tennis more diffi cult for women,
is that women tend to be more emotional
than men and tennis has no place for
emotion. The challenge in coaching girls
is to get them to understand that once you
step inside the court, there is no place for
anything other than focusing on the game.
The girls tend to share their thoughts more
than the boys do, which makes it easier to
help them. Sometimes it can be tough to get
the boys to open up.
Girls on the other hand tend to work harder
than boys in general between the ages of
14 and 17. I have found that even though
girls are physically weaker than boys, their
bodies can take the same amount of training.
The boys will generally have more strength
in their arms, which means technically it is
easier for them to mature than girls.
On the pro tour, the women tend to spend
more time by themselves or with their
coach, compared with men that will socialise
more amongst each other.
Is tennis well promoted in South Africa? Can it
be improved?
The South African Tennis Association is
doing everything they can to promote the
sport with the limited fi nances that they
have available. Junior tennis in this country
is very healthy and with some corporate
backing, we can maybe bridge the gap
between top juniors and pro tennis. I believe
corporate sponsorship will come with the
continued growth of the game at ground
level and hopefully someone breaking
through into the top 30 in the world at
some stage. The sport is well promoted
at junior tournaments and school events,
but ultimately sponsorship will come
if the SA Open remains to be a success
and involvement of corporate companies
through the event will be critical.
Advice to young SA coaches that want to make
a career of coaching
In the last eight years I have spent a lot of
time with young coaches at the Kainos
Tennis Academy and other institutions
across the country. It is diffi cult to be a very
good coach unless you have passion for the
game of tennis. I have found that I would
rather employ a young coach with passion
and less knowledge, than a coach with
more knowledge and less passion. I can
always teach a young coach everything
I know about the game, but I can’t teach
them passion.
Pressures on young tennis players with the
ability to make it, how does a coach manage
these pressures which include family, money,
manager, federation and media?
When a player comes out of the fi nal junior
year at the age of 18 and they have been
internationally competitive, they often have
to deal with big decisions regarding their
future in tennis. Should they go to college in
the USA fi rst for a few years to let their game
mature before they turn pro or should they
go straight on the tour? The coach should
have the knowledge to know whether the
player is good enough at 18 to handle the
fi rst level of pro tennis, which is Futures.
They call Futures the “warzone” of the Tour.
If you make it through there to the next
level, Challengers, you have a chance to get
to the ATP or WTA Tours. The problem is,
there are probably 10 000 others trying to
do the same thing.
From a coaching point of view, it will help
if the coach has been through all these
struggles to make it as a pro, in order to
make the right decisions for his or her player.
If the coach lacks the experience, but is
willing to take the player further, they would
need the help of someone that has done
it. Things that are important to remember
when deciding to take a player international
without experience are:
Complications during traveling, scheduling,
knowledge of international venues, ITF,
WTA and ATP rules, fi nances on tour,
correct handling of your player during
matches, managing the players relationship
with his/her sponsors, federation and
local media, managing family involvement
and relationship with fi nancial backer/
management company.
The player will be under pressure to perform
and it is the coach’s duty to manage how
much outside infl uence the player can
handle.
State of junior tennis in South Africa?
Junior tennis in South Africa has been very
strong for many years. Our younger age
groups often compare with the best in
the world. We have some juniors that are
internationally competitive when they hit the
junior ITF circuit. This year Nikala Scholtz
and Chanelle Simonds competed in the main
draw of all the junior grand slams and both
have the ability to make it as professionals.
We had eight ITF junior tournaments in and
around South Africa this year and any player
that did well in these tournaments will
have a junior world ranking that could see
them getting some opportunities overseas.
The problem is that if you have some late
developers that mature after the age of 18,
nobody would have seen them and they
would get lost. South Africans are known as
late developers, seeing that we are far away
from the rest of the world, which makes
traveling for long periods of time diffi cult.
The question is: will parents be patient
enough to allow the player to mature
without putting too much pressure on
them? In most cases the answer is no.
The South African Tennis Association has the
responsibility to do a few things to create
opportunities for young players, otherwise
we will have problems:
1) Many more Future events for exposure
for the top juniors.
2) The Super Squad system brought back
which produced all the pros from the
1990s. This will entail recognising the
top four boys and girls at age 17 and
fi nancially backing them with a coach to
go pro. A second group of four boys and
girls coming up behind them.
3) Financially supporting the top tennis
academies in the country to help them
recruit talent in their area and feed the
Super Squad.
JET SET
WHEN TENNIS MAKES FASHION
Tennis and fashion have often gone
hand in hand, the one fascinating in its
gestures, the other ready to embody the
natural elegance of a sport that has no
parallel. A playground for great designers
– yesterday Ted Tinling, today Stella
McCartney – and often also a creative
test ground for tennis clothing items
that have become as common as the
Lacoste and Fred Perry golfers and as the
sweaters and pullovers in white wool
with patterns in relief. But rarely in the
past had the match between our sports
and fashion proposed so many unions.
Starting with Hermès, who has dedicated
an entire collection to tennis, thus
creating a conscious opening for a lively
exchange of opportunities.
JETSETJETSETJETSETJETSE
ROGER WITH ANNE WINTOUR
Even Roger Federer was spotted at the
Milan fashion shows. At his side, Anne
Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue America.
He was invited by Armani, with whom
he had met during the Davis in Genoa,
a long-time friend of Wintour, who
is among the few to be invited to the
champion’s box during his matches. This
box has now become a kind of holy of
holies of tennis to which many would
love to be invited, but so far only few
have managed – besides the Queen of
American fashion, only Gwen Stefani,
Valentino Rossi and Tiger Woods.
Flavia Pennetta, instead, allowed
herself a small fashion adventure
by participating in the Pin Up Stars
swimwear show – a role played with
skill, even though, according to her,
“walking in such high heels was really
a challenge”.
SERENA POSES TOO. BUT WITHOUT VEILS!
Back to the
number one of
the WTA circuit,
Serena Williams,
has fun posing.
Nude too.
The American
tennis player
has agreed to be
immortalised without veils for the ESPN
magazine, where she features on the
cover in all the splendour of her 70 kg
of muscle. The October issue of the sports
magazine is however being distributed
with different covers, depending on the
discipline of the athletes chosen for the
photo shoot on the inside. Serena said
she was “very satisfi ed” with her images.
“A great challenge, which I think I won,”
she called it.
HERMÈS, THE ELEGANCE OF THE
CHAMPIONSHIPS
There was once elegant tennis, the one
of women strictly in white pleats and
the V-neck pullovers faintly profi led in
red and blue: the Maison Hermès, that
already in the 1920s had a tennis range,
also suited to elite sports in general,
has recently turned the catwalk of its
Paris fashion shows (and also the guest
stands) into a green grass fi eld, with
obvious reference to Wimbledon and
its Championships.
The atmosphere, very 1930s, as
requested by designer Jean Paul Gautier,
recalled very closely that of everlasting
tennis novel Il giardino dei Finzi Contini
by Giorgio Bassani. With the sounds
of forehands and backhands in the
background, the show opened with
a stunning Eva Herzigova in a short
pleated skirt and headband.
Extreme luxury – the revised Kelly bags
in a racquet-carrier version.
The collection was thus entirely
consistent with the image and the
elegance of vintage tennis: fl owing
trousers, a few pleated skirts, some long
and some in short black leather with see-
through tulle detail.
Golfers turned into shirt-dresses, clothes
offering an impeccable white, with blue
trench coats and leather belts creating
contrasts of shapes and colours. Even
the bermudas and the shorts, the V-neck
pullovers and a range of long tobacco
chiffon dresses have offered a re-reading
of the evening elegance for the meetings
at the sports club.
TENNIS AND FASHION HAVE OFTEN GONE HAND IN
HAND, THE ONE FASCINATING IN ITS GESTURES, THE
OTHER READY TO EMBODY THE NATURAL ELEGANCE
OF A SPORT THAT HAS NO PARALLEL.
TENNISWORLD SA 1110 TENNISWORLD SA
12 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 13
AGASSI
A forgery of a public act. And
not even a quality one, if one
is to make sense of the lines
of his autobiography Open, released on
9 November in the United States at the
price of US$12. Unless one can discover
some merit in the mossy vestibule of his
feelings and his falling hair follicles...
A well-organised forgery though, and one
not devoid of a certain consistency. “My
hair was falling out in locks,” he writes,
“but so was my wig.” And then: “I hated
my father because he had imposed tennis
on me, and I hated tennis too...”
We now know everything.
Or do we?
Andre Agassi was not himself, and not
even his clone; he was an adulterated
copy, a misleading imitation.
False was his love for tennis, false his
fl owing hair with a punk crest in three
colours (blond, green, lilac) that would
bounce about during the exchanges,
false his battle alongside the Anti-doping
Agency, to which he was introduced at
the beginning of 2000 by a too smart
or too foolish ATP, or vague to the point
that the right hand did not know what
on earth the left hand was doing, and
therefore untruthful.
This is how Andre hands himself over
to posterity: doped, drugged, sour and
deceitful.
He lied to ATP, who had caught him
with drugs in his mouth. Crystal
methamphetamine. It was his black
period, of havoc in his family and in
tennis too, of a crisis of feelings and
winning shots, when he plummeted
to number 141 in the rankings. Yes
he did climb back, as everyone knows.
He again reached number one and was
once again triumphant in the Slam.
But what would have happened if the
ATP had disqualifi ed him instead of
pretending that nothing had happened,
and believing his apologies?
“I said I had taken methamphetamine
accidentally and without knowing it;
they believed me, they stopped me
from sinking. But I have never been
so ashamed.” Can methamphetamine
help tennis? Perhaps it increases the
ability to remain vigilant and therefore
concentrated. A little further on, Agassi
tells that he used to take those tablets
even before walking onto the court.
It was his father who forced him.
He wanted his son to win − always
and at any cost.
A deeply-hated father. A former Iranian
boxer, an Olympic presence who ended
up in the States, in Las Vegas, working
as a bouncer.
It is the story, a fairly classic one, of
a man troubled by a furious desire for
deliverance, prepared to subordinate
every family affection to the pursuit of his
dream. First and foremost a story of the
heir, little Andre, the fi rst male in the
Agassian home. Indeed, because in the
history of Agassi, not even the surname
is entirely accurate. “Agassi” had an
extra “an”... But it was the Immigration
Department who accidentally changed
the family’s biographical details by badly
transcribing the surname.
It is a bad story, that of Agassi.
A story of pain and of obligation. Being a
champion at all costs, because of paternal
ambition. Being a celebrity at all times, to
please the sponsors. Being unhappy.
A story that makes sensation. But who
knows if it is all real? The doubt, given
the premises, is legitimate. Certainly
very well directed, supported by a well-
orchestrated marketing ploy. The worst
has already emerged, including the story
of the toupee held in place by twenty
pins hastily applied by his brother before
the fi nal of the 1994 Roland Garros,
the one lost to Andrés Goméz. The hair
had already gone some time before, it
seems, and he, in future the bald man,
played that fi nal with the conviction that
sooner or later the wig would be gone
too, maybe even there on the court, in
front of 15 000 spectators and millions
of television fans. It was his wife,
Madame Brooke Shields, who suggested
the shaved look. “I looked in the mirror,
all shaved, and I felt like laughing
and crying.”
There still remain to be read, and
interpreted, the lines of his resurgence,
which are certainly not missing in the
Agassian autobiography, but have not
been advertised.
The growth of the young Agassi, actually,
was almost public. From street kid,
ready to cheat (who had some doubts
about his appearances in the European
tournaments, which he participated
in, only to lose in the fi rst round and
perhaps rake in some lavish tip?), to
reasonable man, almost never trivial,
capable of such appropriate and often
perceptive remarks during the press
conferences; those same remarks that
used to present him almost exclusively
as a consumer of Big Mac.
Anyone who has followed tennis during
these years has seen Agassi change, seen
him set aside the excesses. The comeback
after his fall was blazing, the conquest of
the primacy in the rankings exciting, his
marriage to Steffi Graf surprising (and
long-lasting, something no one would
have believed), his farewell on the Central
at Flushing Meadows even moving. Eight
Slams won, one at least for each surface...
From rebel hero (by chance) to favourite
child of every American mother.
Perhaps the autobiography is only the
last act of this long play of self-pursuit.
Perhaps Agassi has felt the need for a
last effort towards his new completely
recovered identity.
He has shaken a burden off his shoulders,
he has chosen to show himself to
his own fans (and he still has many)
completely naked, but fi nally clean and
at peace.
Perhaps he even wanted to clarify, to
his children, to his own family, that life
is a journey of continuous improvement.
Perhaps... if it was in fact so, then Agassi
has also been courageous; and we can
then forgive him, taking into account all
that he has given to the sport, including
the need to come clean, that he felt (alas,
belatedly...) was essential.
But some doubt remains about the actual
substance of his character. To the point
that one wonders if the Agassi of today,
the fi nal Agassi, is the real one.
Considering what we now know, it may
not be him; he might be hiding another
persona behind his familiar one…
Who knows?
He might not even be called Agassi,
nor Agassian… perhaps his surname
is Sampras?
Perhaps a careful reading of his
autobiography will clarify things as they
stand. Perhaps it will tell us if little Agassi
has gone mad or if there is a lunatic
going around pretending to be Agassi.
And whether Agassi took drugs only back
in 1997, as he wrote, or if he has made
use of them until the day before writing
his book.
Andre Agassi was not himselfand not even his clone;
he was an adulterated copy, a misleading imitation.
AGAS
SIA STORY OF PAIN AND OF OBLIGATION. BEING A CHAMPION AT ALL COSTS, BECAUSE OF PATERNAL AMBITION. BEING A CELEBRITY AT ALL TIMES, TO PLEASE THE SPONSORS. BEING UNHAPPY.
14 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 15
DAVIS CUP
On the eve of the Davis Cup
fi nal, Spain and the Czech
Republic face each other at
the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, the
relaunch of the event is back as a topical
theme, as has been the case periodically
for the past few years.
Perhaps younger readers will wonder
why the same has not happened with
the equivalent competition for women,
the Federation Cup, which does not
attract as much interest, nor enjoy as
much prestige. The answer is simple:
the Fed Cup, born in 1963, has never
had more importance than it has today;
the Davis Cup, which is much more
ancient, was once upon a time much
more important. To understand this, we
need to retrace its long history through
its crucial stages.
1900–1924 DAVIS MAKES TENNIS AN
INTERNATIONAL SPORT
The Davis Cup was born in 1900 as
a challenge between the two most
advanced tennis countries of the time,
the United Kingdom and the United
States – countries in which there were
already and still are disputes about the
most important tournaments on the
calendar: Wimbledon and the American
Championships, whose fi rst editions
date respectively to 1877 and 1881.
Yet it is the Cup, rather than the two
tournaments, which must take credit for
having made tennis a truly international
sport. The Davis Cup for the fi rst time
brought the strongest players from
outside their national borders to compete
against the champions of other countries.
Britons Reggie and Laurie Doherty crossed
the Atlantic in 1902 and 1903 to contend
for the Davis Cup
with its American
holders. While
there, they even
took part in the USA
Championships, in
which Laurie, the
younger of the two
brothers, signed his name against the fi rst
foreign victory in 1903. The Davis Cup
was also instrumental in bringing about
the fi rst Wimbledon success for a player
from outside the British Isles. Having
travelled to London to try and win the
Cup in 1905 and in 1907, Australian
Norman Brookes − The Wizard − also
entered the Championships, where he
triumphed at his second attempt. Even
years later, in 1920, a 27-year-old by the
name of Bill Tilden played for the fi rst
time − and won – at Wimbledon, while
visiting England for the Davis Cup.
1925–1939 THE SLAMS AND
THE CUP ON AN EQUAL FOOTING
This fi rst phase could be said to end
in 1925, when the internationalisation
process of tennis was concluded.
In that year the fi rst edition of the
French Championship open to players
belonging to foreign clubs was
disputed: the framework of the Grand
Slam tournaments (a term that would
be coined only much later in 1933)
was now complete. Having grown in
importance, even if not all to the same
degree, the four
Slams now formed
the cornerstones
of the tennis year.
Together with the
Cup. The Davis
Cup maintained
a prominent role,
as demonstrated by, among other things,
the assessments of commentators of the
time. In 1931, for example, Wallis Myers,
author of the most accredited world
rankings for the period between the two
World Wars, assigns the fi rst place to
Henri Cochet, whose only result in the
Slam is an elimination in the fi rst round
in Wimbledon, but who takes credit for
having decided the outcome of the Cup
fi nal by winning its two singles and the
doubles in partnership with Brugnon.
The Slams, in short, placed themselves
alongside the Davis Cup, but didn’t
replace it. It is not by chance that
between 1925 and 1939, the Davis Cup
winner countries were the same four
as those where Grand Slam tests were
played. Not by chance either that, of
the 60 odd singles matches played in
the Davis Cup fi nals in the same period,
as many as 52 (87%) saw successes
for players who also succeeded in the
Slam tournaments. And the remaining
eight were won by an athlete who had
disputed two fi nals at Wimbledon and
one at Roland Garros: Bunny Austin,
the fi rst to play in short trousers.
The parallel between team and individual
competitions also emerged clearly from
a comparison of results obtained in either
format by the stronger tennis players of
the time. Taking into account only those
who have won at least fi ve Majors, there
are six undisputed champions − Tilden,
Lacoste, Cochet, Crawford, Perry and
Budge – who have won altogether 44
Slams and 45 singles in the Cup fi nals.
1946–1973 THE LONG DUEL BETWEEN
AUSTRALIA AND THE USA
The years following World War II can be
divided into two stages: fi rst the period
up to 1973 and then from 1974 to today.
This division is based primarily on the
fact that from 1946 to 1973, the Davis
Cup was dominated by two superpowers
alone − Australia and the United States
− while in the following period as many
as eleven countries took turns at winning.
In 1974 a sharp and relatively sudden
generational change took place, made
evident by the fact that all Slams are the
prerogative of the two main forerunners
of the new recruits, Connor and Borg.
In the years of the exclusive Australia–
USA joint rule, the Cup retains its
prestige almost intact. Perhaps not as
prestigious as the Slams, it is still an
essential event of the tennis season.
The best players dispute with absolute
regularity the matches in which their
countries are represented. The names
of the top players of the era − who, by
the way, are all American or Australian −
feature repeatedly in the winning teams.
Unlike what happened later, all matches
were always played, even if the outcome
can be predicted beforehand, and always
to the best of fi ve sets.
Statistical data confi rm these assessments.
In the Davis Cup fi nals, 100 out of
112 singles matches (89%) go to Slam
winners: an even higher share than in
the 1925–39 period, which climbs
to as many as 82 out of 88 (93%), if
one takes into account only the years
prior to the Open era (1946–67).
The champions capable of winning at
least fi ve large tournaments (Sedgman,
Trabert, Rosewall, Emerson, Laver and
Newcombe) won an overall total of 36
singles matches in the Cup fi nals versus
48 successes in the Slams: a substantial
percentage (75%), although lower than
that of the previous period.
1974–2008 PROFESSIONALISM
AND CRISIS IN THE CUP
The last of the phases into which the
history of the Davis Cup can be divided
opened with three consecutive victories
for countries which are newcomers
to the event: South Africa, Sweden
and Italy, later to be joined by fi ve
more new winners (Czechoslovakia,
Germany, Spain, Russia and Croatia). The
fragmentation of successes is facilitated
by the abolition of the challenge rounds
in 1972; but primarily it is linked to
a change in the geography of tennis.
Having become international in the fi rst
quarter of the century, tennis expanded
its borders and spread on a global scale.
Although this phenomenon makes it
more diffi cult for the stronger players
to achieve repeated victories in the
fi nals, it does not adversely affect
the importance of the Cup. The Cup
is infl uenced, rather, by a growing
professionalism, which clearly penalises
teams that are unable to compete in
individual tests, for economic reasons.
An incident, which more than any
other provides a measure of how times
were changing is one which happened
in 1973. The International Federation
disqualifi ed Yugoslav, Nikki Pilic, from
participating in Wimbledon for rejecting
the summons for a Davis Cup match.
In retaliation, the ATP, which has been
in existence for about a year, declared
a boycott of the English tournament: in
fact it decided to engage in an incredible
arm-wrestle with the Federation to affi rm
the right of its subscribers to stay out of
the Davis Cup.
As a result, the old Cup gradually lost
ground. Unlike in the past, top players
no longer regard it as an absolute “must-
achieve” for their career. The decrease
DAVIS CUP
THE DAVIS CUP WAS BORN IN 1900 AS A CHALLENGE BETWEEN THE TWO MOST ADVANCED TENNIS COUNTRIES OF THE TIME.
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DAVIS CUP
in interest by top players at times makes
room for the recognition of teams
composed of second leads and usually
not capable of achieving prominent
results in major tournaments.
As always, the fi gures coldly refl ect the
new reality. In the fi nals, the number of
singles matches won by champions able
to make their mark in the Slams as well,
drops to 50,4% (65 of 129). Of these, the
top players of the period − Borg, Connor,
McEnroe, Wilander, Lendl, Becker, Edberg,
Sampras, Agassi, Federer and Nadal –
account for 36, which represents just
37,5% of the successes achieved by the
same players in Slam tests.
2009 THE CUP TODAY:
SIGNS OF RECOVERY AND PROSPECTS
Having identifi ed the causes of the
decline of the Davis Cup, is it possible
to fi nd remedies? Certainly. In the future,
the Cup cannot enjoy the same status it
did in the era of amateurism. It could −
and should − however, once again be
one of the essential events of the
tennis season, after the Slam
tournaments.
I do not believe that
changes to the formula −
which have always provided
for four singles and a double
− would serve this purpose.
Although authoritatively
suggested, the increase in the
number of events would lower its status,
thus contributing to the Cup’s demise.
It has also been proposed that the fi nal
stages of the competition be concentrated
in one place and within a limited time
span, as is the case with the Soccer World
Cup. Irrespective of questions of feasibility
from an organisational and economic
point of view, the quarterfi nals, semifi nals
and fi nals would have to take place within
the space of two weeks. This would force
players in the fi nals team − if committed
to singles and doubles − to play as many
as nine matches to the best of fi ve sets in
the space of 14 days. Far too many.
As for penalties for those who refuse to
be summoned, be they disciplinary or
monetary, as early as Pilic, experience
has shown their absolute futility. Equally
ineffective are emotional appeals to
defend the national colours in the name
of patriotism.
With respect to professional players, one
should create conditions that not only
make participation in the Davis
Cup compatible with individual
activity, but rather make it
useful and convenient. Start
with the calendar: avoid
at any cost scheduling
the Cup rounds so close
to the conclusion of the
Slam, from which the
athletes − especially the
strongest − emerge more
worn out than
from the other tournaments. Accordingly,
from this year on, the fi rst round has
been placed far apart from the Australian
Open. The same should be done with the
quarterfi nals of Wimbledon and for the
semifi nals of the US Open.
Another necessary measure − fi nally
adopted this year − consists in the
allocation of ATP points for victories
in the Cup matches. This innovation
would be even more effective if 1 000
points (and not 500, as is currently the
case) were allocated for success in all
the singles matches in the four rounds
of the World Group.
The fact that the Davis Cup counts
towards the ranking should also imply, as
a logical consequence, that the Cup fi nal
should take place before the fi nal act of
the circuit, i.e. before the Masters.
And fi nally, from an economic point of
view, it might be useful to compel the
national federations to give a share of the
prize money to the players to encourage
their participation and commitment,
at least for those victories obtained in
matches of the main draw.
All in all: compatible dates, more ATP
points, cash prizes. In addition to all
this, however, it is necessary for the big
champions, those players who have the
ambition to leave a mark in the history of
the sport, to understand what the Davis
Cup represents in this history. They have
to understand that the Davis Cup needs
them as much as they need it.
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IT HAS ALSO BEEN PROPOSED THAT THE FINAL STAGES OF THE COMPETITION BE CONCENTRATED IN ONE
PLACE AND WITHIN A LIMITED TIME SPAN, AS
IS THE CASE WITH THE SOCCER WORLD CUP.
16 TENNISWORLD SA
18 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 19
DAVIS CUP
The Davis Cup fi nal is scheduled
from 4 to 6 December.
Competing for the title will be
Spain, the reigning champion, and the
Czech Republic. The challenge will be
held in the Palau San Jordi of Barcelona,
on clay. The Catalan city, in competition
with Valencia, was awarded the event by
13 votes to one. The Palau San Jordi –
which was built for the Olympic Games
in 1992 and has a capacity of 17 000
spectators − has already hosted the fi nal
in 2000, when Spain beat Australia in its
fi rst Davis Cup victory.
There were fi ve previous encounters
between Spain and the Czech Republic;
in three of them the Iberians were
victorious while in the other two the
Czechs were the winners. The fi rst dates
back to 1931, when the Czech Republic
made its mark in a fi rst round match in
Prague. This was followed by a victory
for Spain, also in Prague, in the semifi nal
in 1965. In 1971 it was again the Czech
Republic’s turn to win, again in Prague,
in the A group fi nal. Spain’s revenge came
the following year, in Barcelona, in the
B group fi nal. Most recently, in 2004,
Spain won the fi rst round on an indoor
ground in Brno.
In order to reach the fi nal, the Iberians
defeated Serbia at home by 4−1 in the
fi rst round, then Germany, again at home,
whom they beat 3−2 in the quarterfi nals.
In the semifi nals the “Red Furies”
overtook Israel (for the fourth time in
four meetings) in Murcia with a score
of 4−1.
By contrast, the Czech Republic beat
France at home 3−2 in the fi rst round,
and then in the quarterfi nals, again
at home, it beat Argentina (last year’s
fi nalist), 3−2. In the semifi nals they
beat Croatia 4−1 on its home ground
in Porec.
Spain has reached its seventh fi nal and
will try to win the salad bowl for the
second consecutive year. The last to notch
up two consecutive victories was Sweden
in 1998. The reigning Champions have
won the last 17 Davis challenges at home
and the last 19 on clay. The Iberians boast
three Davis Cup victories − in 2000,
2004 and 2008.
Third fi nal for the Czechs who, after a
defeat by Sweden in 1975, conquered the
Davis Cup in 1980, as Czechoslovakia,
when the great Ivan Lendl led his team to
triumph at Italy’s expense. It remains the
only Davis Cup victory in the history of
the Czech Republic.
Spain will feature its number one Rafael
Nadal who, although not in very good
form in recent months, has promised
not to miss the appointment. Alongside
him, Captain Albert Costa should have
available: Fernando Verdasco (ATP
number nine), Tommy Robredo (number
16), David Ferrer (number 18), Juan
Carlos Ferrero (number 22) and Feliciano
López (number 45). The Czech Captain,
Jaroslav Navratil, should be able to count
on Radek Stepanek (number 14), Tomas
Berdych (number 19), Jan Hernych (61),
Lukas Dlouhy (47) (one in singles, but
six in doubles) and Jan Hajek (number
113). He will have to do without Ivo
Minar (number 90) who, having tested
positive during the quarterfi nals between
Argentina and Czech Republic, will be
away from the courts until March 2010.
The Spaniards no doubt enjoy the
favour of the predictions. Rafael Nadal
has a record of four victories to zero
(one in Davis in 2004 and two on clay)
against Radek Stepanek and fi ve to three
against Tomas Berdych (the Iberian won
the two matches on clay). Also Tommy
Robredo and David Ferrer boast positive
precedents with the fi rst two players of
the Czech Republic: fi ve victories against
Stepanek and four to two with Berdych
the fi rst; 3−3 with Stepanek and 4−2
with Berdych the second. Unfavourable
to the Spaniards are instead the numbers
in past encounters between the two
players of the Czech Republic and
Fernando Verdasco, Feliciano López and
Juan Carlos Ferrero: the fi rst is one match
down with both the Czechs (2−3 with
Stepanek and 3−4 with Berdych); the
second one has an appalling record of
seven defeats and only one victory with
Stepanek (only two played on clay, both
won by the Czech) and three successes
(one in Davis in 2004) against two with
Berdych. Ferrero has lost three matches
winning only one with Stepanek and has
never won against Berdych (0−2).
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20 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 21
SHANGHAI
KOLYA STAMPS HISTIMECARD SHANGHAI
FA B R I Z I O F I D E C A R O
Boring to watch, a grey clerk
of the racquet, an intruder
among the top players, to
some, even the anti-tennis. So Nikolay
Davydenko has been labelled for years,
but it is high time that these false notions
based on a narrow view of the sport,
were permanently discarded. He may
not have the “physique du role” that enchants
the crowds, but in Shanghai the so-
called white collar worker of the circuit
stamped his timecard, conquering the
third career 1 000 Masters (after Paris
Bercy 2006 and Miami 2008) and he
did so in a manner that leaves no room
for doubt.
First he beat two players as tough as
Fernando Gonzalez and Radek Stepanek
and then, one after the other, the best
players on the draw, Novak Djokovic and
Rafael Nadal. Above all, he triumphed
by taking some risks, always trying
to command the game, leveraging his
own innate sense of anticipation, even
before the most esteemed opponents.
In the semifi nal he caught up with
Djokovic – who was emerging from the
success of Beijing and seemed the natural
favourite in the tournament – and ended
up dominating the decisive tiebreaker.
The following day, despite having a
three-hour battle against the Serbian
behind him, he showed that he had
much more to spend than the tiger from
Manacor (Nadal) and tamed the beast
with an authority that goes well beyond
the fi nal score (7−6 6−3). A single
statistic is suffi cient to give a sense of the
aggressiveness and effectiveness of his
performance against the former number
You wait for Del Potro and
realise that he stayed in
New York. Then you look for
Tsonga, who was terrifi c this year where
he didn’t expect to be, but France’s Ali
has his problems too. And how he rages
and despairs because he fails to resolve
them as he would like to!
Djokovic? He wins in Beijing, but in
Shanghai he dims, and that’s where he
should have given his best. There is no
Murray, nor Federer.
Nadal is there, but he is not in Nadal’s
shape – the Nadal he got us used to,
who would have left small change for
his opponents, albeit on a surface that
is harder for him. A question arises for
Nadal, however, and the very fact that
we are compelled to ask it, is almost
a pity. Will we ever see him again in
the overfl owing form of his Parisian
victories? That’s what we all hope for.
So, in the end, there remains Davydenko,
among all those that nobody would have
expected. Besides, is there anyone in
the world who would expect from the
Russian something more than what we
have seen him do for almost a decade?
Yet, there he is now, playing like a great
receiver; here he is in dazzling form;
here he is again in the year-end Masters.
He beats Djokovic, then Nadal, and there
isn’t a single blemish on his successes.
Legitimate. Certifi ed. A rediscovery, but
the disappointments seem too many for
us to believe that the penultimate Masters
1000 could play (today and in the
future) the role of provider of certainties.
It is end-of-the-year tennis, to be seen
as just that. In short, not the best.
RODDICK 5
Physical problems expose him to the
turbulence of the opponents. The usual
pride alone is not enough in modern
tennis and the long season forces him
to an early return to lick his wounds
and accelerate the recovery.
TSONGA 5
The furious reaction to an imminent
defeat (shattered racquet) is a symptom
of a black day. After a jittery beginning
and a slight recovery he was fl oored by
Soderling, a dangerous competitor in
the race to London. Probably the anxiety
and the fear led him off the road.
DEL POTRO 4
The New York hangover is hard to shake
off, but what prevented the young
Argentinian from displaying even some
of his skills was a problem with his wrist.
“Better not risk,” he said to himself,
“the season is still long and the limb
has no spare parts.”
BERDYCH 6
Competitively rather dim, tactically
foolish, he always appears to be far from
seizing the opportunity. The physical
problems to the left knee were only
a godsend for someone who, like him,
is often in search of the perfect alibi.
NADAL 7
He reaches the fi nal thanks to an
effortless draw, but his groundstrokes −
always sharpened but never suffi ciently
deep − detract from his confi dence.
The high number of unforced errors
is the symptom of a form that is far from
being up to his usual standard.
DAVYDENKO 10
At least for once he sheds the label of
eternal qualifi er by beating two of the
three top players in the world. He does
so through accurate geometries, stifl ing
pressing and courageous play that allow
him to tear off a ticket to London,
besides lifting the trophy.
LOPEZ 8+
Welcome back Feliciano, a player with
a languid gaze and, on a good day,
dazzling tennis. He dances at the net and
makes ballistic miracles with his dated
but terribly effective backhand. When
he wants to, he can be stunning, and
not only in his features.
DJOKOVIC 7–
Considering the absences, the injuries and
the form of his most accredited opponents,
he seemed to be the logical favourite. But
something in the Serbian’s mechanisms
didn’t go the right way. Nothing
resounding, but some hesitation in the
critical moments of the match, highlighted
his scarce determination and the strange
absence of “instant killers”.
one: 35 wins against nine, almost four
times as many.
This was the 23rd ATP career fi nal for
Davydenko and it brought his 18th ATP
title. This is a formidable record that
proves that, unlike what many think, the
28-year-old Russian rarely loses a match
when it really counts.
Meanwhile, this year again he got very
close to qualifying for the ATP World
Tour Finals (formerly Masters Cup) −
and it would be the fi fth year in a row.
On four previous occasions (2005–08)
he has always fi nished in the top fi ve.
This time he will not make it because
of an injury to his left foot that made
him miss the fi rst part of the season and
prevented him, among other things,
from defending the title in Miami. In
2009, however, and despite the logical
initial diffi culties, he has brought home
four trophies, just like Federer, and one
fewer than the leaders in the special
ranking, Nadal (dry since May) and
Murray. In 2006 Davydenko had scored
fi ve too, and who knows if he might have
any spare ammunition left to match his
own record.
Davydenko has ennobled an event that,
in the fi rst days, had distinguished
itself primarily for the ailments of its
announced protagonists. On the eve
of the event Nadal and Roddick had
complained about the physical strain
resulting from too many commitments in
the Tour. In fact Federer and Murray had
already withdrawn earlier on, while Del
Potro and the Roddick had not displayed
their optimal form, and retired during
their fi rst commitment. On the other
hand, Nadal appeared to be improving
and proved once more to be one who
never fi ghts alone. He was, however,
assisted by a very favourable draw
(the highest ranking player that he met
before the crucial match was countryman
Robredo, number 15, in the fourth
round) and the retirements of Ljubicic,
who had snatched the fi rst set from him,
and Lopez.
On the Italian side, Fognini gave a more
than adequate performance before
surrendering to Djokovic after having
passed the qualifi cations and one
round in the main draw at the expense
of Latvian Gulbis, against whom the
22-year-old from Liguria took a tasty
revenge for the defeat suffered last year
in Davis.
THIS WAS THE 23RD ATP CAREER FINAL FOR DAVYDENKO AND IT BROUGHT HIS 18TH ATP TITLE.
scorecard
22 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 2322 TENNISWORLR D D SA TENNISWORLRLD SA 2323
SHANGHAI
(6) N Davydenko (RUS) b. I Kunitsyn (RUS) 6−4 6−2
(10) F Gonzalez (CHI) b. (q) T Bellucci (BRA) 6−3 6−4
(13) R Stepanek (CZE) b. A Beck (GER) 7−5 6−4
S Wawrinka (SUI) b. (4) A Roddick (USA 3−4 retired
(8) G Simon (FRA) b. V Troicki (SRB) 6−3 6−4
T Berdych (CZE) b. (WC) M Safi n (RUS) 3−6 6−4 6−4
(q) R Schuettler (GER) b. (15) T Haas (GER) 6−4 retired
(2)N Djokovic (SRB) b. (q) F Fognini (ITA) 6−3 6−1
THIRD ROUND
(1) R Nadal (ESP) b. (14) T Robredo (ESP) 6−1 6−4
I Ljubicic (CRO) b. (11) G Monfi ls (FRA) 6−2 3−0 retired
F Lopez (ESP) b. J Melzer (AUT) 5−7 7−6 6−1
(9) R Soderling (SWE) b. (5) JW Tsonga (FRA) 6−3 6−3
(6) N Davydenko (RUS) b. (10) F Gonzalez (CHI) 6−3 7−5
(13) R Stepanek (CZE) b. S Wawrinka (SUI) 3−6 7−6 4−2 retired
(8) G Simon (FRA) b. T Berdych (CZE) 6−3 6−4
(2) N Djokovic (SRB) b. (q) R Schuettler (GER) 6−4 6−2
QUARTERFINALS
(1) R Nadal (ESP) vs I Ljubicic (CRO) 3−6 6−3 retired
F Lopez (ESP) b. (9) R Soderling (SWE) 7−6 6−3
(6) N Davydenko (RUS) b. (13) R Stepanek (CZE) 6−1 4−6 6−1
(2) N Djokovic (SRB) b. (8)G Simon (FRA) 6−3 2−6 6−2
SEMIFINALS
(1) R Nadal (ESP) b. F Lopez (ESP) 6−1 3−0 retired
(6) N Davydenko (RUS) b. (2) N Djokovic (SRB) 4−6 6−4 7−6
FINAL
(6) N Davydenko (RUS) b. (1) R Nadal (ESP) 7−6 6−3
doublesSEMIFINALS
J Benneteau/JW Tsonga (FRA) b. (3) M Bhupathi/M Knowles (IND/BAH) 7−6 6−2 (6)
M Fyrstenberg/M Matkowski (POL) b. J Knowle/J Melzer (AUT) 6−1 6−4
FINAL
J Benneteau/JW Tsonga (FRA) b. (6) M Fyrstenberg/M Matkowski (POL) 6−2 6−4
Circuit ATP Masters 1000
Venue Shanghai, China
Date 12–18 October
Prize money US$3 240 000
Surface Indoor hard court
singlesFIRST ROUND
(1) R Nadal (ESP) bye
J Blake (USA) b. I Karlovic (CRO) 3−6 7−6 6−3
(q) F Mayer (GER) b. P Petzschner (GER) 6−3 6−2
(14) T Robredo (ESP) b. (q) M Llodra (FRA) 6−1 6−4
(11) G Monfi ls (FRA) b. PH Mathieu (FRA) 6−2 6−2
L Hewitt (AUS) b. J Isner (USA) 62 64
I Ljubicic (CRO) b. J Benneteau (FRA) 6−3 3−6 6−1
(7) F Verdasco (ESP) bye
(3) JM del Potro (ARG) bye
J Melzer (AUT) b. J Chardy (FRA) 6−4 6−4
F Lopez (ESP) b. G Garcia Lopez (ESP) 6−3 6−4
(16) D Ferrer (ESP) b. R Gasquet (FRA) 6−4 6−3
(9) R Soderling (SWE) b. V Hanescu (ROU) 6−3 6−4
N Almagro (ESP) b. P Kohlschreiber (GER) 6−7 6−1 7−6
(WC) SX Zeng (CHN) b. D Sela (ISR) 2−6 6−1 6−4
(5) JW Tsonga (FRA) bye
(6) N Davydenko (RUS) bye
I Kunitsyn (RUS) b. I Andreev (RUS) 6−7 6−4 6−2
(q) T Bellucci (BRA) b. (q) M Chiudinelli (SUI) 7−6 6−4
(10) F Gonzalez (CHI) b. M Zverev (GER) 7−5 6−7 2−2 retired
(13) R Stepanek (CZE) b. JC Ferrero (ESP) 6−3 6−0
A Beck (GER) b. J Acasuso (ARG) 7−6 1−0 retired
S Wawrinka (SUI) b. (q) L Kubot (POL) 2−6 7−6 7−6
(4) A Roddick (USA) bye
(8) G Simon (FRA) bye
V Troicki (SRB) b. J Monaco (ARG) 6−1 6−2
(WC) M Safi n (RUS) b. (WC)MX Gong (CHN) 6−4 6−4
T Berdych (CZE) b. (12) M Cilic (CRO) 7−6 3−6 6−4
(15) T Haas (GER) b. Be Becker (GER) 7−6 6−4
(q) R Schuettler (GER) b. M Vassallo Arguello (ARG) 6−4 3−6 7−6
(q) F Fognini (ITA) b. (WC) E Gulbis (LAT) 7−6 6−3
(2) N Djokovic (SRB) bye
SECOND ROUND
(1) R Nadal (ESP) b. J Blake (USA) 6−2 6−7 6−4
(14) T Robredo (ESP) b. (q) F Mayer (GER) 4−6 7−6 6−4
(11) G Monfi ls (FRA) b. L Hewitt (AUS) 4−6 6−4 6−2
I Ljubicic (CRO) b. (7) F Verdasco (ESP) 6−4 7−6
J Melzer (AUT) b. (3) JM del Potro (ARG) 7−5 2−1
retired F Lopez (ESP) b. (16) D Ferrer (ESP) 4−6 7−5 6−1
(9) R Soderling (SWE) b. N Almagro (ESP) 6−4 7−5
(5) JW Tsonga (FRA) b(WC) SX Zeng (CHN) 6−3 6−3 SHAN
GHAI
SHAN
GHAI
resu
lts
resu
lts
24 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 25
DOHA MASTER
ANGELICA FRATINI
It was the tournament of injuries, of
withdrawals, of victories narrowly
missed, of the easy and almost
tedious triumph of Serena. But the image
to keep in mind from the 2009 WTA
Championships is not that of the sister
winning her fi rst WTA tournament of
2009 and returning to number one. It
is not the US$1 550 000 cheque with
which she becomes the fi rst woman
to have earned more than six million
dollars in just one year. No, the picture
that remains in one’s mind is that of the
tears. The distraught tears of Dinara Safi na
because of a back injury which forced her
to withdraw from the tournament just a
few minutes into the match. The tears of
Carolina Wozniacki lying on the ground
with cramps; tears that turn into smiles
for being able to win – how, she herself
does not even know. The tears of despair
of Azarenka for the thigh injury that forces
her to withdraw in a match that she had
in hand and which instead she sees vanish
− and with it, the semifi nals.
UNBALANCED GROUPS
The eight best women players of the year
had arrived in Doha with the ambition
to win. The two reserves (Zvonareva and
Radwanska) with the aim of having a
holiday. At the time of the draw of the
groups, a curious situation emerges: a
large imbalance. Brown Group: Serena
and Venus Williams, Dementieva and
Kuznetsova. That is more than 20 Slam
titles, three WTA Championship victories
and two gold medals at the Olympic
Games.
On the other side the White Group:
Safi na, novices Wozniacki and Azarenka,
and fi nally Jankovic. That is, fi ve Slam
fi nals and many unfulfi lled dreams. There
is also a strong Italian presence in the
tournament. Not in terms of players (even
if Pennetta came very close to an invitation
as a reserve), but through FILA, who
signed a new agreement as offi cial partner
for tennis clothing and footwear for the
2009 edition of the WTA Championships,
developing a bespoke collection for the
event inspired by the institutional colours
of the tournament, purple and green.
The games begin... Dementieva
unexpectedly beats Venus for the second
time in fi ve years. Kuznetsova (also in
FILA) loses to Serena in one of the most
beautiful matches, wasting set points in
the tiebreak and giving the match away
with two consecutive double faults on
Williams’ 5−4. A match typically “Svetlana
style”.
STEAMROLLER
Once over her fear, Serena becomes
a steamroller: she beats her sister in
three sets, then leaves the crumbs to
Dementieva. She arrives at the semifi nals
in total ease. Kuznetsova plays well but
loses to Venus and her Masters ends there,
regardless of the outcome of her last
match with Dementieva. Elena must win
or she is out. Instead of playing with a
knife between her teeth, she is caught in
one of her serve crises that appeared to
have been overcome. And so Kuznetsova
“offers” the semifi nals to a Venus not in
great condition.
VIKA’S ANGER
In the White Group, the one of the
rampant girls, instead, physical and
mental problems arise. Safi na is forced
to withdraw against Jankovic on the
1−1 with a back injury. Vika Azarenka
plays against her friend Wozniacki: she
dominates for one and a half sets, then
loses a match she had already won. She
serves on the 5−3 in the third set. Then
she does not exploit a match point in
the next game. She completely loses her
cool; two warnings in the space of a few
minutes: fi rst she hurls the ball outside
the court in anger, then, after taking the
next point, she smashes her racquet. She
is penalised a point. What a pity it was the
break point. So it is that Carolina calmly
serves on the 6−5, wins and expresses
thanks.
Zvonareva, a fi nalist here last year, takes
the place of Safi na. Against Wozniacki
she produces a dramatic match, as only
women’s matches can be. Up to 6−0 and
5−2 in favour of Wozniacki; the Russian
does not put a ball inside, and then she
recovers, saves two match points, wins the
second set at the tiebreak. But the third
sees a lightning start for Wozniacki, 3−1.
And here the drama begins. Caroline’s
left leg is hurting her more and more,
she reacts by stretching after each point
but she is clearly in diffi culty. The Russian
recovers and moves to 4−3. In addition
to the pain in her leg, Wozniacki is also
seized by cramps. She can barely move.
Vera had had a nose bleed in the fi rst set;
now she has a resurgence of pain in the
ankle which she had injured in March.
More than a tennis court, it looks like a
casualty ward.
The Dane serves on the 5−4. But she
falls to the ground paralysed by cramps
and cries in pain. Nobody can help her
get up. She looks like a KO boxer. Instead
she plucks up the courage that only the
strength of desperation can produce; she
again stands up and wins the two fi fteens
that were needed to close the match. She
drags herself to the net to shake hands
with a Zvonareva who is astounded, to
say the least, forced to ask herself how
she could have lost a match, and then she
withdraws from the Masters due to the
SERENA BECOMES A STEAMROLLER: SHE BEATS HER SISTER IN THREE SETS, THEN LEAVES THE CRUMBS TO DEMENTIEVA. SHE ARRIVES AT THE SEMIFINALS IN TOTAL EASE.
26 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 27
FEW SPECTATORS... WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE TO PAYThe low number of spectators during
the entire week of the Masters was
surprising. Last year, in an effort to
increase attendance, access to some
sections of the stadium had been made
free of charge during the fi rst days.
Result: scarce attendance. This year one
had to pay for a ticket. Result: same
number of spectators as last year. That
is, the number of enthusiasts in Qatar
is always the same.
DOHA MASTER
pain in her ankle. She will be replaced
by Radwanska (in other words a reserve
replacing a reserve... and a little thought at
this point should go to Flavia Pennetta and
that near-qualifi cation).
So, Jankovic continues to play against
injured opponents: after Safi na, it is the
turn of Wozniacki, still suffering from
the match of the previous day. With little
effort and much luck, the Serbian is in the
semifi nals.
The last semifi nalist is determined by the
result of the match between Azarenka
and Radwanska. And there is yet more
drama. Azarenka must win or else it will
be Wozniacki − who has become the
celebrity of the tournament – playing
against Serena, but the Belarussian is once
more able to lose a match already won.
From 6−4, 5−2, she loses fi ve games in
a row and Radwanska closes 7−5. It is
the beginning of the last set; Azarenka’s
leg is hurting, after a long exchange she
collapses against the billboard at the edge
of the court and cries. She remains there
for a very long time. Her hopes of victory
disappear. She resumes play but no longer
shouts. That is the sign – more so than the
request from her physiotherapist − that
the tournament is over for Azarenka. Still
in tears on the 4−1, after two hours and
32 minutes, she withdraws.
THE USUAL FAMILY DERBY
The emotions of these Championships
end here.
Of the two semifi nal matches, Jankovic-
Venus and Wozniacki-Serena, virtually only
the fi rst is played. The increasingly injured
and ever more bandaged Dane abandons
play after an hour. Jankovic plays well but
wastes too many occasions. And Venus’
experience once again gets the upper hand
in three sets.
The fi nal is another Williams derby. But
while Serena has been convincing for the
entire tournament and has played little
less than seven hours, Venus has laboured
in each match, playing for 10 and a half
hours. And the result can only be a fi nal
won by Serena in two sets in a match
that won’t remain in the memory of the
spectators.
PROMOTER DEMENTIEVA
Elena Dementieva was handed the
Diamond Aces Award on the day she
made 15 double faults. Fortunately for
the Russian, the prize has nothing to
do with her serve skills, but it rewards
the player who has undertaken the most
extra-mural tournament promotion
activities during the year. This single
“Ace” earned Dementieva a bonus of
more than $100 000.
BEWARE, THERE’S A CAT ON THE COURT
The cat that occasionally roamed around
the pressroom decided take a walk onto
Central court. At the crucial moment of
the match between the Williams sisters,
tiebreak in the third set on the 5−3 for
Serena, Venus serving, the pussycat had
a quick run across the court.
MISS KUZNETSTORE AND MADAME AZARONKA
Doha is really a place where tennis is
imported, as is the English grass.
On the training timetable sheet of the
women players they managed to write
these names: Stosus, Stuber, Azaronka,
Sorina, Sankovic, Dominative and
Kuznetstore.
DOWN THE STAIRS, LIKE IN A FASHION SHOW
The fi rst diffi culties encountered by the
eight “masters” came from the group
draws in the Museum of Islamic Art. The
girls, all in their beautiful evening clothes
and stiletto heels of at least 10 cm were
made to walk down a staircase as if they
were in a fashion show. Needless to say,
some of them risked serious injury. The
most wobbly appeared to be Jankovic
and Venus. The smartest Dementieva,
who climbed down with elegant steps
supporting herself on the handrails.
VENUS AND ELENA, 13 FOOT FAULTS: A RECORD
The match between Venus Williams and
Elena Dementieva was the match of foot
faults. Two for the Russian and as many
as eleven for Williams.
VERA, A WORKOUT WORTH PHOTOGRAPHING...
Vera Zvonareva, in Doha as a reserve, is
practising on the 11 court, one of the
side ones. So much commitment and
so much anger, and consequently many
racquets beaten and split. Her practice
sessions always attract a large public. All
men. All with camera in hand. Because
Vera trains in shorts and sports bra.
28 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 29
Safi na who withdraws against
Jankovic after two games.
A Safi na with her face in the
towel, crying. A Safi na in tears, who
shakes her head, while speaking to her
physiotherapist. Because she already
knows the reason for the strong back
pain that prevents her from playing.
The physiotherapist doesn’t know yet.
We who are watching don’t know it
yet. But she knows. She has known
for three and a half months. Since the
Portoroz tournament which she won in
the fi nal against Sara Errani after three
challenging sets. She knows well the
main reason for playing badly during
the whole American season. Whereas
we, we who were watching her matches
lost against opponents considerably
weaker than her, criticised her defeats
and we had no doubts: she could not
withstand the pressure of being number
one. She already knew that she had an
infl ammation between the fourth and the
fi fth lumbar vertebrae caused by a sort
of stress micro-fracture. Safi na has played
for three months with painkillers.
We who were watching did not know
anything, but we thought we knew all
about Safi na’s fragile psyche. And instead
it was not her psyche that was fragile. It
was her back. Safi na says nothing about
her physical problem and leaves the
world outside to believe what they want.
Now, after her fi rst match of the WTA
Championships and her last match of
the year, everyone knows. A minimum
of six weeks of absolute rest before
she can resume rehabilitation. The risk
of missing the Australian Open. The
pain has been gradually getting worse
since the beginning of August and has
accompanied her to New York. After the
US Open, doctors advised her to stop.
And Safi na told herself that yes, perhaps
it was better to stop, but there was the
number one position to defend.
The question of what to do is in her
head; yes perhaps it is better to stop.
However, before the Tokyo and Beijing
tournaments, the pain seems to have
subsided. And Safi na says to herself “Two
more tournaments. Perhaps I can manage
to play. I can still make it and close the
year at the top of the ranking.” Perhaps.
And Safi na tries.
“It would have been better to stop,”
she says now. In Tokyo she loses against
Chang, number 132 in the ranking. In
Beijing an even more scorching defeat
against number 226, the Chinese wild
card, Zhang. With that match, she loses
the primacy in the rankings and achieves
the not so prestigious record of being
the fi rst number one to be defeated by a
player with such a low ranking. We who
were watching these matches continued
to have no doubt. She did not deserve to
be the number one . And then she has
not even won a Slam. Safi na instead does
not want to surrender and fi ghts against
her body.
There is the last duel of the year against
Serena Williams. Whoever gets further
in the WTA Championships will end
the season at the top of the leaderboard.
Safi na arrives in Doha a week before the
start of the tournament. To acclimatise
herself to the heat, the humidity, the
surface, the balls. But six minutes into the
match against Jankovic, on an approach
to the net, the pain is too much. Not even
the cortisone injection of the previous
day is enough. “It hurts, no matter what
I do. If I bend down, if I walk, if I sit.
I am always tense; I can’t relax my back
because I feel pain.”
No, this is not how the Russian wanted
to fi nish her best season. “I have no
regrets. I have played many tournaments,
but it’s better to play a lot than lose
everywhere in the fi rst rounds and be
well physically. OK, we all know that
health is the most important thing;
perhaps I should not have played some
tournaments, but I had my best year.
I can be proud of myself.”
Now there are no more doubts in
her mind. “I am disappointed, of
course. But in these moments you also
understand that health is more important.
Until I have recovered 100 per cent, until
I have no more pain, until I stop being
afraid of feeling pain, I won’t play any
tournaments.”
After many doubts in the mind of Safi na
there is only one belief. “I have to accept
this situation. Many women players have
passed through a similar situation and
have come back even stronger than before.
It will be a new experience for me.”
Bye Safi na, see you again in 2010,
without doubt.
Dinara’s disappointmentTHIS IS NOT THE WAY DINARA SAFINA HAD DREAMED OF CLOSING THIS YEAR.
“ OK, WE ALL KNOW THAT HEALTH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING; PERHAPS I SHOULD NOT HAVE PLAYED SOME TOURNAMENTS, BUT I HAD MY BEST YEAR. I CAN BE PROUD OF MYSELF.”
DOHA MASTER
28 TENNISWORLR D D SA
DODODOODODOHAHAHAHAH M MMMMASASASASA TETETTEERRRRR
singlesWHITE GROUP
(6) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) b. (8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 6−2 6−3
(4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) b. (6) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 1−6 6−4 7−5
(8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) b. (1) Dinara Safi na (RUS) 11 ret.
(4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) b. Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 6−0 6−7(3) 6−4
(8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) b. (4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 6−2 6−2
(10) Agnieszka Radwa�ska (POL) b. (6) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 4−6 7−5 4−1 ret.
“WHITE” CLASSIFICATION
1 Jelena Jankovic (2−1: 4−2)
2 Caroline Wozniacki (2−1: 4−4)
3 Victoria Azarenka (1−1: 3−2)
4 Agnieszka Radwanska (1−0: 2−1)
WITHDRAWN: Vera Zvonareva (replaced Dinara Safi na and was in turn replaced by Agnieszka Radwanska) and Dinara Safi na
BROWN GROUP
(5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) b. Venus Williams (USA) 3−6 (7) 7−6 (6) 6–2
(2) Serena Williams (USA) b. (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 7−6 (6) 7−5
(2) Serena Williams (USA) b. (7) Venus Williams (USA) 5−7 6−4 7−6 (4)
(2) Serena Williams (USA) b. (5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 6−2 6−4
(7) Venus Williams (USA) b. (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 6−2 6−7 (3) 6−4
(3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) b. (5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 6−3 6−2
BROWN CLASSIFICATION
1 Serena Williams (3−0: 6−1)
2 Venus Williams (1−2: 4−5)
3 Svetlana Kuznetsova (1−2: 3−4)
4 Elena Dementieva (1−2: 2−5)
SEMIFINALS
(7) Venus Williams (USA) b. (8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 5−7 6−3 6−4
(2) Serena Williams (USA) b. (4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 6−4 0−1 ret.
FINAL
(2) S. Williams b. (7) V.Williams 6−2 7−6
doublesSEMIFINALS
(1) Cara Black (ZIM)/Liezel Huber (USA)
b. Samantha Stosur/Rennae Stubbs (AUS) 3−6 7−6(3) 10−8
Nuria Llagostera Vives/María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) b. (2) Serena Williams/Venus Williams (USA) 2−6 6−4 10−8
FINAL
Nuria Llagostera Vives/María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) b. (1) Cara Black (ZIM)/Liezel Huber (USA) 7−6(0) 5−7 10−7 DOHA
DOHA
resu
lts
resu
lts
30 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 31
INTERNATIONAL NEWSE
NZ
O C
HE
RIC
I
I t ’s lonely being number one
LENDL, RIOS, CLIJSTERS, JANKOVIC AND SAFINA: TWO MEN AND THREE WOMEN WITH VERY DIFFERENT STORIES AMONG THEM, BUT WITH A SINGLE COMMON DENOMINATOR . . .
The fi rst was none other that
Lendl. The Czech champion was
emerging from an extraordinary
year. In 1982, he had won 15 of the 23
tournaments he played, with 106 victories
and only nine defeats. He also achieved
a winning streak of 44 consecutive victories.
Frightening statistics. So, on 28 March 1983,
for the fi rst time in his career he found
himself at the top of the ranking.
But those who expected only fame for
Ivan the Terrible, were soon to be left
disappointed since there were more than a
few critics who raised an eyebrow once they
learnt such news. And do you know why?
The young man hadn’t won a Slam title yet!
The story of the early Lendl has become
topical again these days, with Serena
Williams overtaking Dinara Safi na at the top
of the WTA world ranking. Let’s be honest,
rarely has a world number one – whether
man or woman – been treated as badly by
critics and fans with the same severity as
was the case with poor Safi na. After a very
good 2008 (four titles and a Slam fi nal in
Paris) the Russian player had also confi rmed
herself in the fi rst half of 2009 and on 1
April she reached the top of the ranking.
She would keep it for 25 consecutive weeks,
until 11 October, when she was overtaken by
the younger of the big sisters.
What’s Safi na got to do with Lendl then?
A lot. Partly because, just like Lendl, Safi na
became number one without winning a
Slam title. Another reason is because in the
large events the Russian player has shown the
same mental fragility as was displayed by the
young Czech champion. The one who − let’s
not forget − won his fi rst major only at the
fi fth attempt, after four heavy defeats. And
his fi rst triumph took place in 1984 in Paris,
in that incredible fi nal in which he had been
literally dominated by McEnroe for two and
a half sets (3−6 2–3 1–3), before climbing
out of the ditch and winning the last three
set 4−6 7−5 7−5.
That match marked the turning point
in Lendl’s career, who went on to win
seven Slam titles during the course of his
extraordinary career and remained at the top
of the ranking for a total of 270 weeks. Safi na
has not yet met her McEnroe. Perhaps she
never will. But, on the other hand, perhaps
she will. So why criticise her so harshly, a
champion, number one in the world, only
because at that particular time she had not
yet won a Slam title? Lendl’s career proves
that a temporary lack of titles in one of the
four most important tournaments does not
always equal an undeserved number one title.
The sums will be made, if anything, at the
end of their careers.
But Safi na could fi nd herself an example in
the WTA world as well. It is Kim Clijsters,
who also reached the top of the ranks on
11 August 2003, when her showcase still
showed zero Slam titles. Is Clijsters also
mediocre? Quite the opposite. And in fact
she also had to endure as many as four
defeats before triumphing at the US Open
in 2005 – two years after her fi rst week at
number one.
Two similar cases may be those of Marcelo
Rios and Jelena Jankovic. In 1998 the
talented Chilean tennis player won the Indian
Wells, Key Biscayne and Rome tournaments,
thus reaching the top of the ATP ranking
on 30 March of that year. At the beginning
of the year he also reached the fi nal of the
Australian Open, but he was defeated by
the brilliant and controversial Czech player,
Peter Korda. Once again we have a number
one without Slams but, unlike Lendl, this
was partly due to injuries, partly to objective
character defi ciencies. Rios never managed
to give continuity to his extraordinary talent
and even later he did not get the titles he
lacked when he soared to number one.
The history of Jelena Jankovic is in some
ways similar. Certainly not in her talent – that
is considerably less than that of Rios – but
rather in the analysis of the results. A great
2008 for the Serbian player (four titles and
one Slam fi nal lost at Flushing Meadows)
allowed her to reach the fi rst place in the
ranking on 11 August and even stay there
until the end of the year. In 2009 she enters
a crisis and loses positions in the world
rankings, where she currently features in
ninth place. But while Safi na – in spite of the
momentary blur − seems to have the tennis
it takes to win important trophies. Jankovic
− who has always based her results on the
continuity of her performance − no longer
seems to have the motivation to return and
compete for the important trophies.
One thing is for sure − all those that have
reached number one − with Slam titles or
not − have deserved it. If for no other reason
than because in the previous 52 weeks “that”
particular player was the best and the most
consistent. One can then debate whether the
current method of drawing up the ranking is
right or wrong, but for as long as these rules
apply, no number one can be considered
abusive. There is also a risk of embarrassing
oneself. Just as happened a few years ago
with Lendl.
32 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 33
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Henin
Justine Henin is back because
she had grown tired of making
appearances on TV shows. No,
she is back because she is missing tennis.
Actually no, she is back because she
wants to win Wimbledon! No, sorry,
she is back because she has realised
that she can win even more, seeing the
(depressing) level of women’s tennis.
Better still: she is back because she does
not want to leave too much to win for
her loathed friend Kim Clijsters.
In short, whichever way you put it,
Henin will return to play as early as
in January, in Brisbane and then in
the Australian Open where she has
been granted two more-than-deserved
wild cards.
It will be like leaping back three years.
After sweet Flemish mother Kim Clijsters,
here comes the sad Madonna of Liège,
the pride of Wallonia, and imagine what
might happen if one of the two Belgians
coming out of a self-imposed exile had
to win the very Slam − the fi rst in the
year and the fi rst with its ranks once
again full − from which the current
world number one Serena Williams had
to be excluded for bad conduct following
the New York scene.
Henin, Clijsters, Venus the recovered,
Sharapova in the court, and the big
panther is locked in a cage roaring with
anger (while the magazine goes to press,
ITF is discussing whether to exclude
Serena for one or even two majors, but
the likely appeals are expected to draw
the matter out).
Women and drama. Henin had
slammed the door suddenly in May
2008, as reigning number one at only
26 years but with an Olympic gold,
41 tournaments and seven Slams,
including four Roland Garros Slams
already on board.
“I have given everything, I have won
everything,” she had announced, contrite.
Everything except Wimbledon, her
doomed tournament.
Wearing a blouse and blue trousers,
a touch of make-up, her little eyes
unusually calm on the day of the
announcement of her return last
September, she explained on live TV in
front of the whole of Belgium that her
decision to return had surprised her fi rst:
“On 14 May of last year I had really put
an end to my career. There followed a
long personal journey. Eventually one
day, while talking to a friend, I felt that
a fl ame had been re-lit, which I thought
had been put out forever.”
Could it be true?
During her16 months as a former
player, Henin has done a lot. She has
recorded a music video, been a star
on Flemish television programmes
“Laatste Show” − accompanied even by
former Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt
– and “De Twaalf werken van Justine Henin”
or “The twelve deeds of Justine
Henin”, in which she trained with
the Anderlecht soccer team, strutted
on the catwalk and cooked a full meal
alone. She has become an ambassador
for UNICEF, fl ying to the Congo and to
Cambodia, and was just about to make
her debut in a theatre piece when she
felt the old instinct resurface.
In short, to borrow a sentence from
Pablo Neruda, Justine too can say
“I confess that I have lived” even if she
did not actually start a family as she had
intended. On the other hand, she has
opened her tennis academy in Belgium
− with a subsidiary in the United States
− and above all she has undergone an eye
operation to correct a defect to her sight
that was deteriorating, and which forced
her to wear lenses, and an operation on
her permanently sore right knee.
Some claim that those very chronic
ailments were the reason for her
retirement, and that the break was due
only to doubts about the success of
the dual operation. Having solved the
problem, wonderful Henin − the once
sad little girl who had lost her mother
at 13, who took years to reconcile with
her violent father and the family, and
months to overcome the trauma of her
divorce from handsome and treacherous
Mr Hardenne – had resumed training.
In fact, suggest the conspiracy theorists,
hers might have been a timed retirement
from the outset, a precaution in case the
laser and the surgeons’ knives were not
able to give her the certainty to be able
to continue playing at the top of her
form, because Henin prefers to retreat
rather than lose, as proved by the
Australian fi nal against Mauresmo.
Tennis has missed Henin very much
in these almost two years, but she must
have missed tennis too. As her brother
Thomas said after the announcement
of her retirement, “Maybe, I don’t know.
In six months to a year, if she hasn’t
found happiness in real life, it is possible
that she decides to return.”
A spot-on prophecy.
“Henin’s objective is to return even
stronger than before,” said her coach
Carlos Rodriguez, “and fi nally win that
only Slam that she is missing.”
Not an impossible mission, given the
state of her competition.
Now it remains to be seen where her
tennis is, if the magic of recent years
is still there, intact. If her foil hits
can still stand on a board ever more
crowded with viragoes without too
much imagination, used to handling
the sabre, indeed the axe and the
cudgel. Indeed, at the last US Open
we discovered Oudin, the Henin “stars
and stripes”, but the rest is almost all
muscle, including new Flemish star
Yanina Wickmayer, who, like Henin,
lost her mother as a young girl and
has used tennis to drive out the pain,
but who, unlike her, hits her forehand
like a blacksmith and serves at 200 km
per hour.
It was in Australia that Henin
played her last Slam, in 2008, badly
humiliated (6−4 6−0) by Sharapova
at the quarterfi nals. She won her last
tournament in February of the same year
in Antwerp. Her last defeat was to Safi na,
one of her inadequate heirs, in Berlin.
Not an exit worthy of a queen.
The school she has opened with Carlos
Rodriguez in Belgium is called “6th sense
academy”, and if Henin is back it means
that her little antennae have warned her
of a drop in tension in the women’s fi eld.
A few years ago, when power-tennis
gave the fi rst shoves even among the
girls, Henin had turned to the arts of
Pat Etcheberry, the (discussed) American
guru of physical preparation that had
followed Sampras, Agassi, Courier,
Seles, Capriati, Hingis and golfers of
undisputed reputation such as Nick Faldo
and Ernie Els.
Having returned from Florida more
toned up, she had had to deal with the
poison scattered by the father of her
rival and fellow Belgian Cljisters, Leo,
who had accused her − not too covertly
− of having used pharmacological
“aids” to bridge the physical gap.
An allegation that infuriated Henin
and her clan but did not prevent her
from continuing to win, humiliating
(with her creativity) Serena’s colossal
biceps and calves in a terrible (for the
American) fi nal in Paris.
When it comes to mental toughness
and ferocity, only Sharapova can equal
her, and this, in a landscape of slightly
shaky psychologies, can be a great
advantage for Second Edition Henin.
The Williamses are beginning to misfi re,
Sharapova has a problem shoulder,
and the other Russians have never been
a big problem. There remains Clijsters
who, before motherhood, has almost
always bowed to her technical mastery,
and the unknown of the new recruits.
All in all, Henin must have thought
it can be done. The fi nal handed to
Mauresmo in 2006 and the semifi nal
lost to Bartoli (Bartoli!) in 2007, both
in Wimbledon, most certainly still burn.
Having seen Federer triumph in Paris
and take off towards immortality, must
have rekindled her hope to conquer
the only great laurel she still requires,
to accomplish a career Slam and try to
become a true Federer in a skirt – not
only for class and elegance, but also for
quality and quantity of titles.
Justine Henin, gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics, had retired from tennis courts on 14 May 2008, at just 26 years of age, after 12 seasons in the circuit, nine of
them as a professional. Of 133 tournaments played she has won 41, of which seven were Grand Slams. In 2003, 2006 and 2007 she was number one, spending a total
of 117 weeks at the world number one ranking.
DURING HER 16 MONTHS AS A FORMER
PLAYER, HENIN HAS DONE A LOT. SHE HAS
RECORDED A MUSIC VIDEO, BEEN A STAR
ON FLEMISH TELEVISION PROGRAMMES,
STRUTTED ON THE CATWALK AND COOKED
A FULL MEAL ALONE.
BACK! is
34 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 35
THE COLOUR OF TENNIS THE BEST PICTURES CHOSEN FOR YOU
36 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 37
38 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 39
40 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 41
TENNISWORLD SA 43
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER
FEDERERSPECIAL REPORT
PART TWO
44 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 45
The dis-United States
At this rate Federer will go mad.
Granted, he won Wimbledon
– the fourth consecutive time
– and quite frankly, he played
wonderfully, in fact perfectly up
until the fi nal. But we, the experts,
the enthusiasts, all fi nd ourselves
talking about Nadal, who has been
able to steal the show this time
again. Moreover, the Spaniard
took just three editions to reach the fi nal,
Roger fi ve. Rafa must get some merit too,
isn’t that so? The two remain universal
talents nonetheless; they can win on
all surfaces. Now it remains to be seen
if it will be Federer who better adapts
to the clay-Nadal combination or Rafa
to the grass-Federer.
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1911, US TENNIS WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE QUARTERFINALS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS AND WITHIN A FEW WEEKS IT COULD FIND ITSELF WITH ONLY BLAKE IN THE TOP 10 ATP AND WTA RANKINGS.
The
com
men
t
Federer after the fi nal
“If I had lost it would have been a
hard blow to me. It was important
to win a fi nal against him and
Wimbledon was the place where
I could do so in the easiest way.”
Nadal after the fi nal
“I can beat Roger; it is important for me
to believe that I can do so on this surface.
He did not beat me easily after all.”
The
quot
es
The dis-united States . . .
For the fi rst time since 1911,
US tennis was excluded
from the quarterfi nals of the
Championships and within a
few weeks it could fi nd itself
with only Blake in the top 10 ATP and
WTA rankings. Seven hundred thousand
members and 170 000 Juniors but only
19 coaches employed by USTA, while
in France there are 50.
The
case
Roger Federer – 10
There are moments when history
is unmanageable – it goes forth
alone. The only real advantage
is knowing how to smell the
air through which it travels. The
Wimbledon fi nal is one of those
moments. Federer won because
he is technically stronger; in
London, unlike Paris, the talent
of the muscle counts most; also, he can
fi nd solutions that may seem arbitrary
but are not. He won because he is one
of a kind. At the moment he deserves the
maximum marks. But in order to keep
them he will have to deal with reality,
and that reality is once again called Rafael
Nadal. Because Nadal has come very
close to the Swiss phenomenon on grass,
after having overtaken him, and perhaps
overwhelmed him on red clay. From here
on, nothing can be taken for granted, not
even a Roger victory in the tournament
that everyone thinks he owns by virtue
of his talent. The future will tell us how
it will all end between the duellists.
The
scor
ecar
dSPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / WIMBLEDON 2006
PERHAPS, PUT SIMPLY, THE SPANIARD IS SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST AN OPPONENT, OR AN ENEMY; HE IS THE NEMESIS OF FEDERER, INDEED NEMESIS HERSELF, DAUGHTER OF NIGHT AND EREBUS, GODDESS OF COMPENSATORY JUSTICE.
Andy Murray beats Andy
Roddick 7−6 6−4 6−4
The English really believed it, this
time. Not that Murray could really
win the tournament, but that
the boy from Dunblane is really
the one on which they should
count in future. They believed it
and perhaps they still do so, in
spite of Murray’s stumble against
Baghdatis, just as young but more
experienced. The victory against Roddick
(mind you, a Roddick on grass . . .) is
one of those that count – so much more
if seized in three sets. Murray displayed
a variety of play and schemes, and this is
what allowed him to beat the American.
On the grass of today, more compact,
more approachable to all, Murray’s arms
may become more important. But let’s
give him time to grow . . .
Surp
rise
resu
lt
Roger Federer beats Rafael Nadal
6−0 7−6 6−7 6−3
It is the long-awaited victory,
yearned for more than any other,
pursued like no-one predestined
would dream of doing. But it did
not come the way Roger Federer had
imagined it. Perhaps, with Nadal, certain
wishes are impossible. Perhaps, put
simply, the Spaniard is something more
than just an opponent, or an enemy; he
is the nemesis of Roger, indeed Nemesis
herself, daughter of Night and Erebus,
The
fi nal
TENNISWORLD SA 47
Federer’s journey1st Round (1) R Federer (SUI) b. R Gasquet (FRA) 6−3 6−2 6−2
2nd Round (1) R Federer (SUI) b. T Henman (GBR) 6−4 6−0 6−2
3rd Round (1) R Federer (SUI) b. N Mahut (FRA) 6−3 7−6 (2) 6−4
4th Round (1) R Federer (SUI) b. (13) T Berdych (CZE) 6−3 6−3 6−4
Quarterfi nals (1) R Federer (SUI) b. (7) M Ancic (CRO) 6−4 6−4 6−4
Semifi nals (1) R Federer (SUI) b. J Björkman (SWE) 6−2 6−0 6−2
Final (1) R Federer (SUI) b. (2) R Nadal (ESP) 6−0 7−6 (5) 6−7 (2) 6−3
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / WIMBLEDON 2006
goddess of compensatory justice. So is
Federer, so is Nadal, but in the opposite
sense − his natural opposite. In this
fi nal too, even on the surface that is
most friendly to Roger, Nadal has found
a way of shattering his expectations,
his dreams, and nearly his match. So,
in that strange succession of sets that
consigned the 2006 Championships
to the archives, the fi rst one especially
ended up seeming strange and
accidental, where Federer had continued
to dominate as he did with his previous
opponents; not so, the other three were
instead played on the balance of a few
points, in an uncertainty that seemed
to suggest an unthinkable upset.
46 TENNISWORLD SA
IT IS THE LONG-AWAITED
VICTORY, YEARNED FOR MORE
THAN ANY OTHER, PURSUED LIKE
NO-ONE PREDESTINED WOULD
DREAM OF DOING.
48 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 49
Federer gives us that usual unreal
feeling. With this US Open he
seems to have taken off for
higher spheres. He dominated
the tournament, suffering only
slightly at the hands of Blake.
At the moment he seems to have
no more opponents and fi ghts
only against the numbers and
his ghosts.
We have discovered Federer’s diffi culties
in time, realised that they are character
diffi culties, above all, certainly not
technical. He has the fi re inside; perhaps
he has learned to keep it at bay, but in the
chaos that a Nadal or perhaps a Roddick,
with his public, can generate, he has
often found himself in trouble.
And how about this time?
In the entire tournament he has only
thrown away two sets − the third with
Blake, the second with Roddick − but
only because of excessive confi dence.
For the rest, he handled the fi nal well,
before a frenzied public, leaving only
19 occasions to encourage the American.
Nineteen unforced errors versus
69 winners.
Having said that, a note of merit must
also go to Roddick. After a long crisis that
The
com
men
t Throughout 21 years of an
extraordinary career he has
thrilled, moved and brought
together generations of
enthusiasts. A unique talent
that changed the way we play
tennis, has invented a style and
perfected it.
“The scoreboard says that I have
lost the match, but it does not say
what I found . . .”
Thus a moved Andre Agassi addressed
the public of the Arthur Ashe at the
end of his last Open. And he explained:
“Over the past 21years I have found
loyalty: every one of you rooted for
me both on the court and in everyday
life. I have found inspiration: all of you
pushed me to improvement and success,
even at the hardest of times. And I have
found generosity: you offered me your
shoulders to approach my dreams.
Dreams that I would never have achieved
without you. In the last 21 years I found
you, and I will take you with me for the
rest of my life. Thank you!”
Agas
si’s
fare
wel
l
Roger Federer: no mark
By now he is suspended in
a boundary area. A miraculous
limbo. He can no longer escape
becoming the strongest ever. Any
lesser result would, paradoxically,
be a failure.
Roddick on Federer
“The problem is that Federer too
continues to improve and this is
a little scary. But I’ve played with
my heart and I gave it all: I gave
myself a chance, and I want to
continue to do so. I so wanted
to become a strong player and
now I feel that at last I am getting there.
Even if I lose eight Slam fi nals to Roger
it’s fi ne all the same; if one hits against
a wall so much, at the end something
must come out.”
The
quot
esSc
orec
ard
had also taken him out of the top ten,
A-Rod came back to play a Slam fi nal.
He lost it fi ghting like a lion, following
the advice and the inspiration of the
mythical Connor, the new extra luxury
coach. Even if the anger at the defeat
is great, the Great American Hope has
realised that he can be competitive again.
The fi re inside
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / US OPEN 2006
PERHAPS HE HAS LEARNED TO KEEP IT AT BAY, BUT IN THE CHAOS THAT A NADAL OR PERHAPS A RODDICK, WITH HIS PUBLIC, CAN GENERATE, HE HAS OFTEN FOUND HIMSELF IN TROUBLE.
A MIRACULOUS LIMBO.
HE CAN NO LONGER ESCAPE
BECOMING THE STRONGEST EVER.
TENNISWORLD SA 51
Federer’s journey1st Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Yeu-Tzuoo Wang (TPE) 6−4 6−1 6−0
2nd Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Tim Henman (GBR) 6−3 6−4 7−5
3rd Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Vince Spadea (USA) 6−3 6−3 6−0
4th Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Marc Gicquel (FRA) 6−3 7−6 (2) 6−3
Quarterfi nals (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (5) James Blake (USA) 7−6 (7) 6−0 6−7 (9) 6−4
Semifi nals (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (7) Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 6−1 7−5 6−4
Final (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (9) Andy Roddick (USA) 6−2 4−6 7−5 6−1
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / US OPEN 2006
The score says that the central
part of the match was fought the
hardest, almost hanging in the
balance. But it is a misleading
impression. There, at that juncture,
Federer was only guilty of being
too calm and he conceded himself some
riskier shots. But the fi nal outcome was
never in doubt. Emerging from the third
set in the twelfth game, Federer regained
humility and mastery of the game, the
same he had shown in the fi rst set, and
darkness fell on Roddick.
The
fi nalMikhail Youzhny beats Rafael
Nadal 6–3 5–7 7–6 6–1
A Russian expert in game variations
and a Spanish champion that too
often arrives at the last major
tournaments of the season short
of energy. It is not only a question
of surface. The season on red
clay sucks all the energy out of
Nadal, and Youzhny has shown
on other occasions that when he is at
his best he has the shots (and especially
the alternation thereof) that can put the
number two of Manacor on the spot.
Surp
rise
resu
lt
50 TENNISWORLD SA
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52 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 53
“I have never seen anyone play
as well as Federer,” says Adriano
Panatta, champion of Roland
Garros 1976 and good friend of
the Swiss, with whom he enjoys
enchanting evenings during the
Rome Internationals, the largest
Italian tournament.
“I have been fortunate to play
against opponents such as Laver and
Rosewall.
“Just like them, Federer has very pure
qualities and I would not hesitate to
give him the highest marks on all the
shots in his repertoire, as well as his
backhand which he has improved
fundamentally. But the praise certainly
goes to his forehand, the key to his
game. He has a greater ability to vary
the tactical themes and he knows
how to search for different ways to
work around problems. And it is these
qualities that make him unbeatable.
I am convinced that he will become the
greatest, although it would be better
never to give in to the temptation of
producing charts spanning past and
The
com
men
t present. I am also convinced that with
a touch more patience and meanness,
he will sooner or later achieve a victory
at Roland Garros.”
The fact remains that Federer no
longer worries about just winning, but
winning well, by paying attention to
detail. On Australian TV he said he was
happy to have closed with a beautiful
backhanded passing shot, ‘a shot
appropriate to the circumstances’,
a comment endorsed by Jim Courier
who won there twice and may have
an equally dazzling career ahead of
him as a TV commentator. There is one
frightening statistic among Federer’s
many: He has won ten Slams in fewer
than four years – from July 2003 to
January 2007. He is 25 years old; if
he carries on at this rate, he may have
won 20 Slams before turning 29. These
statistics might have been true for Rod
Laver as well had professional decree
not deprived him of fi ve years of Slam
appearances.
Roger Federer, 10
Giving marks to Federer has been
boring for some time already.
But a tournament like this one,
without a blur, without a set lost
− we had never seen him play.
Will he be able to do better still?
Looking at the horizon we cannot
see who could prevent it. But only
on fast surfaces . . .
The
scor
ecar
d
Federer after the fi nal
“They call me a genius perhaps
because I play a little differently
and I am able to win when I am
not at my best.”
Hard work or talent? A bit of both,
surely.
Federer after the fi nal
“I don’t think that I will retire at 26 years
as Borg did. I hope to play at least until
the Olympic Games in 2012, which
will take place at Wimbledon. That is
my big goal.”
The
quot
es
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / AUSTRALIA 2007
Federer no longer Federer no longer worriesworries about about just just winningwinning, but , but winning winning well well . . .. . .
HARD WORK OR TALENT? A BIT OF BOTH, SURELY . . .
TENNISWORLD SA 5554 TENNISWORLD SA
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / AUSTRALIA 2007
Fernando Gonzalez beats Rafael
Nadal 6−2 6−3 6−4
Bombers don’t need tactics or too
many strategies. Bombs − perhaps;
fuel − certainly; what else? Coach
Stefanki’s thoughts couldn’t have
been too far from such platitudes
when he took charge of Fernando
Gonzalez last May, to turn him
into something other than what
he had always been. But what would you
say? What else can you turn a bomber
into? Easy. Into a bomber with a good
aim . . . The three sets against Nadal,
Surp
rise
resu
lt the fi rst Slam semifi nal of his career,
were built around an incredibly barbaric
conductive wire, where there was no
room for any response by the Spaniard,
forced as he was to endure unruly gusts
of cruel and winning shots. Nadal had
only one break point in the whole match
on which Gonzales increased the fi re
further, if that was even possible.
Not much can be said . . . Federer
was unattainable and Gonzalez
was destined to be the sparring
partner. The fi rst set came to
a conclusion at the tiebreak,
dominated by the Swiss, and this
as a result of the Chilean’s best efforts.
There, while Gonzalez was losing the
set, one could guess that the remainder
of the match would not get any better
for him. In fact, Federer then proceeded
at cruising speed, which was too high
for the Chilean, and the match had little
more to say, except for Federer landing
his tenth Slam.
Federer’s journey1st Round (1) R Federer (SUI) b. B Phau (GER) 7−5 6−0 6−4
2nd Round (1) R Federer (SUI) b. J Björkman (SWE) 6−2 6−3 6−2
3rd Round (1) R Federer (SUI) b. (25) M Youzhny (RUS) 6−3 6−3 7−6 (5)
4th Round (1) R Federer (SUI) b. (14) N Djokovic (SRB) 6−2 7−5 6−3
Quarterfi nals (1) R Federer (SUI) b. (7) T Robredo (ESP) 6−3 7−6 (2) 7−5
Semifi nals (1) R Federer (SUI) b. (6) A Roddick (USA) 6−4 6−0 6−2
Final (1) R Federer (SUI) b. (10) F Gonzalez (CHI) 7−6 (2) 6−4 6−4
The
fi nal
56 TENNISWORLD SA
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / WIMBLEDON 2007
An exciting match, never trivial,
always hanging in the balance.
Nadal was great in transferring
his tennis from red onto grass
without dissolving its substance.
Federer was even greater in
playing the most sumptuous of
shots at close contact, faced with
the grimmest of diffi culties. If it
were possible, we should wish
for a thousand of these challenges. Now
one question becomes crucial: Is Federer
any nearer to winning Paris or Nadal
to tripping him up at Wimbledon?
A legitimate question, but one which
risks obscuring other considerations:
fi rst, the fact that the challenge between
Federer and Nadal is one of the most
beautiful that could ever happen.
One never tires of following them, of
watching the way they contrast. Inside
those two is the whole of tennis. Because
there is also the other side of the coin:
can such a beautiful challenge become
overpowering? Perhaps... That’s why
we regret that Djokovic had to retire,
exhausted after an absurd tour de force,
precisely in the semifi nal against Nadal
that was expected to be so mythical.
Blame it on planning that is questionable
to say the least. This year, because of
the rain and poor choices, we have
witnessed in Wimbledon a very irregular
tournament.
We are looking for Federer’s
talisman, the man kissed by
the herbivore gods. Strong
indications fall on Bjorn Borg,
in jacket and tie and with his hair
now silvery, who attended the
fi nal with indulgent eyes, as if it was
almost inevitable that sooner or later
he would have to share with Federer
his record of fi ve consecutive titles in the
Championships. And, stronger still, clues
fall on Ivanisevic, who trained Federer
for one hour before the match.
“Are you looking for a left-handed
player to exchange a few shots? Well,
has anybody ever told you that I am
left-handed?”
Lucky man, Federer. And luck in tennis
is often measured in fractions, in
millimetres. Up to halfway through
the fi fth set, Nadal had done more, and
perhaps better than Federer. He had had
his chances in the fi rst and the third
set, which Federer had grabbed at the
The Wimbledon fi nal has added the charm of beautiful tennis to the challenge
The
com
men
t
The
fi nal
Roger Federer – 10
He can extract ballistic gems from
grass and often gets himself out of
trouble with disarming skills. His
adaptability to the surface enables
him to expand the range of his
shots with new schemes and
avoiding, as far as possible, the
numbness of the arm. In the fi nal
he has diffi culty getting rid of the impact
of Nadal’s forehand, but just when he
seems to be on the brink of the abyss,
he dazzlingly fi nds his ancient splendour
as if by magic.
Borg’s comment
“Perhaps what Federer and Nadal would
need is a third man capable of really
taking them to their limit. I like to watch
Federer and Nadal clash in the fi eld, but
perhaps we have not yet seen the best
of their rivalry and everything they are
capable of.”
The
scor
ecar
d
Federer after the fi nal
“I had huge pressure on me.
There were Bjorn Borg, Jimmy
Connors, John McEnroe, Boris
Becker... Oh, and Jack Kramer too?
The most special moment was at
the end when I lifted the trophy.
It will be a memory that will stay
with me for my whole life.”
Federer after the fi nal
“Before the fi nal I asked Goran Ivanisevic
if he wanted to train with me. He said
“Yes, here I am”. I was very happy that
he could do it, it is useful to spend at
least half an hour against a left-handed;
here I had met only right-handed.
The entire points are played differently.”
The
quot
es
TENNISWORLD SA 57
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / WIMBLEDON 2007
tiebreak. He had won the second and the
fourth and in the fi fth he had been just
a step away from the break four times
before losing his serve on the 3−2, with
four impressive and heartless shots,
perhaps undermined by a sudden lack
of confi dence.
“On those four break points I was really
getting scared,” says Federer, knowing he
had looked his own defeat in the eye.
58 TENNISWORLD SA
Federer’s journey1st Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Teimuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 6−3 6−2 6−4
2nd Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) 6−2 7−5 6−1
3rd Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (26) Marat Safi n (RUS) 6−1 6−4 7−6 (4)
4th Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (13) Tommy Haas (GER) w/o
Quarter-fi nals (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (20) Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 7−6 (2) 3−6 6−1 6−3
Semi-fi nals (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (12) Richard Gasquet (FRA) 7−5 6−3 6−4
Final (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (2) Rafael Nadal 76 (ESP) (7) 4−6 7−6 (3) 2−6 6−2
60 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 61
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / US OPEN 2007
They had a date in Montreal
(where Djoko had won), and
they arrived in New York on time.
A shoulder-to-shoulder fi nal, and
very beautiful too. At the time,
Djokovic’s arrival in the “Strongest
Club” seemed to hurt Nadal
especially. Federer’s opponent on
fast surfaces was now the Serbian.
Federer this time took big risks
in the fi rst set against Djokovic, but
wisely kept his nerve and persisted to
return Djokovic’s backhand. He played
more with intelligence than with pure
talent, if indeed the two can be separated.
And for the whole tournament I saw him
remain calm when in diffi culty. In short,
a Federer who almost never lost his revs.
All in all, Federer was confi dent, Djokovic
talented and multifaceted, but Nadal’s
courage deserves acknowledgement.
Others might have stopped, while the
Spaniard proved that he really has a
temperament of steel. It is not by chance
that he is one for red clay . . . it is the
characteristic which will make the road
diffi cult for Federer in years to come,
much more now that the competition
seems destined to widen. The Swiss will
have to cling ever more to fast surfaces
in order to continue to dominate as he
does now.
They both won, one would be
tempted to say, if such sports
heresy were acceptable. Federer
who crossed the line fi rst, and
Djokovic who came so close to
him to force the experts to verify
their judgement with the lenses of the
Hawk-Eye, which voided − by one
millimetre, perhaps less − the shots that
could have changed the match. Advancing
A beautiful, nail-biting fi nish
The
com
men
t
The
fi nal
Roger Federer: 12
Not allowed? Only allowed up
to 10? But then one shouldn’t
be allowed to win so much, so
quickly. Federer in black − who
trembled more in the last two
matches which were won in three
sets than in those where he had to
concede the fi rst − seems to have
climbed up a further step. He doesn’t
lose his cool even when he’s in diffi culty,
and he wins the battle of nerves with
Djokovic. How many more to become
unbeatable in Paris too?
Nadal seem to be characters in a video
game gone crazy. Everything has become
a sort of vortex, overwhelming. Nadal
chooses well the day of his defeat at the
hands of one of his subordinates; it has
taken years for the event to materialise.
David Ferrer’s victory starts off from a
second set played over the top, and it is
not just a case of words. The challenger
aims for the corners that defi ne the
boundaries of the court, and he does
so while accelerating, as if possessed by
a tennis demon. He says about himself
that he feels like “the number one of the
normal” 25-year-old David, but there
is no normality in the recoveries that
he makes, and less so in the violence
with which he raves. Nadal snatches
the fi rst from him in the decisive
game, but already in the third, again at
tiebreak, Ferrer has assembled too many
opportunities to let him escape. And in
those conditions, the fourth becomes
a catwalk.
The
scor
ecar
d
Roddick on his match with
Federer
“I have given all of myself out
there tonight. This usually helps,
but not this time.”
Djokovic and impersonations
“The only one I can’t impersonate
is Roger the untouchable. Too perfect for
my style.”
The
quot
es
David Ferrer beats Rafael Nadal
6−7 6−4 7−6 6−2
Muscle against muscle, for more
than three hours. Impossible
recoveries, a crescendo of
exchanges, groans worthy of
hardcore movies. From the top
of the stands of the largest tennis
stadium, David Ferrer and Rafael Surp
rise
resu
lt
62 TENNISWORLD SA
shoulder to shoulder is something that
had not been seen before in tennis,
but that’s how the US Open fi nal went,
with its anomalous construction, blazing
with unwavering shots, and very risky in
the geometries of those few exchanges,
always performed at high speeds. A
tennis of a thousand twists, but not
the product of chance. Only the talent
of the contestants reigned on the Ashe
Central. The cold art of a Federer capable
of saving fi ve set points at the end of
the fi rst set (6−5, 40−0 for Nole the
Serbian) and two others in the next,
and immediately turning them into the
gold of two tiebreaks snatched with
voracious dexterity (7−6 7−6 6−4);
and the bold inventiveness of a Djokovic
who showed identical talents, except
that he discovered that he’s still a baby
when faced with the greatest feat. Two
winners, because Federer adds new pages
to a book of records, which is becoming
monographic: his fourth consecutive
victory in the US Open, which takes us
back to the splendour of the pioneers
of tennis, and his twelfth in the Slam,
which takes him two lengths away from
Sampras. Yet the winner is also Djokovic
who has everything he needs to change
the state of things – the shots, the
boldness, and that innate sympathy that is
typical of all-round characters. Those fi rst
two sets could have been his, but Federer
in diffi culty played even better. And this
is the talent of the champions.
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / US OPEN 2007
THE STABLES LODGE
A warm & friendly Italian welcome!
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Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading out to explore the famous winelands, or discover the area through many available excursions and day trips! Should you wish to relax then our quiet and welcoming garden around our lovely swimming pool is just the place.
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www.thestables-lodge.com | [email protected] Stables Lodge | 85 Jonkershoek Road | Stellenbosch | South AfricaTel/fax +27 (0)21 8864326 | GPS coordinates S 33° 56’ 5.18’ E 18° 53’ 6.74’
Federer’s journey1st Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (q) Scoville Jenkins (USA) 6−3 6−2 6−4
2nd Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (q) Paul Capdeville (CHI) 6−1 6−4 6−4
3rd Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (WC) John Isner (USA) 67(4) 6−2 6−4 6−2
4th Round (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 3−6 6−4 6−1 6−4
Quarterfi nals (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (5) Andy Roddick (USA) 7−6(5) 7−6(4) 6−2
Semifi nal (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (4)Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) 7−5 6−1 7−5
Final (1) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (3) Novak Djokovic (SRB) 7−6(4) 7−6(2) 6−4
THE CHALLENGER AIMS FOR THE CORNERS, AND HE DOES SO WHILE ACCELERATING, AS IF POSSESSED BY A TENNIS DEMON.
64 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 65
Federer’s 13th Slam will bring
with it also the 14th and the 15th.
It now seems inevitable.
Sampras’s record will fall, sooner
or later. If Roger has really
regained confi dence in his shots,
there is no reason why he should
be denied two more victories,
perhaps at Wimbledon, which is
his favourite garden. He says he wants
to play until 2012, at least. Four seasons,
sixteen Slams. For one who has played
17 fi nals and won 13, it shouldn’t be an
impossible task.
It was the Slam of convalescence – for
the whole of tennis, after the Olympic
fever; for women’s tennis, after months
of hysteria at the top. And especially for
Roger Federer after months of problems,
both real and imaginary, of Slam fi nals
lost (Roland Garros, even Wimbledon).
Wonderful convalescence, but not yet
full recovery. Of course: Roger has won
his 13th Slam, rejected two of the lion
cubs that are trying and will continue
trying to gnaw at his number two in
the coming months; he has regained
confi dence and happiness. The Federer
we saw in New York is not the recovered
Federer some expected. In the fi rst
rounds he won easily but unconvincingly.
In the fourth round, the match of the
turning point against Andreev, he risked
The
com
men
t
Roger Federer: 9.5
A mark to peace of mind – Roger’s
above all. He chased it for long,
and fi nally reached it, but not
without diffi culty, apprehension
and doubts. It is likely that Federer
felt lost this season, scarred by
the defeats in Paris and in his
Wimbledon. Yet he was there, not far
behind, just around the corner. Always
in the fi nal. But this is the nature of
sport, and tennis even more so, if that’s
possible. A challenge that lasted a year,
multiplied by no fewer than 250 tennis
players, spread across all regions of the
world, which forces one to deal with
centimetres, with opportunities missed
by a breadth, with a breath of wind that
stretches the trajectory of a ball, a single
one . . . Roger has had the merit of not
Federer after the fi nal
“It’s wonderful to compare
fi ve Wimbledons with fi ve US
Opens. No doubt not many have
succeeded. Actually, nobody did.”
Murray after the fi nal
“The draw did not help me. But
even if I had been on top form,
it would have made no difference with
a Federer like this.”
Federer after the semifi nal with
Djokovic
“At times I thought: I would like to play
like this all the time.”
The
quot
es
Scor
ecar
d
the worst and, after defeating the Russian
at the fi fth set, he was as happy as a little
doll. In the quarters too he struggled
against Muller, and only in the semifi nals
against Djokovic did we see the Federer
of old times emerge for longer periods.
But in the fi nal it was only him. Murray
was too tender; he who talks tough when
the situation allows him, but appeared
very shy in this fi rst Slam fi nal of his.
Now, Federer is back on track. We shall
see if tennis will change again, from
today onwards.
disappearing when he found himself in
crisis. And his endurance has allowed
him to return victorious.
Back on track
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / US OPEN 2008
AFTER MONTHS OF PROBLEMS, BOTH REAL AND IMAGINARY, OF SLAM FINALS LOST (ROLAND GARROS, EVEN WIMBLEDON). WONDERFUL CONVALESCENCE, BUT NOT YET FULL RECOVERY.
Andy Murray beats Rafael Nadal
6−2 7−6 4−6 6−4
A match of two halves.
At Wimbledon it often happens;
at the US Open, hardly ever.
But on a grim day, with Hurricane
Hannah threatening to do its
worst above New York, the
organisers miscalculated the times
and shipped Murray and Nadal
onto the court at the old Central (the
Armstrong Stadium), one hour after the
other semifi nal between Federer and
Surp
rise
resu
lt
HE CHASED IT FOR LONG, AND FINALLY REACHED IT, BUT NOT WITHOUT DIFFICULTY, APPREHENSION AND DOUBTS.
TENNISWORLD SA 67
Federer’s journey1st Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) 6−3 6−0 6−3
2nd Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (q) Thiago Alves (BRA) 6−3 7−5 6−4
3rd Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (28) Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6−3 6−3 6−2
4th Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (23) Igor Andreev (RUS) 6−7 (5) 7−6 (5) 6−3 3−6 6−3
Quarterfi nals (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (q) Gilles Muller (LUX) 7−6 (5) 6−4 7−6 (5)
Semifi nals (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (3) Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6−3 5−7 7−5 6−2
Final (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (6) Andy Murray (GBR) 6−2 7−5 6−2
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / US OPEN 2008
In the fi nal, Federer found Murray
opposite him, or rather it would
be better to say “he did not
fi nd” Murray. Roger dominated,
playing a splendid fi rst set; yet
he came close to allowing the
Scotsman back in the race in the second
set by letting him go up a break, and
The
fi nal
Djokovic had started (on time) on the
Arthur Ashe. Sixty minutes wasted, which
did not give Murray the opportunity to
close the match after a set (fi rst) and a
tiebreak (on the second) that he largely
dominated. But which made Nadal
happy, as he could rest after he managed
to wring the third set shortly before the
arrival of the downpour. So, everything
postponed until the following day, day
one of the fi nal between the ladies. But
with Murray still on top of his game,
a demonstration of progress was made.
66 TENNISWORLD SA
Beating Nadal in the year in which the
Spanish had won everything (Paris,
Wimbledon, an Olympic medal) speaks
volumes about the Scotsman’s potential.
also when it came to closing the third,
he hesitated, losing his serve again.
Roger has rediscovered his forehand in
part, but he continues to throw away
cartloads of backhand returns on the
opponent’s second ball; he is often at the
net, but he makes trivial mistakes. He
has rediscovered the taste for invention
at crucial times − see the smash lob with
which he froze Djokovic in the semifi nal;
however, he continues to lose the thread.
Are we too demanding? With geniuses
it’s inevitable . . .
BABOLATwith Rafa and Dinara
Rafa
el N
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(Esp
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Dina
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ATP
& W
TA a
s of
Apr
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68 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 69
Taboo breakerTaboo breaker
Federer broke the taboos, he
took the tournament that neither
Edberg nor Becker nor Sampras
nor McEnroe had been able to
take. Alright, alright... Federer
is not a serve and volley player,
he is not a pure attacker. And
he succeeded in the following:
winning his fourteenth Slam thus
equalling Sampras in the number
of Slams won; achieving a career Grand
Slam − he admitted it himself, with a
candid, disarming honesty that does him
honour – in the year in which Nadal
stumbled on a bad day, on the wrong
opponent, during a period of poor form.
“I have always known that I could have
won in Paris had I not met Nadal in
the fi nal. I was hoping for this and it
happened exactly so. Funny, isn’t it?”
But Federer is not even a red clay expert,
he is not a baseline player, he is not a
heavy clay pusher, even if perhaps in this
Roland where he played worse than many
others that he lost, suffering, often going
under; he found the winning technical
key by brushing up the chief tool in the
arsenal of the good clay tennis player: the
drop-shot. Federer is simply the greatest
tennis player of the modern era.
A tennis player now beyond adjectives.
Having fi nally reached his personal
Mecca − now he lacks only a pilgrimage
in Davis − has moved him up one cloud.
FEDERER BROKE THE TABOOS, HE TOOK THE TOURNAMENT THAT NEITHER EDBERG NOR BECKER NOR SAMPRAS NOR MCENROE HAD BEEN ABLE TO TAKE.
The
com
men
t
Federer after the victory
“Am I the greatest? If you say so!”
Nadal on Federer’s victory
“Roger Federer is the man who
deserves more than anyone else to
have won at Roland Garros. I have
always said that I consider him the
greatest of all time.”
Sampras after Federer’s victory
“Roger is the strongest tennis player of
all times.”
Soderling on stage after the fi nal with
Federer
“Before the fi nal I was saying to my
coach: how could someone beat me 10
times? Next time I play against Federer
I will have to ask myself: how could
someone beat me 11 times?”
Roger Federer: 10
He was in danger of being
crushed by the enormous
pressure of the predictions. But
he was saved by the pride and
the innate class of a champion.
He has destroyed the dreams of
some with his backhand, buried
the expectations of others with
his serve and with his forehand
he annihilated the most recalcitrant of
ambitions.
The
scor
ecar
d
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / PARIGI 2009
He now fl oats just below Laver, even if at
those heights it would be diffi cult to use
a measuring tape to determine who has a
purer, more sublime share of immortality. Robin Soderling beats Rafael
Nadal 7−6 6−4 6−7 6−2
It happened, and we were not
prepared.
For a moment Roland Garros
was left astonished, in disbelief.
Nobody had ever seen him lose,
not at Roland Garros. Thirty-two
matches in a row had built an
aura of invincibility : an armour
that seemed impossible to scratch. Rafael
Nadal will not be the champion of
Roland Garros; he won’t be able to do
better than Borg.
Four consecutive victories, but the
fi fth will not be. Tennis turns the page.
Soderling played the match that Federer
has always dreamt of playing against
Nadal. It was perfect, even in defying the
Spaniard’s forehand. No hesitation, never.
Soderling could have won in three, if he
hadn’t been distracted at the tiebreak of
the second set; that he almost dominated
and if he lost many points along the way
it was only because he was looking for
an immediate conclusion. But he kept his
serve over 220 km/h. And with that he
breached Nadal’s defence.
Surp
rise
resu
lt
70 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 71
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / PARIGI 2009
Robin Soderling has never beaten
Roger Federer and it is likely that
he will never be able to do it.
But of all of them, this eleventh
repetition of the challenge was
the most diffi cult. Federer in fact
was not only playing against the Swede,
but also against himself and against
Nadal’s ghost. Well done to Federer for
concealing his state of mind. Very well
done, especially in the second set, where
he scored a direct hit with an impeccable
tiebreak. Yet, in the third set, when he
went to serve for the match, the storm
that was brewing inside him made itself
felt. There Federer threw away the fi rst
opportunity; there we feared that the
ghosts could take the cruellest of forms.
Instead Federer held on. And at the
second attempt he succeeded.
The
fi nal
Federer’s journey1st Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) 6−3 6−0 6−3
2nd Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (q) Thiago Alves (BRA) 6−3 7−5 6−4
3rd Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (28) Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6−3 6−3 6−2
4th Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (23) Igor Andreev (RUS) 6−7 (5) 7−6 (5) 6−3 3−6 6−3
Quarterfi nals (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (q) Gilles Muller (LUX) 7−6 (5) 6−4 7−6 (5)
Semifi nals (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (3) Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6−3 5−7 7−5 6−2
Final (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (6) Andy Murray (GBR) 6−2 7−5 6−2
IN THE THIRD SET,
WHEN HE WENT
TO SERVE FOR THE
MATCH, THE STORM
THAT WAS BREWING
INSIDE HIM MADE
ITSELF FELT.
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www.tournagrip.co.za
THE # 1 SELLING GRIP IN THE USA IS BACK IN SA!
72 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 73
After all, at the end, once all the
numbers are counted, all the
records listed (that of 15 Slams
won), all the rankings are drawn
up and all the words forgotten, all
that remains are certain images
. . . certain moments – the kind of
stuff that stays engraved in one’s
mind’s eye, anchoring one’s heart
forever to a small set of instants.
Federer’s jump – so much better and
different from his tearful kneeling
down – when Roddick shanked his last
forehand into the sky; a jump worthy of
Michael Jordan, Air Federer soaring above
Sampras and smashing into history.
And then Roddick’s face buried in his
towel, his half-volley stroked with no
roughness. Some of Federer’s forehands
and serves, as fl uid and devastating as
anomalous waves; some of Roddick’s
backhand passing shots, that backhand
which has become almost pleasing to
the eye, in spite of all the patches and the
darning from months of training. And
that backhand high volley, badly resting
on a ball lost to the wind, which could
have changed the course of a career – or
maybe two.
In the stands, next to Russell Crowe and
Sir Alex Ferguson, there was Woody Allen
too. Those who saw Federer’s match point
will know that a ball stopping on one
The
com
men
t or other side of the net can mockingly
change a life.
Roger Federer: 10 +
Nobody can deny the evidence.
He still has that minimum margin
of safety that leads him to victory
even in compromised situations.
The god of tennis has not
abandoned him and the genius
can continue to work.
4 − The Slam fi nals lost by
Roddick against Federer. Three at
Wimbledon, one in the US Open
129 − The serves held by Karlovic
consecutively (between the
Queen’s and Wimbledon) before
suffering the break by Federer in the
quarterfi nals of the Championships
Scor
ecar
dNu
mbe
rs
Andy Roddick should have
only been the sacrifi cial lamb
on the altar of Roger Federer’s
new record – 15 Slams and his
overtaking of Pete Sampras.
According to the general
predictions on the eve of the
match, he should have made
an appearance on Centre Court,
scored a few aces, perhaps got
closer to a tiebreak or even grabbed
a set and then resigned himself to
the overfl owing superiority of the
“strongest of all time” or, for Roger’s
open detractors, “the strongest of this
time” (this excludes Nadal’s fans who
refute both these). That was not the case,
as you know.
The whole Wimbledon tournament,
and not only the extraordinary fi nal in
which we admired the best Roddick of
all times, has given us back, in the kid
of Omaha-Nebraska, a protagonist that
seemed to have gone missing, who no
longer seemed to believe that he could be
competitive in tournaments at Slam level.
The
char
acte
r
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / WIMBLEDON 2009
Federer’s jumpFederer’s jumpSO MUCH BETTER AND DIFFERENT FROM HIS TEARFUL KNEELING DOWN – WHEN RODDICK SHANKED HIS LAST FOREHAND INTO THE SKY; A JUMP WORTHY OF MICHAEL JORDAN, AIR FEDERER SOARING ABOVE SAMPRAS AND SMASHING INTO HISTORY.
Andy Roddick beats Andy
Murray 6−4 4−6 7−6 7−6
On the small hill of the fans, fl ags
are being put away, people are
clearing off with long faces, the
last images on the maxi screen
are for Andy, but it is the wrong
one. The English dream has been
shattered in the semifi nal, as usual.
Three times with Taylor, four
with Henman. Now Murray. The messiah
is not him: someone, perhaps many,
have a doubt . . . Andy, the right one, is
Roddick. He squats on the grass, almost
gathered in prayer. He did not expect
to win, but he did everything that was
required to reach the fi nal once again.
The third at Wimbledon. But the surprise
Surp
rise
resu
lt
TENNISWORLD SA 7574 TENNISWORLD SA
SPECIAL REPORT / FEDERER / WIMBLEDON 2009
is huge, and when he raises his head
towards the crowd looking for friendly
faces − his wife Brooklyn Decker, his
coach Larry Stefanki − his disbelief turns
into emotion. So ends the most awaited
semifi nal, with the tears of an easy-
going American, who usurps Federer’s
prerogative and turns it into the most
burning disappointment that British
tennis could imagine.
It is 18:28 and play has been
going on for four hours and
sixteen minutes. Roddick is
serving, but Federer is ahead, for
once. The ball is the victory. It is
the fi rst, and it will be enough.
Federer’s return hits Roddick on the legs,
forces him to hit a wild forehand, hit
from bottom up, without balance. The
ball soars, Federer does not even follow
it with his gaze, knowing that it is out,
knowing he has won. Knowing that
tennis is again his . . .
“Tennis is mad,” says Roger, but it rarely
gives itself to the wrong hero. It might
have gone differently, perhaps.
“That tiebreak wasted in the second set,”
enumerates Andy, “and that 15−40 on
the eight all of the fi fth.”
In the tiebreak Roddick led six to two.
He was one set ahead. Perhaps he lost
the match there. But Federer had conceded
the fi rst set by missing a penalty with an
empty goal, on the fourth break point of
the fi ve all, and in the fi fth he played his
serve like we had never seen him do.
The
fi nal
Federer’s journey1st Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 7−5 6−3 6−2
2nd Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) 6−2 6−2 6−4
3rd Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (27) Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 6−3 6−2 6−7 (5) 6−1
4th Round (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (13) Robin Soderling (SWE) 6−4 7−6 (5) 7−6 (5)
Quarterfi nals (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (22) Ivo Karlovi� (CRO) 6−3 7−5 7−6 (3)
Semifi nals (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (24) Tommy Haas (GER) 7−6 (3) 7−5 6−3
Final (2) Roger Federer (SUI) b. (6) Andy Roddick (USA) 5−7 7−6 (6) 7−6 (5) 3−6 1−6 1−4
76 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 77
The starting point for this
research is to compare the
journeys of today’s four most
celebrated champions in their youth and
the journeys of four greats who shaped
the previous tennis generation. This
is why we have tried to place Federer,
Nadal, Djokovic and Roddick on one pan
of the scale and Edberg, Becker, Agassi
and Sampras on the other.
The comparison focuses on the junior
category, that is U18. We have tried to
identify differences in direction and
concepts in terms of planning. We have
then looked at the results achieved
by these eight players and split them
between the Under and the Open space,
and correlated them with a few tables.
The function of the tables is to trace and,
as much as possible, measure degree of
precocity and the goals achieved in the
junior categories.
GENERATIONS COMPARED
Let’s see what the overall fi gures tell us.
The fi rst U18 tournament was played
at an average age of 14 years and
10 months by the “Federer quartet”
and 15 years and four months by the
“Agassi quartet”. For the fi rst Open
tournament, the average ages are just
under 15 years and six months and
just above 15 years and 10 months
respectively. The conclusions? The four
present day champions are a few
months ahead of those born around
1970, both in their junior debut and
in the Open. The same applies to the
Davis Cup debut, which was set at
17 years and eight months for Federer
& Co and 18 years and fi ve months
for Agassi. & Co. The age of the fi rst
Open ATP ranking bucks the trend:
16 years and three months for today’s
big shots; 15 years and 11 months for
those of the recent past. It is however
just an apparent countertrend. In the
past 15 to 20 years, competition in the
Open space has grown substantially,
especially in terms of the numbers
of players. As a result, it has become
harder to acquire the fi rst ATP points
by making one’s way in the Futures or
Satellite Tournaments (which have now
virtually disappeared). Federer, Nadal,
Djokovic and Roddick show an average
rank at 157, whereas Agassi, Sampras,
Edberg and Becker have a markedly
better average at 57. This difference
of 100 places indicates that Agassi
and company were distinctly more
competitive on the verge of mature age
than Federer and company. If we then
consider the year-end rankings for their
18th year of age, the relative average
values speak of an extraordinary 22,5
versus a signifi cant but distant 87. This
indicates that the last months of Open
activity in their U18 years were strongly
heralding signifi cant results for Agassi
and company – much more so than for
today’s four champions.
VARYING DEGREES OF PRECOCITY
The junior curricula for the eight
champions who are the object of this
study foretell the results of the Opens
by indicating each player’s degree of
precocity. A higher degree of maturity
has been the prerogative of Agassi and
Sampras – perhaps in an absolute sense
for the entire Open era.
Although he had already made his
mark at the age of 12 in a few U14
tournaments in the US, Agassi practically
abandoned junior competitions at 15
during the course of 1985, and in 1986
he competed on just one occasion in the
U18. If we look for his most signifi cant
result, the answer is to be found in
December 1983 when he reached the
Orange Bowl U14 fi nal at the age of
13 years and eight months. He was
defeated by a Mexican, Eduardo Veléz,
whom he was never able to beat. I am
tempted to think that in those days, not
many wannabe bookmakers would have
placed a bet on Agassi. But who would
have imagined that this ordinary young
boy could conceal one of the greatest
talents that tennis has ever featured:
a young man who would close his last
junior year – 1988 – in the third seat of
the world ATP ranking? Agassi himself
has explained why at 16 he was already
entirely devoted to Open competitions.
“I was so disgusted by junior
tournaments to the point of being sick
of tennis,” he said.
Sampras too switched entirely to Open
tournaments at 17 and 18, which is not
surprising for someone who had been so
far ahead in all competitive activities – at
13 he already played primarily in U16
competitions.
A similar choice in the U18 years has
been Nadal’s prerogative (he only
competed in Wimbledon in 2003, where
he reached the semifi nals) and to a large
extent that of Djokovic and Becker who
competed in only three events in the
Junior ITF at the age of 17.
Or is it possible to fi nd a perfect mix in the very delicate passage from the ‘Under’ to the ‘Pro’ world? We try to answer these questions by retracing the competitive journeys of eight great protagonists of two consecutive generations: Becker, Edberg, Sampras, Agassi, Roddick, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.
Edberg and Federer instead
won their U18 world title in
their second-last junior year
and therefore only their 18th
year was entirely devoted to
professional tennis.
At the opposite end of the
spectrum we fi nd Roddick, a
champion who, more than any
other, needed the chance to
mature in U18 competitions. After
Edberg and Federer, Andy is the
third world junior champion in
this story, but he only achieved
this at the age of 18 and not at 17 or,
as Cash did in 1981, when he was 16.
SUPER-YOUNG EDBERG
Edberg boasts the most prestigious
curriculum in the history of junior
tennis.
In 1982, at the age of 16, he won all the
major U16 competitions, and particularly
the Orange Bowl, Avvenire and European
Championship, without suffering a single
defeat. A year later, he was crowned
world champion U18 and accomplished
something which remains unmatched to
this day: the Grand Slam U18.
It is interesting to note that in 1983
Edberg suffered only two defeats. A very
peculiar event ‘blemishes’ Edberg’s name.
During the European U18 championship
in Geneva he put up a weak defence
against a particularly strong Mezzadri and
went out in the fourth round, to a sharp
6– 2 6−2.
At the optional consolation tournament
held the following day, Edberg conceded
THE JUNIOR CURRICULA FOR THE EIGHT CHAMPIONS
WHO ARE THE OBJECT OF THIS STUDY FORETELL
THE RESULTS OF THE OPENS BY INDICATING EACH
PLAYER’S DEGREE
OF PRECOCITY.
GROWING UP
GROWING UPGROWING UP
EDBERG BOASTS THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS CURRICULUM IN THE HISTORY OF JUNIOR TENNIS.
What is required in order to become fi rst in class? Should one start winning
young in one’s age categories or competing
in the major circuits right from the start?
78 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 79
GROWING UP
HOW OLD WERE OUR HEROES
WHEN THEY DEBUTED IN THE OPEN
WORLD AND WHAT CATEGORY OF
TOURNAMENT WAS THEIR FIRST
PLAYING FIELD?
his astonished opponent a deliberate
and dramatic 6−0 6−0 which truly
enraged the Swedish managers. These
events were the outcome of the choices
that had been imposed on him up to
that point. In essence, Edberg felt that
he was competitive enough among the
pros to be able to be very selective about
the junior engagement; he opposed the
choices made by the Swedish managers
who typically enjoyed winning junior
titles, even if this meant lining up young
talent already successfully entering the
Open world.
NADAL’S TWO GEMS
Nadal’s career also features two gems.
The fi rst dates to 2000, his fourteenth
year. In the U14 category he suffered just
one loss (in San Miniato, in the Winter
Cup, at the hands of Slovakian Kamil
Kapkovic) and won the team world title,
the Master on the courts of TC Prato
(Italy) and in Tarbes (France) he won
the indoor tournament of Les Petits As
which can undisputedly be regarded as
the most prestigious tournament reserved
for 13- and 14-year-olds.
Two years later, in 2002, Spain lined
him up for the World and European
U16 team championships, i.e. the Junior
Davis Cup, Borotra Cup and European
Winter Cup indoor. Nadal not only made
a signifi cant contribution to the Iberian
efforts in achieving all three titles, but
he also did not concede a single set to
his eleven opponents. Already a year
earlier he had focused his schedule on
Open events to such an extent that he
only played the Winter Cup with his
same age group. It was, however, the
overwhelming power displayed in 2002
in the U16 category that made everyone
(except Spain) realise that a likely fi rst in
class was on his way. This was supported
by his Open results, with six Futures
tournaments won out of nine played.
DJOKOVIC
Djokovic was not a particularly
precocious young man. At the age
of 13 he went unnoticed in his U14
engagements, but in 2000 and 2001 his
performance enjoyed a sudden strong
surge which culminated in his conquest
of the European title and his leadership
in the continental U14 ranking.
At 15, in 2002, he went through a
moderately intense programme, partly
devoted to U16 tournaments, partly to
U18. The outcome was a fi fth place in
the European U16 and two wins in the
junior ITF tournament, albeit of low
grade. He was therefore highly awaited in
2003, but in spite of the satisfaction from
the success in the Borotra Cup (where
he fi nished unbeaten the U16 European
and World Team Championships) he was
unable to deliver in the junior category.
Djokovic probably placed most of his
focus on the seven Futures tournaments
that he played between Belgrade and
Monaco, especially after his win at the
end of June when, having just turned 16,
he seized the fi rst Open title in his career.
THE MOMENT OF THE ‘PRO’ DEBUT
How old were our heroes when they
debuted in the Open world and what
category of tournament was their fi rst
playing fi eld?
The most precocious was Nadal at
14 years and seven months, the slowest
Edberg at 16 years and eight months.
The comparison is unreliable unless we
consider that Nadal was competing at
Cala Ratjada in Spain in the qualifying
draw of a Satellite tournament, therefore
at the bottom end of the Open jackpot,
whereas a wild card placed Edberg in
the main draw of the Geneva Grand Prix
with US$75 000 in prize money.
What we said about Nadal also applies
to a Federer at barely 15 years old and
to Agassi and Becker, except that the
latter competed in the main draw of two
Satellite tournaments two months after
turning 15.
Djokovic and Roddick had their fi rst
Open trial in the main draw of a Futures
tournament, but Novak was 15 years and
seven months, whereas Andy was a year
older. There remains Sampras who was
launched as a wild card at 16 and a half –
and not without controversy – from the
junior world into the great Open tennis
of the Philadelphia Indoor which in
1988 offered the considerable amount of
US$410 000 as a prize. He passed three
qualifying rounds beating three fellow
countrymen and lost 6–4 6–3 in the
main draw to Sam Giammalva who was
then ranked 100th in ATP. Had a new star
just been born? Some began to wonder
but a positive answer came a few weeks
later in Indian Wells, the stage of a half-
a-million-dollar Grand Prix. Not only did
Sampras pass the qualifi ers again, but he
electrifi ed the public with his defeats of
Ramesh Krishnan and Eliot Teltscher, then
the world’s number six.
I must point out that the fi rst one to spot
the talent in a very young Sampras was
a Palos Verdes paediatrician, Pete Fischer,
who loved serve and volley tennis and
bragged about his talent scout skills. He
was Sampras’s true and only coach until
1989 (when he was fi red because he
had become too patronising) and it was
he who convinced Marilyn Fenberger,
the owner-organiser of the Philadelphia
tournament, to grant Sampras the
legendary wild card.
AGASSI AND BECKER PRECOCIOUS WINNERS
Only Becker and Agassi have been
able to sign their names against a big
tournament, i.e. one of the matches in
the ATP Grand Prix (which began in
1990), before turning 18.
Boris won the Queen’s title in June 1985,
Agassi the South America Open at the
end of November 1987.
Between the ages of 18 and 19 we fi nd,
in order: Nadal, Edberg, Sampras and
Roddick, winners at Sopot in 2004,
Milan in 1984, Philadelphia in 1990
and Atlanta in 2001, respectively. The
goal was achieved with a further delay
of one year by Djokovic in Amersfoort
and Federer in Milan.
WORLD RANKING AT 18 YEARS
Here are the ATP ranking on the
day of the player’s 18th birthday or
immediately thereafter:
Agassi: 15 Sampras: 94
Nadal: 47 Federer: 103
Edberg: 60 Djokovic: 153
Becker: 60 Roddick: 325
PERSONAL RECORDS AND AGE
RODDICK: 1st ATP at 21 years,
two months and fi ve days
SAMPRAS: 1st ATP at 21 years,
eight months and zero days
NADAL: 1st ATP at 22 years,
two months and 15 days
FEDERER: 1st ATP at 22 years,
fi ve months and 25 days
EDBERG: 1st ATP at 24 years,
six months and 25 days
AGASSI: 1st ATP at 24 years,
11 months and 11 days
BECKER: 2nd ATP at 23 years,
two months and six days
DJOKOVIC: 3rd ATP at 20 years,
one month and 17 days
AGE AT FIRST SUCCESS
BECKER: at 17 years, six months and
24 days: in Queen’s, London (UK)
US$231 000
AGASSI: at 17 years, seven months
and zero days: in Sul America Open,
Itaparica (Bra) US$516 000
NADAL: at 18 years, two months and
12 days: in Sopot (Pol) US$500 000
EDBERG: at 18 years, six months and
six days: in Milan (Ita)
US$375 000
SAMPRAS: at 18 years, six months
and 13 days: in Philadelphia (USA)
US$825 000
RODDICK: at 18 years, eight months
and six days: in Atlanta (USA)
US$400 000
DJOKOVIC: at 19 years, two months
and one day: in Amersfoort (Ned)
US$323 000
FEDERER: at 19 years, fi ve months
and 26 days: in Milan (Ita)
US$400 000
DAVIS CUP DEBUT
DJOKOVIC: at 16 years, 10 months and
17 days (Serbia v Lettonia fi rst round of
the Euro-African zone 2nd group, won
against Skroderis for 6−2 6−2)
BECKER: at 17 years, three months
and one day (Germany v Spain, fi rst
round of the World Group, won against
Aguilera 6−3 6−-4 6−4)
FEDERER: at 17 years, seven months
and 24 days (Switzerland v Italy, fi rst
round of the World Group, won against
Sanguinetti for 6−4 6−7 6−3 6−4)
NADAL: at 17 years, eight months and
three days (Spain v Czech Republic,
fi rst round of the World Group, won
against Stepanek for 7−6 6−3 7−6)
AGASSI: at 17 years, 11 months and
21 days (USA v Peru, semi-fi nals of the
American zone 1st group, won against
Yzaga for 6−87−5 6−1 6−2)
EDBERG: at 18 years, one month and
25 days (Sweden v Paraguay, fi rst
round of the World Group, defeated in
double against F. Gonzales/Pecci for
6−2 8−6 4−6 6−1)
RODDICK: at 18 years, fi ve months and
12 days (USA v Switzerland, fi rst round
of the World Group, won against Bastl
for 6−3 6−4 in a dead rubber)
SAMPRAS: at 20 years, three months
and 17 days (USA v France, World
Group fi nal, defeated in the two singles
by Leconte for 6−4 7−5 6−4 and
Forget for 3−6 7−6 6−3 6−4)
GEOGRAPHY OF TENNIS
USA and Australia, symbolic cases
The importance of the pull
In order to fi nd out (and understand)
how such an upset was caused, it is
interesting to analyse the course run in the
fortunes of nations that have historically
dominated world tennis. The emblematic
cases are those of the United States and
Australia. To get an idea of the importance
of these two heavyweights in the history
of tennis, let’s use some numbers: USA:
134 Slam tournaments and 32 Davis Cups
won. Australia: 100 Slam tournaments and
28 Davis Cups on display.
Let’s begin with the United States.
At the time of the fi rst ATP ranking
(1973), they had 25 players in the Top
100. They fi rst reached 30 in 1976 and in
1979 the astronomical fi gure of 40. They
reached the peak of 42 in January 1983.
In 1987 it was back to 27 and in 1991
they fell below twenty for the fi rst time
with 19. In order to pass “dimension
ten” we will have to wait until 1998
(9 Top 100), but already since 1995
How many times in the recent years
have we debated the appropriate strategy
to relaunch our tennis? Countless
times, and with the most disparate
assumptions. But are we really sure that
it is the organisational model to make
a difference?
THE “CASE OF SWEDEN”
Let’s take the case of Sweden, a leading
nation in world tennis for at least a couple
of decades. Was it the pull of the Borg-
effect or the basic work of the Swedish
Federation that had a greater infl uence on
the boom of Swedish tennis? Both factors
were certainly important, but there is no
doubt that without the explosion of the
Borg-mania, the work of the Scandinavian
Federation would have been much more
diffi cult. It is not by chance that a country
that had never produced much until the
early 1970s soon saw a shower of titles
with the advent of the Swedish bear:
11 Slams plus a Davis Cup in 1975.
After the retirement of the
“Phenomenon”, there was already a
new breed of phenomena − this time
with a small “p” − ready to give Sweden
the splendour of 15 other Slams (eight
Wilander, six Edberg, one T Johansson),
plus six more Davis Cups and countless
other results and placements at the
highest levels. In this case, we can
comfortably say that the pull effect
was predominant with respect to the
organisational model.
Of a different nature by contrast were the
structures proposed by Spain and France.
In both cases, an organisational structure
based on a strong synergy between central
federations and private academies has
produced huge results, despite the absence
of the Champion-pull.
What do Nick Saviano and Blake Strode have in common? Three things at least: both are tennis
players, Americans and number 42 in the
ranking of their country. The similarities
end here.
And the differences? When Saviano
was USA number 42 in 1983, he also
occupied the 98th position in the
world rankings. With the same ranking
at a national level, poor Strode ranks
number 624 today.
Nothing can better explain how and how
much the geography of men’s tennis has
changed over the years than the parallel
between these two tennis players.
You understood correctly: in 1983 as
many as 42 American tennis players
featured among the fi rst hundred in the
world; while 26 other countries fought
one another for the allocation of the
58 remaining places.
Reading that ranking (of 3 January
1983) again, the fi rst thing that stands
out is that all fi ve continents appeared
in the Top 100 and that old Europe was
represented by only 29 players. Even
Africa could boast two Top 20: South
Africans Johan Kriek (12) and Kevin
Curren (17). Asia closed the list with
Indian Ramesh Krishnan (100).
They were different times. Scrolling
through the current ranking, we discover
that it’s Europe that controls it, with as
many as 71 players among the Top 100
and the remaining 29 places allocated as
follows: 15 to South America (nine to
Argentina, two each to Chile and Brazil
and one each to Uruguay and Colombia),
12 to USA and two to Australia. Africa
and Asia: not received.
the United States has closed the year with
between eight and 13 players among
the fi rst hundred. The last ranking sees
12 USA players in the top 100 (plus four
compared to last year), but a US player
has not won a Slam tournament for six
years now (since Andy Roddick in the
2003 US Open).
Australia’s turnabout is even more
glaring.
Emerging from the successes of the
wonderful 1950s and 1960s, the
Kangaroos could boast 17 players among
the fi rst hundred, at the time of the fi rst
ranking drawn up by computer. In 1976
there are still 15, but for the fi rst time no
Australian tennis player is among the Top
10 (42-year-old Ken Rosewall is the best
Aussie at 13th place in the ranking!). Two
years later, in 1978, the best Australian
would be John Alexander even at number
22. But we will have to wait for 1980 to
see the fi rst obvious signs of crisis. Only
seven players in the fi rst hundred and the
best player, Paul McNamee, at number
33 in the ranking. Since then Australia
has never had more than 10 players in
the Top 100 and it has been saved by
the isolated exploits of Cash, Rafter and
Hewitt. Suffi ce it to consider that this
great country, an icon of world tennis,
had won 95 Slam tournaments until
1976 (Mark Edmonson at the Australian
Open) and only fi ve in 33 years: One
Cash and two each Rafter and Hewitt
(who was also the last to win a Major at
Wimbledon in 2002).
We can now start drawing some
conclusions. In 1983 the USA/Australia
combination occupied 51 of the fi rst
hundred world rankings; today only 14.
Looking at the current ranking, we soon
discover that the 37 places lost by the
USA/Australia duo have all taken the
route of the Old Continent.
Compared to 1983, Europe has gained
42 positions in the Top 100 (from
29 to 71). There were 12 European
nations represented then; now there
are 20. With the presence of a number
of countries previously absent: Serbia,
Croatia, Russia, Austria, Romania, Cyprus,
Portugal, Ukraine and Lithuania. The only
countries not represented compared to
1983 are Poland (Fibak) and Hungary
(Taroczy).
GEOGRAPHY OF
TENNISWORLD SA 8180 TENNISWORLD SA
EN
ZO
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ICI
TENNISWORLD SA 83
GEOGRAPHY OF TENNIS
The Spanish system
Let’s look at Spain. The Spanish system
was capable of producing 12 Top Ten
from 1990 to date: Emilio Sanchez, Sergi
Bruguera, Albert Berasategui, Carlos
Costa, Carlos Moya, Alex Corretja, Juan
Carlos Ferrero, Albert Costa, Rafael Nadal,
Tommy Robredo, David Ferrer and
Fernando Verdasco. Two among these
(Ferrero and Nadal) have even been
Number One. It’s clear that in this case
the phenomenon (Nadal) was produced
by the system and not vice versa.
The French modelFrance has not produced phenomena
such as Nadal, but starting from the
1980s the transalpine movement has
experienced a steady growth. Certainly
a champion such as Yannick Noah was
some sort of a forerunner, returning
some enthusiasm to an environment
depressed by the non-results of the
1970s.
But the real difference – similarly to
what happened in Spain – was made in
this case by the French organisational
model, which was capable of producing
The most represented European
nations in the Top 100 today are Spain
(12 players), France (10), Germany (10)
and Russia (6).
But does quantity also mean quality?
Not always.
While no-one can reasonably question
the very high quality expressed by the
Spanish and French movements, things
change if one looks for example at the
case of Germany in a little more detail.
The best German player at the moment is
Tommy Haas (17 in the ranking), but the
ten Top 100 have an average ranking of
58,6. And there’s more. When analysing
the Junior world rankings, one fi nds only
fi ve Germans among the fi rst hundred
(with Krawietz 12 and Schultz 16, both
class of 1992).
Does quantity equal quality? Sweden: A critical time.
True, they have Soderling at number
10 in the ranking. But, for the second
consecutive year, he is the only one
present among the fi rst hundred.
Incredible if one considers that − thanks
to the post-Borg generation − between
1986 and 1990 – the Swedish presence
in the Top 100 were always at least ten
(with peaks at 12 in 1988 and 1990).
But it is not always a feast. Phenomena
are not always born in Sweden.
82 TENNISWORLD SA
10 Top Ten from 1982 onwards:
Yannick Noah, Henri Leconte, Guy
Forget, Cedric Pioline, Arnaud Clement,
Sebastien Grosjean, Richard Gasquet,
Gael Monfi ls, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and
Gilles Simon. Among these only Yannick
was awarded a Major, but Leconte,
Pioline (twice), Clement and Tsonga
have been able to play for the title in the
fi nal. Not to mention that Italy’s cousins
from beyond the Alps can boast three
Top Ten (Mina, Obry and Herbert) in
the Junior ranking.
N O T F O R S A L E T O P E R S O N S U N D E R T H E A G E O F 1 8 Y E A R S
TENNISWORLD SA 8584 TENNISWORLD SA
ATP SINGLE RANKING (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
RAN
K
NAM
E &
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
PO
INTS
PO
SITI
ON
MO
VED
TOU
RN
AMEN
TS
PLA
YED
1 Federer, Roger (SUI) 10 340 0 18
2 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 8 845 0 17
3 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 8 300 0 22
4 Murray, Andy (GBR) 7 140 0 18
5 Del Potro, Juan Martin (ARG) 6 050 0 21
6 Roddick, Andy (USA) 4 500 0 20
7 Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) 4 430 0 25
8 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP) 3 360 0 22
9 Tsonga, Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 2 985 0 25
10 Soderling, Robin (SWE) 2 935 0 25
11 Gonzalez, Fernando (CHI) 2 780 0 17
12 Simon, Gilles (FRA) 2 675 0 27
13 Cilic, Marin (CRO) 2 400 0 22
14 Stepanek, Radek (CZE) 2 310 0 23
15 Robredo, Tommy (ESP) 2 175 0 26
16 Monfi ls, Gael (FRA) 2 055 0 23
17 Haas, Tommy (GER) 1 845 0 18
18 Ferrer, David (ESP) 1 840 0 25
19 Youzhny, Mikhail (RUS) 1 690 4 31
20 Berdych, Tomas (CZE) 1 655 -1 27
21 Wawrinka, Stanislas (SUI) 1 625 0 20
22 Hewitt, Lleyton (AUS) 1 600 -2 20
23 Ferrero, Juan Carlos (ESP) 1 575 -1 24
24 Querrey, Sam (USA) 1 390 0 25
25 Ljubicic, Ivan (CRO) 1 380 0 25
26 Kohlschreiber, Philipp (GER) 1 340 0 27
27 Almagro, Nicolas (ESP) 1 305 0 25
28 Melzer, Jurgen (AUT) 1 260 0 28
29 Troicki, Viktor (SRB) 1 175 0 29
30 Monaco, Juan (ARG) 1 150 0 26
31 Chardy, Jeremy (FRA) 1 137 0 30
32 Montanes, Albert (ESP) 1 135 2 27
33 Mathieu, Paul-Henri (FRA) 1 090 -1 28
34 Beck, Andreas (GER) 1 066 -1 27
35 Isner, John (USA) 1 032 5 21
36 Andreev, Igor (RUS) 1 030 -1 33
37 Hanescu, Victor (ROU) 1 021 -1 31
38 Bellucci, Thomaz (BRA) 1 021 -1 27
39 Karlovic, Ivo (CRO) 1 015 -1 22
40 Tipsarevic, Janko (SRB) 1 015 -1 28
41 Blake, James (USA) 980 0 20
42 Zeballos, Horacio (ARG) 957 0 30
43 Garcia-Lopez, Guillermo (ESP) 954 4 28
44 Becker, Benjamin (GER) 948 -1 28
45 Baghdatis, Marcos (CYP) 945 0 22
46 Sela, Dudi (ISR) 928 -2 27
47 Lopez, Feliciano (ESP) 915 -1 25
48 Cuevas, Pablo (URU) 901 2 29
49 Benneteau, Julien (FRA) 879 -1 28
50 Seppi, Andreas (ITA) 875 1 30
ATP SINGLE SOUTH AFRICA RANKING (09 NOVEMBER 2009)
RAN
K
NAM
E &
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
PO
INTS
PO
SITI
ON
MO
VED
TOU
RN
AMEN
TS
PLA
YED
125 Anderson, Kevin (RSA) 439 -5 25
249 De Voest, Rik (RSA) 188 8 19
263 Van der Merwe, Izak (RSA) 172 1 21
327 Klaasen, Raven (RSA) 128 5 16
427 Wolmarans, Fritz (RSA) 85 13 11
553 Anderson, Andrew (RSA) 51 20 9
717 Andersen, Jean (RSA) 25 0 1
1 225 Roelofse, Ruan (RSA) 4 80 7
1 393 Janse van Rensburg, Benjamin (RSA) 2 -351 3
1 519 Coertzen, Hendrik (RSA) 2 -277 9
1 532 Janse Van Rensburg, Petri (RSA) 1 0 1
1 532 O'Brien, Dean (RSA) 1 5 1
1 616 Sacks, Gary (RSA) 1 3 2
1 616 Nagel, Rainier (RSA) 1 -79 2
1 616 Jeske, Manfred (RSA) 1 0 2
ATP DOUBLE SOUTH AFRICA RANKING (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
RAN
K
NAM
E &
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
PO
INTS
PO
SITI
ON
MO
VED
TOU
RN
AMEN
TS
PLA
YED
9 Moodie, Wesley (RSA) 4 750 0 27
47 De Voest, Rik (RSA) 1 456 -1 21
56 Coetzee, Jeff (RSA) 1 280 0 33
139 Anderson, Kevin (RSA) 498 2 17
235 Van der Merwe, Izak (RSA) 292 -2 17
300 Haggard, Chris (RSA) 213 4 8
410 Klaasen, Raven (RSA) 133 3 12
495 Wolmarans, Fritz (RSA) 99 4 7
594 Roelofse, Ruan (RSA) 76 6 8
696 Coertzen, Hendrik (RSA) 53 4 14
787 Anderson, Andrew (RSA) 41 72 6
868 Janse van Rensburg, Benjamin (RSA) 32 96 3
1 246 O'Brien, Dean (RSA) 9 0 2
1 343 Scholtz, Nikala (RSA) 7 7 2
1 359 Andersen, Jean (RSA) 7 -9 3
1 392 Ramiaramanan, Lofo (RSA) 7 9 9
1 444 Weideman, Rohan (RSA) 5 6 2
ATP DOUBLE TEAM RANKING (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
RAN
K
NAM
E &
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
PO
INTS
PO
SITI
ON
MO
VED
TOU
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AMEN
TS
PLA
YED
1 Bryan, Bob (USA) / Bryan, Mike (USA) 9 680 0 23
2 Nestor, Daniel (CAN) / Zimonjic,
Nenad (SRB) 9 510 0 23
3 Bhupathi, Mahesh (IND) / Knowles,
Mark (BAH) 5 950 0 18
4 Dlouhy, Lukas (CZE) / Paes, Leander
(IND) 5 740 0 14
5 Kubot, Lukasz (POL) / Marach, Oliver
(AUT) 3 660 0 22
6 Mirnyi, Max (BLR) / Ram, Andy (ISR) 3 550 0 15
7 Cermak, Frantisek (CZE) / Mertinak,
Michal (SVK) 3 400 2 31
8 Moodie, Wesley (RSA) / Norman,
Dick (BEL) 3 295 -1 12
9 Fyrstenberg, Mariusz (POL) /
Matkowski, Marcin (POL) 2 975 -1 25
10 Soares, Bruno (BRA) / Ullyett, Kevin
(ZIM) 2 470 0 24
11 Knowle, Julian (AUT) / Melzer, Jurgen
(AUT) 2 430 0 23
12 Damm, Martin (CZE) / Lindstedt,
Robert (SWE) 2 215 0 22
13 Aspelin, Simon (SWE) / Hanley,
Paul (AUS) 1 610 0 17
14 Melo, Marcelo (BRA) / Sa, Andre
(BRA) 1 540 1 26
15 Parrott, Travis (USA) / Polasek,
Filip (SVK) 1 485 -1 22
16 Benneteau, Julien (FRA) / Tsonga,
Jo-Wilfried (FRA) 1 270 0 3
17 Brunstrom, Johan (SWE) / Rojer,
Jean-Julien (AHO) 1 005 2 33
18 Fish, Mardy (USA) / Roddick, Andy
(USA) 1 000 -1 1
19 Blake, James (USA) / Fish, Mardy
(USA) 965 -1 5
20 Bolelli, Simone (ITA) / Seppi, Andreas
(ITA) 890 0 12
ATP DOUBLE RANKING (09 NOVEMBER 2009)
RAN
K
NAM
E &
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
PO
INTS
PO
SITI
ON
MO
VED
TOU
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AMEN
TS
PLA
YED
1 Nestor, Daniel (CAN) 10 860 0 24
1 Zimonjic, Nenad (SRB) 10 860 0 26
3 Bryan, Bob (USA) 10 050 0 24
3 Bryan, Mike (USA) 10 050 0 24
5 Knowles, Mark (BAH) 6 770 0 22
6 Dlouhy, Lukas (CZE) 6 460 0 24
7 Bhupathi, Mahesh (IND) 6 105 0 20
8 Paes, Leander (IND) 5 890 0 16
9 Moodie, Wesley (RSA) 4 750 0 27
10 Ram, Andy (ISR) 4 295 0 24
11 Kubot, Lukasz (POL) 3 716 0 26
12 Marach, Oliver (AUT) 3 716 0 31
13 Norman, Dick (BEL) 3 666 0 20
14 Mirnyi, Max (BLR) 3 550 0 17
15 Matkowski, Marcin (POL) 3 420 0 28
16 Fyrstenberg, Mariusz (POL) 3 330 0 27
17 Fish, Mardy (USA) 3 275 0 12
18 Mertinak, Michal (SVK) 3 220 0 33
19 Cermak, Frantisek (CZE) 3 130 0 33
20 Knowle, Julian (AUT) 2 760 0 28
ATP TOUR, MOST MATCHES PLAYED
1 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 88
2 Murray, Andy (GBR) 71
3 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP) 71
4 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 70
5 Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) 69
ATP TOUR, BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE
1 Murray, Andy (GBR) 0,873
2 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 0,857
3 Federer, Roger (SUI) 0,851
4 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 0,818
5 Sluiter, Raemon (NED) 0,800
TENNISWORLD SA 8786 TENNISWORLD SA
WTA SINGLE RANKING (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
CU
RR
ENT
PR
EVIO
US
NAM
E
DAT
E O
F
BIR
TH
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
PO
INTS
TOU
RS
1 1 Williams, Serena 26/09/81 USA 9075 182 2 Safi na, Dinara 27/04/86 RUS 7800 193 3 Kuznetsova, Svetlana 27/06/85 RUS 6141 194 4 Wozniacki, Caroline 11/07/90 DEN 5875 275 5 Dementieva, Elena 15/10/81 RUS 5585 206 6 Williams, Venus 17/06/80 USA 5126 177 7 Azarenka, Victoria 31/07/89 BLR 4820 178 8 Jankovic, Jelena 28/02/85 SRB 3965 209 9 Zvonareva, Vera 07/09/84 RUS 3560 21
10 10 Radwanska, Agnieszka 06/03/89 POL 3450 2411 12 Bartoli, Marion 02/10/84 FRA 3415 2412 11 Pennetta, Flavia 25/02/82 ITA 3150 2513 13 Stosur, Samantha 30/03/84 AUS 3045 2114 14 Sharapova, Maria 19/04/87 RUS 2820 1615 15 Li, Na 26/02/82 CHN 2541 1816 18 Wickmayer, Yanina 20/10/89 BEL 2385 2417 16 Schiavone, Francesca 23/06/80 ITA 2375 2718 17 Clijsters, Kim 08/06/83 BEL 2340 419 19 Razzano, Virginie 12/05/83 FRA 2300 2120 20 Petrova, Nadia 08/06/82 RUS 2220 2221 21 Mauresmo, Amelie 05/07/79 FRA 2077 1422 22 Ivanovic, Ana 06/11/87 SRB 2067 1623 25 Lisicki, Sabine 22/09/89 GER 2035 1824 23 Vesnina, Elena 01/08/86 RUS 2011 2125 24 Hantuchova, Daniela 23/04/83 SVK 1985 2426 44 Rezai, Aravane 14/03/87 FRA 1985 2327 30 Martinez Sanchez, Maria Jose 12/08/82 ESP 1940 2128 28 Medina Garrigues, Anabel 31/07/82 ESP 1910 2629 26 Kleybanova, Alisa 15/07/89 RUS 1880 2530 27 Cibulkova, Dominika 06/05/89 SVK 1875 2131 31 Peer, Shahar 01/05/87 ISR 1780 2632 29 Bondarenko, Kateryna 08/08/86 UKR 1740 2033 32 Bondarenko, Alona 13/08/84 UKR 1680 2534 33 Suarez Navarro, Carla 03/09/88 ESP 1675 2535 34 Wozniak, Aleksandra 07/09/87 CAN 1645 2536 35 Zheng, Jie 05/07/83 CHN 1630 2137 36 Dulko, Gisela 30/01/85 ARG 1605 2238 38 Czink, Melinda 22/10/82 HUN 1547 2439 37 Benesova, Iveta 01/02/83 CZE 1540 2540 42 Szavay, Agnes 29/12/88 HUN 1520 2241 39 Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia 03/07/91 RUS 1505 2242 40 Safarova, Lucie 04/02/87 CZE 1480 2543 41 Schnyder, Patty 14/12/78 SUI 1456 2244 48 Dushevina, Vera 06/10/86 RUS 1430 2245 46 Rybarikova, Magdalena 04/10/88 SVK 1425 2646 43 Cirstea, Sorana 07/04/90 ROU 1417 2447 45 Peng, Shuai 08/01/86 CHN 1396 2248 47 Errani, Sara 29/04/87 ITA 1370 2849 49 Oudin, Melanie 23/09/91 USA 1303 1650 50 Cornet, Alize 22/01/90 FRA 1285 24
WTA DOUBLE RANKING (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
CU
RR
ENT
PR
EVIO
US
NAM
E
DAT
E O
F
BIR
TH
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
PO
INTS
TOU
RS
1 1 Black, Cara 17/02/79 ZIM 8520 211 1 Huber, Liezel 21/08/76 USA 8520 213 3 Williams, Serena 26/09/81 USA 7440 63 3 Williams, Venus 17/06/80 USA 7440 65 5 Llagostera Vives, Nuria 16/05/80 ESP 6180 226 6 Martinez Sanchez, Maria Jose 12/08/82 ESP 6180 227 7 Stosur, Samantha 30/03/84 AUS 5610 167 7 Stubbs, Rennae 26/03/71 AUS 5610 169 9 Hsieh, Su-wei 04/01/86 TPE 4730 17
10 10 Ruano Pascual, Virginia 21/09/73 ESP 4670 1711 11 Medina Garrigues, Anabel 31/07/82 ESP 4600 1712 12 Peng, Shuai 08/01/86 CHN 4550 1813 13 Hantuchova, Daniela 23/04/83 SVK 4180 1514 14 Kleybanova, Alisa 15/07/89 RUS 4150 2215 15 Azarenka, Victoria 31/07/89 BLR 3801 1216 16 Petrova, Nadia 08/06/82 RUS 3735 1817 17 Mattek-sands, Bethanie 23/03/85 USA 3620 1618 18 Raymond, Lisa 10/08/73 USA 3560 2119 19 Schiavone, Francesca 23/06/80 ITA 3540 1820 20 Makarova, Ekaterina 07/06/88 RUS 3510 19
PRIZE MONEY
CU
RR
ENT
PR
EVIO
US
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
SIN
GLE
S
DO
UB
LES
MIX
ED
TOTA
L
1 Williams, Serena USA $5 584 437 $636 149 $0 $6 545 5862 Safi na, Dinara RUS $3 601 325 $8 893 $0 $4 310 2183 Kuznetsova, Svetlana RUS $3 280 865 $152 976 $0 $3 658 8414 Williams, Venus USA $2 240 745 $636 149 $0 $3 126 8945 Jankovic, Jelena SRB $1 491 514 $0 $0 $2 491 5146 Wozniacki, Caroline DEN $2 324 692 $46 858 $0 $2 371 5507 Dementieva, Elena RUS $1 880 156 $825 $0 $2 343 4818 Azarenka, Victoria BLR $1 827 770 $287 766 $0 $2 115 5369 Zvonareva, Vera RUS $1 397 361 $144 784 $0 $1 642 145
10 Clijsters, Kim BEL $1 630 150 $2 410 $0 $1 632 56011 Radwanska, Agnieszka POL $1 264 286 $87 678 $0 $1 614 46412 Stosur, Samantha AUS $844 162 $326 522 $8 997 $1 179 68113 Pennetta, Flavia ITA $827 724 $118 633 $13 792 $960 14914 Bartoli, Marion FRA $902 819 $0 $0 $940 31915 Sharapova, Maria RUS $896 619 $2 000 $0 $923 61916 Ivanovic, Ana SRB $713 450 $1 275 $0 $914 72517 Martinez Sanchez, Maria Jose ESP $433 129 $460 255 $5 000 $898 38418 Schiavone, Francesca ITA $655 722 $174 372 $1 325 $831 41919 Petrova, Nadia RUS $614 629 $181 173 $25 940 $821 74220 Medina Garrigues, Anabel ESP $439 996 $349 747 $16 318 $806 061
CU
RR
ENT
PR
EVIO
US
NAM
E
DAT
E O
F
BIR
TH
NAT
ION
ALIT
Y
PO
INTS
TOU
RS
51 52 Dulgheru, Alexandra 30/05/89 ROU 1248 2752 53 Govortsova, Olga 23/08/88 BLR 1235 2753 51 Shvedova, Yaroslava 12/09/87 KAZ 1229 2154 54 Bacsinszky, Timea 08/06/89 SUI 1223 1955 56 Bammer, Sybille 27/04/80 AUT 1190 2456 55 Petkovic, Andrea 09/09/87 GER 1172 2757 57 Dokic, Jelena 12/04/83 AUS 1123 1558 58 Mirza, Sania 15/11/86 IND 1119 1959 59 Garbin, Tathiana 30/06/77 ITA 1095 2760 60 Makarova, Ekaterina 07/06/88 RUS 1094 2261 61 Kanepi, Kaia 10/06/85 EST 1088 2162 62 Kvitova, Petra 08/03/90 CZE 1087 2263 63 Kirilenko, Maria 25/01/87 RUS 1085 2564 64 Vinci, Roberta 18/02/83 ITA 1036 2665 65 Hradecka, Lucie 21/05/85 CZE 1000 2866 67 Radwanska, Urszula 07/12/90 POL 954 2767 68 Groenefeld, Anna-lena 04/06/85 GER 946 2568 66 Malek, Tatjana 08/08/87 GER 933 2669 72 Zahlavova Strycova, Barbora 28/03/86 CZE 932 2870 69 Chakvetadze, Anna 05/03/87 RUS 924 1871 70 Hercog, Polona 20/01/91 SLO 916 2172 78 Morita, Ayumi 11/03/90 JPN 911 2873 71 Olaru, Ioana Raluca 03/03/89 ROU 893 2574 73 Brianti, Alberta 05/04/80 ITA 877 2675 74 Coin, Julie 02/12/82 FRA 869 2676 75 Voegele, Stefanie 10/03/90 SUI 859 2877 77 Craybas, Jill 04/07/74 USA 829 2778 76 Goerges, Julia 02/11/88 GER 818 2179 79 King, Vania 03/02/89 USA 816 2280 82 Barrois, Kristina 30/09/81 GER 808 2481 80 Flipkens, Kirsten 10/01/86 BEL 801 2282 101 Date Krumm, Kimiko 28/09/70 JPN 801 2083 81 Sevastova, Anastasija 13/04/90 LAT 798 2184 83 Martic, Petra 19/01/91 CRO 792 1985 85 Amanmuradova, Akgul 23/06/84 UZB 753 2786 88 Mayr, Patricia 08/11/86 AUT 730 3287 89 Kutuzova, Viktoriya 19/08/88 UKR 729 2588 90 O'brien, Katie 02/05/86 GBR 729 2889 87 Baltacha, Elena 14/08/83 GBR 724 2290 92 Kudryavtseva, Alla 03/11/87 RUS 700 3191 93 Parra Santonja, Arantxa 09/11/82 ESP 698 2492 102 Chang, Kai-chen 13/01/91 TPE 688 2493 86 Gallovits, Edina 10/12/84 ROU 686 2594 115 Chan, Yung-jan 17/08/89 TPE 682 2195 94 Zakopalova, Klara 24/02/82 CZE 682 2696 95 Sprem, Karolina 25/10/84 CRO 675 1897 97 Rodionova, Anastasia 12/05/82 RUS 657 2798 98 Yakimova, Anastasiya 01/11/86 BLR 656 2399 100 Pironkova, Tsvetana 13/09/87 BUL 651 27
100 84 Keothavong, Anne 16/09/83 GBR 643 17
WTA RANKING SOUTH AFRICA SINGLE (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
CU
RR
ENT
PR
EVIO
US
NAM
E
DAT
E O
F
BIR
TH
PO
INTS
TOU
RS
130 128 Scheepers, Chanelle 13/03/84 477 24383 383 Grandin, Natalie 27/02/81 92 20660 632 Potgieter, Christi 15/10/92 33 6730 771 Simmonds, Chanel 10/08/92 26 5779 778 Du Plessis, Lizaan 23/02/86 22 9784 659 De Beer, Surina 28/06/78 21 5926 890 Edwards, Tegan 03/01/89 11 3943 945 Anderson, Kelly 20/04/85 10 4
1023 NR Fourouclas, Natasha 31/01/94 6 3NR NR Gorny, Monica 29/03/91 0 0NR NR Grant, Kim 01/05/71 1 1NR NR Joubert, Dane 10/06/93 1 1NR 0 Laing, Jessica 30/07/93 0 0NR NR Le Roux, Madrie 19/04/95 2 2NR NR Luksich, Veronique 12/07/91 5 2NR NR Luus, Welma 20/05/92 0 0NR NR Marshall, Lisa 12/09/87 3 2NR NR Masite, Christine 11/02/91 1 1NR NR Morkel-brink, Mikayla 26/11/94 1 1NR NR Moskal, Ksenia 27/09/91 4 1NR NR Plant, Tracy 21/09/93 1 1NR 0 Pondicas, Jade 11/04/91 0 0NR NR Rencken, Nicole 12/06/81 4 1NR NR Schickerling, Joanne 14/11/85 4 1NR NR Swanepoel, Bianca 07/01/91 4 1
WTA DOUBLE SOUTH AFRICA RANKING (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
CU
RR
ENT
PR
EVIO
US
NAM
E
DAT
E O
F
BIR
TH
PO
INTS
TOU
RS
77 78 Grandin, Natalie 27/02/81 1040 31140 143 Scheepers, Chanelle 13/03/84 509 10246 251 Anderson, Kelly 20/04/85 247 20314 315 Du Plessis, Lizaan 23/02/86 169 9424 423 De Beer, Surina 28/06/78 103 7452 452 Potgieter, Christi 15/10/92 90 6611 605 Edwards, Tegan 03/01/89 49 12805 801 Marshall, Lisa 12/09/87 23 9867 862 Grant, Kim 01/05/71 16 3907 898 Moskal, Ksenia 27/09/91 14 4NR NR Fourouclas, Natasha 31/01/94 1 1NR NR Gorny, Monica 29/03/91 16 2NR NR Joubert, Dane 10/06/93 1 1NR NR Laing, Jessica 30/07/93 1 1NR NR Le Roux, Madrie 19/04/95 1 1NR NR Luksich, Veronique 12/07/91 0 0NR NR Luus, Welma 20/05/92 13 2NR NR Masite, Christine 11/02/91 0 0NR NR Morkel-brink, Mikayla 26/11/94 0 0NR NR Plant, Tracy 21/09/93 1 1NR NR Pondicas, Jade 11/04/91 1 1NR NR Rencken, Nicole 12/06/81 1 1NR NR Schickerling, Joanne 14/11/85 0 0NR NR Simmonds, Chanel 10/08/92 7 2NR NR Swanepoel, Bianca 07/01/91 1 1
ATP TOUR, MOST MATCHES PLAYED
1 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 88
2 Murray, Andy (GBR) 71
3 Verdasco, Fernando (ESP) 71
4 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 70
5 Davydenko, Nikolay (RUS) 69
ATP TOUR, BEST WINNING PERCENTAGE
1 Murray, Andy (GBR) 0,873
2 Nadal, Rafael (ESP) 0,857
3 Federer, Roger (SUI) 0,851
4 Djokovic, Novak (SRB) 0,818
5 Sluiter, Raemon (NED) 0,800
ITF Junior RankingsITF Junior RankingsRANKING DATE: 9 NOVEMBER 2009
ITF JUNIOR BOYS POINTS
POSITION NAME NAT DATE OF BIRTH SINGLES DOUBLES RANKING
1 BERTA, Daniel SWE 26 Nov 1992 950 105,00 *1,055,00
2 BHAMBRI, Yuki IND 04 Jul 1992 930 81,25 1,011,25
3 VELOTTI, Agustin ARG 24 May 1992 690 121,25 *811,25
4 KUBLER, Jason AUS 19 May 1993 740 70,00 *810,00
5 MINA, Gianni FRA 09 Feb 1992 725 57,50 *782,50
6 OBRY, Julien FRA 04 Sep 1991 660 117,50 *777,50
7 HUANG, Liang-Chi TPE 08 Mar 1992 590 155,00 *745,00
8 COLLARINI, Andrea ARG 31 Jan 1992 630 113,75 *743,75
9 KUZNETSOV, Andrey RUS 22 Feb 1991 710 25,00 *735,00
10 HERBERT, Pierre-Hugues FRA 18 Mar 1991 520 205,00 *725,00
11 ARGUELLO, Facundo ARG 04 Aug 1992 640 78,75 *718,75
12 HSIEH, Cheng-Peng TPE 22 Sep 1991 390 320,00 *710,00
13 KRAWIETZ, Kevin GER 24 Jan 1992 540 148,75 *688,75
14 FUCSOVICS, Marton HUN 08 Feb 1992 535 138,75 673,75
15 TOMIC, Bernard AUS 21 Oct 1992 670 0,00 670,00
16 SOUTO, David VEN 26 Mar 1992 570 98,75 *668,75
17 SCHULZ, Dominik GER 16 Mar 1992 540 122,50 *662,50
18 URIGUEN, Julen GUA 22 Jul 1991 590 46,25 *636,25
19 BERETTA, Duilio PER 25 Feb 1992 485 130,00 *615,00
20 UCHIYAMA, Yasutaka JPN 05 Aug 1992 500 113,75 *613,75
SOUTH AFRICAN BOYS POINTS
POSITION NAME NAT DATE OF BIRTH SINGLES DOUBLES RANKING
48 SCHOLTZ, Nikala RSA 05 Feb 1991 395 73,75 *468,75
116 PIETERS, Hernus RSA 04 Jun 1993 230 31,25 261,25
159 IVE, Grant RSA 18 Feb 1991 190 35,00 225,00
195 MOOLMAN, Renier RSA 10 Apr 1992 150 40,00 190,00
219 BOTHA, Jarryd RSA 14 Jan 1992 150 27,50 177,50
324 ROWE, Kyle RSA 06 Feb 1991 110 17,50 127,50
360 VAN VUUREN, Marlu Jansen RSA 17 May 1993 105 13,75 118,75
421 KUHN, Warren RSA 22 Oct 1993 85 20,00 105,00
575 BECKER, Pieter RSA 08 Feb 1991 65 11,25 76,25
646 ROOS, Dion Paul RSA 17 Jan 1993 50 15,00 65,00
743 EBERSEY, Brandon RSA 10 Jan 1994 40 12,50 52,50
766 LYZWA, Michal RSA 25 Jun 1992 40 10,00 50,00
775 DE JAGER, Jurgen RSA 24 May 1991 40 8,75 48,75
801 FORTMANN, Stefan RSA 21 Sep 1992 35 11,25 46,25
816= DE KLERK, Japie RSA 09 Jun 1992 40 5,00 45,00
875= JESKE, Manfred RSA 04 Dec 1992 30 8,75 38,75
983= CARIPI, Vasilios RSA 28 Sep 1991 20 10,00 30,00
989 COMERFORD, Dylan RSA 07 Jul 1993 10 20,00 30,00
993= BLAKEY-MILNER, Jason RSA 07 Jan 1991 25 5,00 30,00
1006= SCHOEMAN, Bernard RSA 09 Sep 1991 25 3,75 28,75
1095= LATEGAN, Adolf RSA 03 Jul 1993 20 3,75 23,75
1143= CLAASSEN, Jody Alan RSA 25 Oct 1991 15 6,25 21,25
1251= SMITH, Dudley RSA 01 Aug 1992 10 7,50 17,50
1251= MONTGOMERY, Wesley RSA 17 Feb 1993 10 7,50 17,50
1364= VISSER, Marthinus Christoffel RSA 16 Jan 1993 5 8,75 13,75
1407= EDWARDS, Tristan RSA 16 Mar 1992 10 1,25 11,25
1424= LATEGAN, Wihan RSA 27 Jul 1991 5 6,25 11,25
1589= O'KENNEDY, Francois RSA 24 Nov 1992 5 2,50 7,50
1725= GILBERTSON, Clayton RSA 08 Jun 1994 5 0,00 5,00
1725= ROSSOUW, Matthew RSA 04 May 1995 5 0,00 5,00
1725= KRUGER, Juan RSA 30 Aug 1992 5 0,00 5,00
1945= REYNECKE, Barend Hermanus RSA 02 Jan 1993 0 3,75 3,75
2078= FICK, Lourens RSA 10 Mar 1993 0 1,25 1,25
2078= SCHELLINK, Eben RSA 10 Dec 1992 0 1,25 1,25
2078= DE JAGER, Wiehahn RSA 17 Sep 1993 0 1,25 1,25
2078= PRIOSTE, Andrew RSA 11 Jul 1992 0 1,25 1,25
2078= BRINK, Gideon RSA 19 Aug 1992 0 1,25 1,25
MEN’S SINGLES RANKINGS (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
RAN
K
NAM
E
NAT
ION
RAN
KED
EVEN
TS
TOTA
L
EVEN
TS
PO
INTS
44 MATHONSI, Sydwell RSA 7 7 338
52 MONYAMANE, Desmond RSA 7 7 291
114 RAMOKOATSI , Frank RSA 6 6 132
117 MARIPA, Evans RSA 7 7 129
124 TSHIPUKE, Ishmael RSA 7 7 122
158 MARSH, Marshall RSA 5 5 87
163 SELEPE, Patrick RSA 6 6 85
185 ELS, Leon RSA 4 4 66
192 LETSOALO, Geoffrey RSA 7 7 64
195 BURGER, Hanno RSA 3 3 62
204 ANDERSON, Malcolm RSA 6 6 58
237 MOGOROSI, Daniel RSA 5 5 46
274 MAKWELA, Tsepo RSA 7 7 32
278 HUBBARD, Adrian RSA 2 2 31
304 MAKHUBELA, Amigo RSA 4 4 24
336 OPPERRMAN , Arrie RSA 6 6 16
349 CHABANGU, Simon RSA 3 3 13
362= RAVELE, Fhatumani RSA 2 2 9
369 RAMUEDI, Reckson RSA 2 2 8
390= NEKHALALE, Lwvhuwane RSA 2 2 6
407= MALATJI, Moses RSA 3 3 6
407= BUTHELEZI, Zakhele RSA 3 3 6
414= DU TOIT, Connie RSA 3 3 6
458= VUYO, Vimbayo RSA 2 2 4
458= SIGCU, Agahle RSA 2 2 4
467= JOHANNES, Shafi ek RSA 2 2 4
WOMEN’S SINGLES RANKINGS (9 NOVEMBER 2009)
20 MONTJANE, Kgothatso RSA 6 6 461
39 MOREMI, Nancy RSA 7 8 282
44 DU TOIT, Celia RSA 4 4 238
55 VAN DER MEER, Rosalea RSA 6 6 165
72 MOOKETSI, Reilfwe RSA 7 7 112
81 MUANALO, Tshilitzi RSA 7 7 98
119 SIBANDA, Tsholofelo RSA 4 4 36
120 MADIKANE, Bongiwe RSA 7 7 36
144 QEKE, Amanda RSA 2 2 8
160= GROOTBOOM, Nolubabalo RSA 2 2 4
QUADS SINGLES RANKINGS (6 JULY 2009)
16 SITHOLE, Lucas RSA 6 7 433
33 KEKAE, Stephen RSA 6 6 213
49 NIEHAUS, Stephanus Petrus RSA 2 2 98
54 DEGENAAR, Luan Johann RSA 4 4 80
56 MATHEBULA, David RSA 6 7 71
59 GALLANT, Fernando RSA 5 5 57
67 KONZANI, Ndikho RSA 6 7 30
72 MOKOBODI, Abigail RSA 6 7 12
BOYS’ SINGLES RANKINGS (2 NOVEMBER 2009)
14 BURGER, Hanno RSA 4 4 64
34= MALATJI, Moses RSA 4 4 8
34= BUTHELEZI, Zakhele RSA 4 4 8
GIRLS’ SINGLES RANKINGS (2 NOVEMBER 2009)
9 SIBANDA, Tsholofelo RSA 4 4 36
88 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 89
ITF JUNIOR GIRLS POINTS
POSITION NAME NAT DATE OF BIRTH SINGLES DOUBLES RANKING
1 MLADENOVIC, Kristina FRA 14 May 1993 1 260 195,00 *1,455,00
2 LERTCHEEWAKARN, Noppawan THA 18 Nov 1991 900 255,00 *1,155,00
3 WATSON, Heather GBR 19 May 1992 970 127,50 *1,097,50
4 BABOS, Timea HUN 10 May 1993 870 163,75 *1,033,75
5 STEPHENS, Sloane USA 20 Mar 1993 770 60,00 *830,00
6 TOMLJANOVIC, Ajla CRO 07 May 1993 570 210,00 *780,00
7 INOUE, Miyabi JPN 19 Nov 1991 650 122,50 *772,50
8 PERVAK, Ksenia RUS 27 May 1991 720 45,00 765,00
9 NJIRIC, Silvia CRO 09 Jul 1993 600 150,00 *750,00
10 GAVRILOVA, Daria RUS 05 Mar 1994 660 75,00 *735,00
11 BOGDAN, Ana ROU 25 Nov 1992 630 85,00 *715,00
12 SILVA, Camila CHI 30 Oct 1992 640 65,00 *705,00
13 MCHALE, Christina USA 11 May 1992 530 130,00 660,00
14 HOGENKAMP, Richel NED 16 Apr 1992 575 75,00 *650,00
15 KOLAR, Nastja SLO 15 Jul 1994 580 67,50 *647,50
16 BUCHINA, Yana RUS 07 Feb 1992 560 85,00 *645,00
17 ZANEVSKA, Maryna UKR 24 Aug 1993 470 173,75 *643,75
18 EMBREE, Lauren USA 10 Jan 1991 530 102,50 *632,50
19 CEPELOVA, Jana SVK 29 May 1993 520 102,50 *622,50
20 PUTINTSEVA, Yulia RUS 07 Jan 1995 610 12,50 622,50
SOUTH AFRICAN GIRLS POINTS
POSITION NAME NAT DATE OF BIRTH SINGLES DOUBLES RANKING
24 SIMMONDS, Chanel RSA 10 Aug 1992 540 67,50 *607,50
244 IVE, Sarah RSA 05 Jul 1993 140 21,25 161,25
250 FOUROUCLAS, Natasha RSA 31 Jan 1994 145 15,00 160,00
262 SWANEPOEL, Bianca RSA 07 Jan 1991 110 47,50 157,50
365 LAING, Jessica RSA 30 Jul 1993 95 25,00 120,00
387 PLANT, Tracy RSA 21 Sep 1993 100 15,00 115,00
420 VAN WYK, Veruska Monique RSA 19 Apr 1992 85 21,25 106,25
437 WESSELS, Clorinda RSA 19 Jul 1993 85 17,50 102,50
488 LUUS, Welma RSA 20 May 1992 70 22,50 92,50
494= SHER, Kaylea Chana RSA 02 Sep 1993 75 16,25 91,25
Most matches played
1 A Collarini (ARG) 88
62 A Murray (GBR) 71
2 D Novikov (USA) 71
59 R Nadal (ESP) 70
3 M Zsiga (HUN) 69
Best winning percentage
1 T. Monteiro (BRA) 1,000
2 S. Diez (ESP) 1,000
3 U. Thomsen (DEN) 1,000
4 H. Nys (FRA) 1,000
5 M. Stropp (GER) 1,000
ITF JUNIOR GIRLS STATISTICS
Most matches played
1 T Babos (HUN) 53
2 I Khromacheva (RUS) 51
3 M Grage (DEN) 49
4 K Mladenovic (FRA) 48
5 C Silva (CHI) 47
Best winning percentage
1 A Khabibulina (UZB) 1,000
2 O Terteac (MDA) 1,000
3 J Abaza (USA) 1,000
4 P Rohanova (CZE) 1,000
5 P Ku (PER) 1,000
ITF JUNIOR BOYS STATISTICS
Wheelchair Wheelchair Tennis RSATennis RSA
90 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 91
SA DOUBLES RESULTSin October and November 2009
GRAND PRIX DE TENNIS DE LYONLyon, France
26 October – 1 November 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
Draw: 32
€650 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(WC)Julien Benneteau/Nicolas Mahut (FRA) d.
(1)Wesley Moodie/Dick Norman (RSA/BEL) 7-6(4)
7-6(3)
Jeff Coetzee/Stephen Huss (RSA/AUS) d. (3)
Martin Damm/Robert Lindstedt (CZE/SWE) 7-5
2-1 ret.
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
Marcelo Melo/Andre Sa (BRA) d.
Jeff Coetzee/Stephen Huss (RSA/AUS) 6-3 6-4
SAMSUNG SECURITIES CUPSeoul, Korea
26 October – 1 November 2009
Surface: Hard
$125 000+H
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(3)Rik De Voest/Yen-Hsun Lu (RSA/TPE) d. (WC)
Jae-Sung An/Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) 7-5 6-0
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
(3)Rik De Voest/Yen-Hsun Lu (RSA/TPE) d. Andis
Juska/Dmitri Sitak (LAT/RUS) 6-4 6-3
DOUBLES – SEMIFINALS
(3)Rik De Voest/Yen-Hsun Lu (RSA/TPE) d.
Thiemo de Bakker/Igor Sijsling (NED) 6-3 6-2
DOUBLES – FINALS
(3)Rik De Voest/Yen-Hsun Lu (RSA/TPE) d. (1)
Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA)
7-6(5) 3-6 (10-6)
TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPSCalabasas, CA, USA
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Hard
$50 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Raven Klaasen/Izak van der Merwe (RSA) d.
Tigran Martirosyan/Jesse Witten (ARM/USA) 6-3
6-3
VALENCIA OPEN 500Valencia, Spain
2-8 November 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
Draw: 32
€2 019 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Jeff Coetzee/Stephen Huss (RSA/AUS) d. (WC)Marc
Lopez/Ruben Ramirez-Hidalgo (ESP) 6-3 6-4
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
(3)Frantisek Cermak/Michal Mertinak (CZE/SVK)
d. Jeff Coetzee/Stephen Huss (RSA/AUS) 3-6 6-4
(13-11)
VIRGINIA NATIONAL BANK MEN’S
PRO CHAMPIONSHIPCharlottesville, VA, USA
2-8 November 2009
Surface: Hard
$50 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Kevin Anderson/Donald Young (RSA/USA) d. Alex
Bogomolov/Somdev K. Dev Varman (USA/IND)
6-7(5) 6-4 (10-4)
(3)Martin Emmrich/Andreas Siljestrom (GER/SWE)
d. Raven Klaasen/Izak van der Merwe (RSA)
7-6(5) 4-6 (10-7)
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
Kevin Anderson/Donald Young (RSA/USA) d. (WC)
Cory Parr/Todd Paul (USA) 6-3 6-4
DOUBLES – SEMIFINALS
(3)Martin Emmrich/Andreas Siljestrom (GER/SWE)
d. Kevin Anderson/Donald Young (RSA/USA) 6-4
7-6(8)
FLEA MARKET CUPChuncheon, Korea
2-8 November 2009
Surface: Hard
$100 000+H
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(2)Rik De Voest/Frederik Nielsen (RSA/DEN) d.
Prakash Amritraj/Alex Kuznetsov (IND/USA) 6-3
6-4
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
Andis Juska/Dmitri Sitak (LAT/RUS) d. (2)Rik De
Voest/Frederik Nielsen (RSA/DEN) 7-6(4) 6-3
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
Raven Klaasen/Izak van der Merwe (RSA) d.
(4)Prakash Amritraj/Alex Kuznetsov (IND/USA)
6-2 6-3
DOUBLES – SEMIFINALS
Santiago Gonzalez/Simon Stadler (MEX/GER) d.
Raven Klaasen/Izak van der Merwe (RSA) 4-6
6-4 (10-5)
IF STOCKHOLM OPENStockholm, Sweden
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
32 draw
€600 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(4)Jeff Coetzee/Stephen Huss (RSA/AUS) d. (WC)
Henri Kontinen/Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) 2-6 6-3
(10-6)
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
(4)Jeff Coetzee/Stephen Huss (RSA/AUS) d.
Arnaud Clement/Robert Lindstedt (FRA/SWE)
7-6(3) 3-6 (10-7)
DOUBLES – SEMIFINALS
(1)Bruno Soares/Kevin Ullyett (BRA/ZIM) d.
(4)Jeff Coetzee/Stephen Huss (RSA/AUS) 6-4 7-5
OPEN D’ORLEANSOrleans, France
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
$125 000+H
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(4)Kevin Anderson/Carsten Ball (RSA/AUS) d.
Jonathan Marray/Alessandro Motti (GBR/ITA)
6-4 6-3
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
Ruben Bemelmans/Xavier Malisse (BEL) d.
(4)Kevin Anderson/Carsten Ball (RSA/AUS) 6-2
6-4
SOUTH AFRICA F1 – GNTA
INTERNATIONAL OPENPretoria, South Africa
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Hard
Main draw: 32
Qualifying draw: 64
$15 000
OPEN DE RENNESRennes, France
12-18 October 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
$75 000+H
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Kevin Anderson/Dominik Hrbaty (RSA/SVK) d. (1)
Scott Lipsky/Rogier Wassen (USA/NED) 7-6(5) 6-3
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
Kevin Anderson/Dominik Hrbaty (RSA/SVK) d.
David Guez/Josselyn Ouanna (FRA) w/o
DOUBLES – SEMIFINALS
Kevin Anderson/Dominik Hrbaty (RSA/SVK) d.
(4)Philipp Marx/Igor Zelenay (GER/SVK) 7-5 6-3
DOUBLES – FINALS
(3)Eric Butorac/Lovro Zovko (USA/CRO) d. Kevin
Anderson/Dominik Hrbaty (RSA/SVK) 6-4 3-6
(10-6)
TIBURON CHALLENGER
QUALIFYING12-18 October 2009
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(1)Izak van der Merwe/Fritz Wolmarans (RSA) d.
Thomas Fabbiano/Matteo Marrai (ITA) 6-3 6-4
DOUBLES – QUALIFYING ROUND
(2)Matt Reid/Igor Sijsling (AUS/NED) d. (1)Izak
van der Merwe/Fritz Wolmarans (RSA) 7-5 6-2
USA F25 – 2009
10SPORTAL.COM CLASSICAustin, TX, USA
12-18 October 2009
Surface: Hard
Main draw: 32
Qualifying draw: 64
$15 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(WC)Edward Louies Oueilhe/Franklin Sherrill
(USA) d. Michael Lane/Gary Sacks (USA/RSA) 6-1
4-6 (10-8)
CHINA OPENBeijing, China
5-11 October 2009
Surface: Hard
Draw: 32
$2 100 500
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Lukas Dlouhy/Philipp Kohlschreiber (CZE/GER) d.
(3)Wesley Moodie/Dick Norman (RSA/BEL) 6-7(1)
6-3 (10-8)
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Andrew Anderson/Benjamin Janse van Rensburg
(RSA) d. Ivo Klec/Pavel Vanis (CZE) 6-2 6-3
Takanyi Garanganga/Admire Mushonga (ZIM) d.
(WC)Heinrich Heyl/Rainier Nagel (RSA) 7-5 6-4
Manfred Jeske/Kyle Rowe (RSA) d.
Ivan Galic/Jeremy Jahn (AUT/GER) 7-5 5-7
(14-12)
Hendrik Coertzen/Ruan Roelofse (RSA) d.
(3)Jiri Kosler/Richard Ruckelshausen (CZE/AUT)
6-2 7-6(7)
Jean Andersen/Nikala Scholtz (RSA) d. (WC)
Marlu Jansen van Vuuren/Jason Wolfson (RSA)
6-0 6-1
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
Andrew Anderson/Benjamin Janse van Rensburg
(RSA) d. (1)Alexander Satschko/Frank Winterman-
tel (GER) 6-3 6-4
Hendrik Coertzen/Ruan Roelofse (RSA) d. Man-
fred Jeske/Kyle Rowe (RSA) 6-1 6-7(4) (11-9)
Jean Andersen/Nikala Scholtz (RSA) d. Gilles de
Sousa/Yannick Jankovits (FRA) 6-3 6-2
DOUBLES – SEMIFINALS
Andrew Anderson/Benjamin Janse van Rensburg
(RSA) d. Joshua Crowe/Sean Thornley (AUS/GBR)
6-4 2-6 (10-2)
Hendrik Coertzen/Ruan Roelofse (RSA) d. Jean
Andersen/Nikala Scholtz (RSA) 6-2 7-5
DOUBLES – FINALS
Andrew Anderson/Benjamin Janse van Rensburg
(RSA) d. Hendrik Coertzen/Ruan Roelofse (RSA)
6-3 7-5
SHANGHAI ATP MASTERS 1000Shanghai, China
12-18 October 2009
Surface: Hard
Draw: 56
$3 240 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(5)Wesley Moodie/Dick Norman (RSA/BEL) bye
Simon Aspelin/Paul Hanley (SWE/AUS) d. Jeff
Coetzee/Stephen Huss (RSA/AUS) 4-6 6-3 (11-9)
DOUBLES – SECOND ROUND
(5)Wesley Moodie/Dick Norman (RSA/BEL) d.
Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco (ESP) w/o
DOUBLES – QUARTERFINALS
Julian Knowle/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. (5)Wesley
Moodie/Dick Norman (RSA/BEL) 4-6 7-6(6) (10-6)
RAKUTEN JAPAN OPEN
CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009Tokyo, Japan
5-11 October 2009
Surface: Hard
Draw: 32
$1 226 500
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga/Stanislas Wawrinka (FRA/SUI)
d. Jeff Coetzee/Rik De Voest (RSA) 6-2 6-4
NATOMAS MEN’S PROFESSIONAL
TENNIS TOURNAMENTSacramento, CA, USA
5-11 October 2009
Surface: Hard
$50 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
(1)Santiago Gonzalez/Travis Rettenmaier (MEX/
USA) d. (q)Raven Klaasen/Izak van der Merwe
(RSA) 6-3 6-3
PTT THAILAND OPENBangkok, Thailand
28 September – 4 October 2009
Surface: Hard
Draw: 28
$608 500
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Marat Safi n/Gilles Simon (RUS/FRA) d. (4)Jeff
Coetzee/Rik De Voest (RSA) 6-4 6-7(3) (10-4)
USA F24 – 2009 USTA FUTURES
OF LAGUNA NIGUELLaguna Niguel, CA, USA
28 September – 4 October 2009
Surface: Hard
Main draw: 32
Qualifying draw: 128
$10 000
DOUBLES – FIRST ROUND
Boris Bakalov/Cedrik-Marcel Stebe (BUL/GER) d.
Will Gray/Gary Sacks (USA/RSA) 7-6(4) 6-3
92 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 93
SA Singles RESULTSin October and November 2009
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#51 (5)Julien Benneteau (FRA) d. #123 (q)Kevin
Anderson (RSA) 7-5 6-2
SAMSUNG SECURITIES CUPSeoul, Korea
26 October – 1 November 2009
Surface: Hard
$125 000+H
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#121 (4)Somdev K. Dev Varman (IND) d. #240 Rik
De Voest (RSA) 6-2 2-0 ret.
CALABASAS PRO TENNIS
CHAMPIONSHIPSCalabasas, CA, USA
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Hard
$50 000
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#804 (WC)Bradley Klahn (USA) d. #1555 (WC)Gary
Sacks (RSA) 6-7(4) 6-2 6-2
#581 Cecil Mamiit (PHI) d. #274 (2)Izak van der
Merwe (RSA) 7-6(3) 6-3
#271 (3)Luka Gregorc (SLO) d. #438 Fritz Wolma-
rans (RSA) 2-6 6-1 7-6(5)
#284 (4)Raven Klaasen (RSA) d. #840 Roman
Borvanov (MDA) 6-3 3-6 6-3
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#494 Thomas Fabbiano (ITA) d. #284 (4)Raven
Klaasen (RSA) 7-6(4) 6-3
OPEN D’ORLEANSOrleans, France
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
€106 500+H
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#141 Stephane Robert (FRA) d. #125 (6)Kevin
Anderson (RSA) 7-6(4) 7-6(3)
SOUTH AFRICA F1 – GNTA
INTERNATIONAL OPENPretoria, South Africa
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Hard
Main draw: 32
Qualifying Draw: 64
$15 000
VIRGINIA NATIONAL BANK MEN’S
PRO CHAMPIONSHIPCharlottesville, VA, USA
2-8 November 2009
Surface: Hard
$50 000
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#264 Izak van der Merwe (RSA) d. #332 Raven
Klaasen (RSA) 6-4 6-4
#120 (4)Kevin Anderson (RSA) d. #320 Alex
Bogomolov (USA) 6-0 6-2
#105 (2)Kevin Kim (USA) d. #440 (q)Fritz
Wolmarans (RSA) 6-4 7-6(7)
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#116 (3)Somdev K. Dev Varman (IND) d.
#264 Izak van der Merwe (RSA) 6-2 1-6 6-2
#231 Donald Young (USA) d. #120 (4)Kevin
Anderson (RSA) 6-3 3-6 7-6(1)
FLEA MARKET CUPChuncheon, Korea
2-8 November 2009
Surface: Hard
$100 000+H
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#257 Rik De Voest (RSA) d. #240 Todd Widom
(USA) 7-5 6-0
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#126 (2)Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) d. #257 Rik De Voest
(RSA) 6-4 6-3
USA F27 – THE FUTURES AT
HIGHLAND PARKBirmingham, AL, USA
2-8 November 2009
Surface: Clay
Main draw: 32
Qualifying draw: 128
$10 000
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#653 Michael Venus (USA) d. #UNR (q)Tucker
Vorster (RSA) 6-3 7-5
GRAND PRIX DE TENNIS DE LYONLyon, France
26 October – 1 November 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
Draw: 32
€650 000
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#123 (q)Kevin Anderson (RSA) d. #59 Simon Greul
(GER) 6-4 4-6 7-6(3)
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#288 (1)Alexander Satschko (GER) d.
#1113 Hendrik Coertzen (RSA) 6-2 6-4
#1017 Benjamin Janse van Rensburg (RSA) d.
#1349 (q)Fabiano de Paula (BRA) 6-3 6-4
#1684 Fredrik Ask (NOR) d. #UNR (WC)Kyle Rowe
(RSA) 6-3 6-3
#730 Andrew Anderson (RSA) d. #1377 (WC)
Nikala Scholtz (RSA) 6-4 6-3
#824 Frank Wintermantel (GER) d. #1297 Ruan
Roelofse (RSA) 6-3 6-4
#675 (7)Gilles de Sousa (FRA) d. #UNR (q)Marlu
Jansen van Vuuren (RSA) 6-1 6-2
#UNR (q)Rainier Nagel (RSA) d. #UNR (WC)
Manfred Jeske (RSA) 7-5 3-6 6-2
#890 Joshua Crowe (AUS) d. #1377 Grant Ive
(RSA) 6-4 6-4
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#288 (1)Alexander Satschko (GER) d.
#1017 Benjamin Janse van Rensburg (RSA)
6-1 6-2
#730 Andrew Anderson (RSA) d. #591 (4)Yannick
Vandenbulcke (BEL) 6-4 6-2
#434 (3)(q)Sebastian Rieschick (GER) d.
#UNR (q)Rainier Nagel (RSA) 6-3 6-1
SINGLES – QUARTERFINALS
#730 Andrew Anderson (RSA) d. #824 Frank
Wintermantel (GER) 6-4 6-3
SINGLES – SEMIFINALS
#730 Andrew Anderson (RSA) d. #863 Takanyi
Garanganga (ZIM) 4-6 6-4 6-1
SINGLES – FINALS
#730 Andrew Anderson (RSA) d. #434 (3)(q)
Sebastian Rieschick (GER) 6-4 6-2
SOUTH AFRICA F1 QUALIFYING19-25 October 2009
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#UNR Jean Andersen (RSA) d. #UNR Rudi Bartels
(RSA) 6-2 6-0
#UNR Clayton Gilbertson (RSA) d. #UNR Hayward
Scholtz (RSA) 6-0 6-1
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#352 (1)Ivo Klec (SVK) d. #UNR Dimitri Terpizis
(RSA) 6-2 6-0
#UNR Jonathan Hills (RSA) d. #UNR Schalk Buys
(RSA) 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3
#UNR Jean Andersen (RSA) d. #UNR Kelsey
Stevenson (CAN) 7-5 7-5
#UNR Steffen Solomon (RSA) d. #UNR Vladimir
Makic (BIH) 6-0 6-1
#1349 (4)Fabiano de Paula (BRA) d. #UNR
Theodore Ernest Vermaak (RSA) 6-1 6-0
#UNR Gwinyai Tongoona (ZIM) d. #UNR Stephan
Havenga (RSA) 6-4 6-4
#UNR Rainier Nagel (RSA) d. #1377 (5)Heinrich
Heyl (RSA) 7-5 6-1
#UNR Clayton Gilbertson (RSA) d. #UNR Jason
Wolfson (RSA) 7-5 7-5
#UNR Mark Fynn (ZIM) d. #UNR Daniel Johannes
Smith (RSA) 6-3 7-5
USA F25 QUALIFYING12-18 October 2009
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#1564 (13)Gary Sacks (RSA) d. #UNR Olivier
Sajous (HAI) 6-4 7-6(1)
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#UNR Christoph Muller (GER) d. #1564 (13)Gary
Sacks (RSA) 7-6(5) 3-6 6-2
TOKYO QUALIFYING5-11 October 2009
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#215 (8)Rik De Voest (RSA) d. #388 (WC)Hiroki
Moriya (JPN) 6-4 7-6(3)
SINGLES – QUALIFYING ROUND
#189 (4)Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) d.
#215 (8)Rik De Voest (RSA) 3-6 6-3 6-4
NATOMAS MEN’S PROFESSIONAL
TENNIS TOURNAMENTSacramento, CA, USA
5-11 October 2009
Surface: Hard
$50 000
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#82 (1)Robert Kendrick (USA) d. #282 (q)Izak van
der Merwe (RSA) 7-6(5) 4-6 6-1
[Klaasen replaces (SE)Carlos Salamanca]
#174 Jesse Witten (USA) d. #291 (LL)Raven
Klaasen (RSA) 6-3 6-3
SACRAMENTO CHALLENGER
QUALIFYING5-11 October 2009
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#449 Fritz Wolmarans (RSA) d. #1741 (WC)Tyler
Hochwalt (USA) 3-6 6-4 7-5
#282 (4)Izak van der Merwe (RSA) d. #369 Milos
Raonic (CAN) 7-6(5) 6-2
#291 (5)Raven Klaasen (RSA) d. #UNR (WC)
Daniel Kosakowski (USA) 4-6 7-6(0) 6-2
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#449 Fritz Wolmarans (RSA) d. #274 (3)Tim
Smyczek (USA) 6-4 6-2
#282 (4)Izak van der Merwe (RSA) d. #UNR (WC)
David Martin (USA) 7-5 7-6(3)
#291 (5)Raven Klaasen (RSA) d. #913 Tim
Bradshaw (GBR) 6-3 2-6 6-4
SINGLES – QUALIFYING ROUND
#367 (8)Louk Sorensen (IRL) d. #449 Fritz
Wolmarans (RSA) 6-3 6-2
#282 (4)Izak van der Merwe (RSA) d.
#291 (5)Raven Klaasen (RSA) 3-6 6-1 6-2
#UNR Marlu Jansen van Vuuren (RSA) d.
#UNR Jason Gilbertson (RSA) 6-2 6-0
#UNR Francesco Arciuli (ITA) d. #UNR Courtney
Swartz (RSA) 6-3 7-6(2)
#UNR Tinashe Chikanda (ZIM) d. #UNR Pieter
Becker (RSA) 6-4 6-2
SINGLES – QUALIFYING ROUND
#352 (1)Ivo Klec (SVK) d. #UNR Jonathan Hills
(RSA) w/o
#434 (2)Sebastian Rieschick (GER) d. #UNR Jean
Andersen (RSA) 6-2 7-6(5)
#916 (3)Jeremy Jahn (GER) d. #UNR Steffen
Solomon (RSA) 6-3 6-0
#UNR Rainier Nagel (RSA) d. #UNR Ivan Galic
(AUT) 6-1 6-0
#UNR Mark Fynn (ZIM) d. #UNR Clayton Gilbertson
(RSA) 6-1 6-0
#UNR Marlu Jansen van Vuuren (RSA) d.
#UNR Jeroen Clayes (BEL) 1-6 6-3 6-4
OPEN DE RENNESRennes, France
12-18 October 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
€64 000+H ($75 000+H)
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#130 (4)Kevin Anderson (RSA) d. #273 Olivier
Patience (FRA) 7-6(6) 6-2
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#130 (4)Kevin Anderson (RSA) d. #179 Julian
Reister (GER) 7-6(3) 7-6(3)
SINGLES – QUARTERFINALS
#229 Dieter Kindlmann (GER) d. #130 (4)Kevin
Anderson (RSA) 6-2 7-5
ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND
CHALLENGERTiburon, CA, USA
12-18 October 2009
Surface: Hard
$50 000
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#201 Kyu-Tae Im (KOR) d. #199 Rik De Voest
(RSA) 3-6 6-4 6-3
#278 Pierre-Ludovic Duclos (CAN) d. #151 (6)(SE)
Kevin Anderson (RSA) 6-3 4-6 6-4
GREAT BRITAIN F11 QUALIFYING3-9 August 2009
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
[Sitak replaces Ryan Sweeting]
#270 (q)Izak van der Merwe (RSA) d. #335 (LL)
Artem Sitak (RUS) 7-5 1-6 6-2
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#133 (5)Roko Karanusic (CRO) d. #270 (q)Izak
van der Merwe (RSA) 6-2 4-6 6-3
BANGKOK QUALIFYING28 September – 4 October 2009
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#178 Dominik Meffert (GER) d. #UNR Jeff Coetzee
(RSA) 6-2 6-2
#194 (8)Rik De Voest (RSA) d. #UNR Levar
Harper-Griffi th (USA) 6-3 6-4
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#194 (8)Rik De Voest (RSA) d. #989 Weerapat
Doakmaiklee (THA) 6-3 6-4
SINGLES – QUALIFYING ROUND
#149 (4)Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) d.
#194 (8)Rik De Voest (RSA) 6-2 6-1
KENYA F1Narobi, Kenya
28 September – 4 October 2009
Surface: Clay
Main draw: 32
Qualifying draw: 32
$10 000
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#1462 (q)Ruan Roelofse (RSA) d. #818 (7)Motaz
Abou El Khair (EGY) 6-4 3-6 7-6(2)
#520 (2)Bogdan Leonte (ROU) d. #1144 Hendrik
Coertzen (RSA) 6-4 6-4
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#1284 Mohamed Safwat (EGY) d. #1462 (q)Ruan
Roelofse (RSA) 6-4 6-3
USA F24 QUALIFYING28 September – 4 October 2009
SINGLES – FIRST ROUND
#1587 Gary Sacks (RSA) d. #UNR Achim Vladi-
mirschii (MDA) 6-7(5) 6-2 6-4
#UNR Rohan Weideman (RSA) d. #UNR David
Maxwell (USA) 1-6 6-3 7-6(4)
#UNR Giovanni Vaglietti (RSA) d. #UNR Eric
Roberson (USA) 6-3 6-2
SINGLES – SECOND ROUND
#869 (5)Marcus Fugate (USA) d. #1587 Gary
Sacks (RSA) 6-4 0-6 6-2
#UNR Giovanni Vaglietti (RSA) d. #UNR Rohan
Weideman (RSA) 6-4 6-4
SINGLES – THIRD ROUND
#1064 (10)Holden Seguso (USA) d.
#UNR Giovanni Vaglietti (RSA) 6-2 6-1
94 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 95
WTA ResultsTOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONSBali, INA
4-8 November 2009
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
PREMIER $600 000 12RR/0q/0d
On Sunday in Bali, in the fi nal of the fi rst WTA
Tournament of Champions, this year’s champion
in Strasbourg, 10th-seeded 22-year-old #44
Aravane Rezai from St. Etienne, France, defeated
this year’s champ at Stanford & Monterrey, top-
seeded 25-year-old #12 Marion Bartoli of France
(residence: Geneva, Switzerland), 7-5, retired,
when Marion could no longer continue due to a
bad left quad strain (Marion is shown during
the match, and Aravane, with the hardware, in
traditional Balinese attire afterward).
Aravane’s prize is $200 000; Marion’s is
$100 000.
Aravane said: “It’s a big surprise to fi nish like
that and I’m very sorry for her. She looks like she
hurt a lot and I hope it is not a big injury...
“[The match] was a good quality. It was a big
level. We fi ght and it was pretty nice for the
people watching. We are professionals and try to
win the title, and that’s why it was a nice match.
“Winning here means so many things for myself.
I proved to myself I can be at a much better rank-
ing and much better player on the tour, and also
prove to so many people, my family, my parents,
my coach, that I can do better and better.”
Marion said: “I started to feel my leg was pretty
tight in the middle of the set. I started to feel
some pain all over my quads and I thought maybe
it was the stress and no reason to be serious. But
then it hurt me a lot, especially each time I had
to push and put some weight onto my left leg it
was really getting worse and worse and at the
end I couldn’t continue.
“It was a good match and I’m very sad to fi nish
like this. The last thing you want to do is injury
yourself in the last match of the season. But what
can you do? I was trying my best and perhaps it
was just too much.”
Marion and Aravane had met only twice before.
On red clay in the 1st round at Roland Garros in
2007, Marion defeated Aravane 6-2, 6-4. And
a few weeks ago, on a hardcourt in the 2nd round
in Tokyo, Marion won again, 6-4, 6-2.
WTA CHAMPIONSHIPSDoha, Qatar
26 October – 1 November 2009
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
PREMIER $4 500 000 8RR/0q/4d
On Sunday in Doha, Qatar, in the fi nal of the
2009 WTA Championships, the 2001 year-end
champion, 28-year-old 2nd-seeded #2 Serena
Williams from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, won
the title again, by defeating her sister, the 2008
Doha champ, 29-year-old 7th-seeded #7 Venus
Williams (same address) 6-2, 7-6(4) (both ladies
are shown during the match, and Serena with the
hardware afterward).
Serena’s prize is $1 550 000; Venus’s prize is
$580 000.
Venus did not hold a break point against Serena
during the match, while Serena converted 4 of
6 breakpoints she held against Venus. Serena put
67% of her 1st serves in the box, and won 89%
of her 1st serve points, including 5 aces, with
no double faults (Venus: 50% in, 66% 1st serve
points won, 1 ace, 3 DFs).
Serena said: “Playing Venus in the fi nals was
tough. Even though she wasn’t feeling good, she
was getting every ball back. I can’t tell you how
frustrating that is! Playing her is never easy.
Serena had not won a title outside of Melbourne,
Flushing Meadows and Wimbledon since April,
2008. Serena said: “Now my losing streak in
tournaments that aren’t Grand Slams is over!
Coming out here and doing well is so exciting.
I totally didn’t expect to come here and win. My
practice at home wasn’t going so great, but I just
kept fi ghting.”
Venus said: “I have to congratulate Serena for
playing a great match today and having a great
tournament. Last year I was able to win Wimble-
don and the Sony Ericsson Championships, and it
felt great. This year I came close to winning both,
but it just didn’t work out for me. I’ll just continue
to learn from everything and, more than anything,
continue to enjoy what I do.”
Serena now leads Venus 13-10 in career matches,
and Serena also won their last three meetings:
on a hard court in this year’s Miami semifi nals,
6-4, 3-6, 6-3, on grass in the fi nal of this year’s
Championships at Wimbledon, 7-6(3), 6-2, and
on Wednesday in the round robin prelims in Doha,
5-7, 6-4, 7-6(4).
WTA – KREMLIN CUPMoscow, Russia
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Supreme (Indoor)
PREMIER $1,000,000 32m/32q/16d
On Sunday in Moscow, Russia, in the fi nal of
the Kremlin Cup, last week’s fi nalist in Osaka,
29-year-old 8th-seeded #26 (and former #11)
Francesca Schiavone of Italy (residence: London,
England), defeated 21-year-old unseeded #66
Olga Govortsova from Minsk, Belarus, 6-3, 6-0
(Francesca is shown holding the Kremlin Cup).
Francesca’s prize is $157 427; Olga’s is $83 908.
BNP PARIBAS OPENLuxembourg, LUX
19-25 October 2009
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
INTL $220 000 32m/32q/16d
On Sunday in Luxembourg, in the fi nal of the BNP
Paribas Open, 20-year-old unseeded #70 Timea
Bacsinszky from Lausanne, Switzerland, defeated
this year’s winner in Charleston, 20-year-old 6th-
seeded #28 Sabine Lisicki from Berlin, Germany,
6-2, 7-5 (Timea is shown making friends with the
very “arty” Luxembourg hardware). Timea’s prize
is $37 000; Sabine’s is $19 000.
WTA – BEIJING CHINA OPENLuxembourg, LUX
3-11 October 2009
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
PREMIER M $4 500 000 60m/32q/28d
Beijing, in the fi nal of the China Open, the 2006
China Open champion (and this year’s French
Open champ), 24-year-old 6th-seeded #6 Svetlana
Kuznetsova of Russia (residence: Monte Carlo,
Monaco), won the Beijing title a second time by
defeating 20-year-old 12th-seeded #12 Agnieszka
Radwanska from Krakow, Poland, 6-2, 6-4
(Svetlana is shown during the match, and with the
hardware afterward). Svetlana’s prize is $775 000;
Agnieszka’s is $387 750.
WTA – OSAKA & LINZJapan
12-17 October 2009
Surface: Hard (Outdoor)
INTL $220 000 32m/32q/16d
Osaka, Japan, in the fi nal of the Japan Open,
this year’s fi nalist in Los Angeles, 25-year-old
3rd-seeded #14 Samantha Stosur from Gold
Coast, Australia, won her fi rst WTA singles title by
defeating 29-year-old 4th-seeded #26 Francesca
Schiavone of Italy (residence: London, England),
7-5, 6-1 (Samantha is shown with the hardware
after the match). Samantha’s prize is $37 000;
Francesca’s is $19 000.
GENERALI LADIESLinz, AUT
Surface: Hard (Indoor)
INTL $220 000 32m/32q/16d
Linz, Austria, in the fi nal of the Generali Ladies
Linz, 19-year-old 3rd-seeded #25 Yanina Wick-
mayer from Deurne, Belgium, defeated 19-year-
old unseeded #54 Petra Kvitova from Fulnek,
Czech Republic, 6-3, 6-4 (Yanina is also shown
with the hardware after the match). Yanina’s
prize is $37 000; Petra’s is $19 000.
in October and November 2009
Playing
in a trance Can you do it?
CAN YOU TRUST YOUR INSTINCT AND FORGET RECENT FAILURES? CAN YOU “ALLOW YOURSELF TO
PLAY” WITH NO HOLDS BARRED? OR DOES THE THOUGHT OF A MISTAKE CONDITION YOUR NEXT
MATCH? USING THE FOLLOWING TEST, CHECK HOW SIGNIFICANT YOUR NEGATIVE MEMORY IS.
To understand what is meant by
instinct, you can use the pillow
technique. Take a tennis player,
make him lie on his back, then ask him
to turn and, while he does so, throw
a pillow at him from a distance of about
three metres. If his refl exes are good, he
will catch the pillow on the fl y, or he
will at least manage to protect his face,
thus doing the only possible right thing.
This is called instinct.
But how can one think less and have less
of a negative memory? Each of us, in
good and bad, and in tennis as well, is
always a prisoner of his past and memory
− that is the awareness of what we are
and have been; and of our mistakes too
− is often the computer that leads and
directs our personality.
That is why when we make an easy
mistake, when we miss an important
opportunity or lose a breakpoint, we end
up playing the following points badly
as well. Disappointment, wrath, the
recollection of what has just happened,
in other words the memory, demand
a further negative tribute, unless we
possess a remarkable mental strength.
THE AGONISTIC TRANCE
And yet there are situations in which
both the memory and the awareness of
oneself are blunt. This happens when
the tennis player experiences absolute
concentration and total harmony with
himself, enjoying a special state of
grace. “I thought I was in a trance!”
An agonistic trance.
In fact, that mental state in which
everything comes easily and
automatically is actually a hypnotic
situation in which the player “forgets
himself” and loses memory of
everything, as if he had turned on the
automatic pilot.
Right now we express ourselves
completely at an agonistic level, in
opposition to the “restraining mind”,
that is the part of ourselves that often
fi lls us with doubts and fears by making
us think too much, hampering our
potential.
If a player serves for the match in
a moment of agonistic trance, right
then he has the sensation of dominating
the court thoroughly and of being able
to direct the ball to the corner he has
selected, with extreme ease. Nine out
of ten times his serve will result in an
ace or at least an effective shot!
By contrast, if he serves, dreading the
possibility of a double fault, in most
cases he runs the risk of actually doing it.
HOW TO ENGAGE THE AUTOMATIC PILOT
If it is therefore true that we are all able
to attain an agonistic trance, why don’t
we engage the automatic pilot more
often? Maybe because we ought to learn
to keep our head free, to let ourselves be
dominated by the pleasure of playing,
to be absorbed by the beauty of the
match without too many doubts, fears
or excessive expectations.
Of course it is not a question of behaving
on the court in a purely instinctive way,
but rather of abandoning ourselves
to playing with no fear. Some of the
typical sensations of the agonistic trance
can easily be detected and are often
connected to:
• lightness, as if it were possible to fl y
on the court;
• no tiredness, either physical or mental;
• smoothness of gestures, shots,
movements;
• ease in fi nding the ball: pleasure in
hitting and “feeling” it;
• psychologically sound self-confi dence,
even in case of a mistake;
• little importance given to the outcome:
the pleasure of playing, being
challenged and fi ghting prevails.
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WITH THIS TEST YOU WILL FIND OUT IF YOU KNOW HOW TO “FORGET YOURSELF” ON THE COURT, OR HOW INCLINED
YOU ARE TO KEEP EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL. DON’T BE SURPRISED IF SOME QUESTIONS SEEM NOT TO PERTAIN
TO TENNIS; THEY ALLOW YOU TO VERIFY YOUR CAPACITY TO “LET YOURSELF GO”.
1. BEFORE A MATCH YOU
REPEATEDLY CHECK
a Racquets, shoes, clothing and
more
b Nothing: you don’t check anything
c The shoe-laces or other details
of your clothing that you have
already verifi ed
d The conditions of your racquets
2. IN GENERAL, YOU CAN DEFINE
YOURSELF AS
a An idealist, a creative person, but
at the same time with your feet on
the ground
b A thoughtful, dubious planner
c An original, imaginative dreamer
d Well-balanced, practical, realistic
3. IN YOUR PLAY
THERE ARE MAINLY
a Long moments of creative
improvisation
b Tactics that you adopt, even if
they demand an effort
c Schemes that you needn’t think
of, as they come spontaneously
d Attempts at keeping every
situation under control
4. YOU ARE MORE
OFTEN ENCHANTED
a Watching TV
b Listening to your favourite music
c In front of a shop window
d Lost in the beauty of nature
5. IF A MATCH WERE TO
CHALLENGE THE OCEAN, THE
SENSATION THAT YOU WOULD
OFTEN EXPERIENCE IS
a Rowing against the stream
b Resisting like a rock
c Floating in the match
d Swimming in the waves
6. FOR YOU THE CLOCK IS
a A friend that beats the rhythms of
your day
b A rival: you are always on bad
terms with him
c A tyrant: you are dominated by
times and engagements
d An optional: you often lose the
notion of time
7. DURING THE MATCH YOU
HAPPEN TO THINK OF HOW
TO PERFORM YOUR SHOTS
TECHNICALLY
a Never
b Only after a mistake: you mime
the faulty gesture by correcting it
c Every now and then: you refresh
your memory
d Often, to recover your self-
assurance
8. IMAGINE YOURSELF IN THE
STREETS OF AN UNKNOWN TOWN
THAT YOU ARE VISITING
a You rely continually on your map
and check your location repeatedly
b You check your map and follow a
logical itinerary: but you also take
detours
c You are absent-minded, with your
head in the clouds and you may
lose your way
d You allow your curiosity to lead
you, ready to explore the things
that attract you
9. IN TENNIS, A RIVAL THAT PRESSES
AND ATTACKS YOU, ALLOWING YOU
A VERY SHORT TIME TO THINK…
a Confuses you and you can
oppose few countermeasures
b Makes you like him: it is your
own play
c Worries you, but it is not bad
for you if he forces you to be
instinctive
d I Is the rival that you consider
the most dangerous for you
10. YOU OFTEN HAPPEN TO LOSE
a Something of minor importance
b Very few things: you are not
careless
c Nothing, you’re the meticulous
and ordered type
d Sundries, cell-phone, keys,
glasses; and if you fi nd them
you ask yourself: “Who put them
there?”
11. DURING A MATCH YOU
SUFFER FROM THE UNPLEASANT
PRESENCE OF FEAR OF FAILURE
a Hardly ever: you don’t fear faults
very much
b Sometimes, but you know how to
face it
c Often; it is not easy to get rid of it
d Nearly always: it is your problem
12. A LITERARY OR FILM GENRE
THAT YOU PREFER TO OTHERS
a Novel; play; comedy
b Political intrigue; inquiry
c Fancy and imaginative
d Detective; thriller; horror
13. DURING THE MATCH, WHEN
YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
ONE SHOT OR ANOTHER, FOR
INSTANCE BETWEEN A LOB AND
A PASSING SHOT…
a The doubt often causes you to
make a mistake
b There’s no need to choose: the
choice comes automatically
c You think about it, but you decide
to trust your instinct
d You think it over, sometimes you
are effi cient; sometimes you are
not
14. IN A MATCH YOU
OFTEN THRIVE ON
a Alternating moments, moods,
game situations
b The search for the right reading of
the match, mainly in tactics
c Confi dence that depends on the
success of your shots
d Sensations and intuitions: you
follow your nose, immersed in
a special dimension.
OU KNOW HOW TO “FORGET YOURSELF” ON THE COURT, OR HOW INCLINED
Check the chart. Each of your answers corresponds to a colour. Verify if you have scored a higher number of blue, green, red or yellow dots, and then read the relevant interpretation. If there is no majority, and two or three colours have scored the same number, read the two or three relevant interpretations.
But if you want to fi nd out which profi le resembles you most, keep in mind that green prevails over the other colours (and therefore read the green profi le). Blue prevails over red and yellow. In case red and yellow have the same score, refer to the yellow profi le.
ur r. r r e
a b c d1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
TENNISWORLD SA 97
THE CONTROLLERYou think and worry too much. You are probably the
victim of your “negative memory” since while you play
and probably even before the match, you dwell on your
limitations and weaknesses, thus running the risk of
obtaining the opposite of your wish, that is a failure instead
of a successful performance. Apart from tennis, by your
nature and disposition you have been brought up to keep
everything under control – you are a methodical, orderly
and exact type and would like to foresee everything, while
surprises and unforeseen events upset and bewilder you.
Your scant bent for instinctive play could be accounted
for if you weren’t an experienced player yet; you cannot
expect your play to be totally automated! But if this is
not the case since you took up tennis long ago, then you
must know that your restraining mind often causes your
doubts, uncertainties and hesitations. Moreover, not only
does that cerebral work make you doubtful and insecure,
but it also drives you to spend more energy than necessary.
HOW YOU ARE PERCEIVED ON THE TENNIS COURT
On the court your body language will probably reveal the
doubts and worries that grip you and make you look tense
and as if you are busy controlling yourself, your shots and
your emotions, thus representing a serious danger for
a top-level experienced player. In conclusion, you do not
seem to possess much determination and mental strength
from a tennis point of view; this is a disadvantage, even if it
does not prevent you from displaying good performances.
YOUR AUTOMATIC PILOT
You seldom attain the ideal condition of an agonistic
trance because – as you are in full control of yourself –
you fi nd it very diffi cult to let yourself go; when you are
on the tennis court you have an excessive fear of making
a mistake and you certainly think too much instead of
abandoning yourself to the mere enjoyment of playing.
Therefore your automatic pilot often remains idle and
disconnected.
THE SUGGESTION
You should try and trust your instinct and your automated
shots, to free your mind by living your match more lightly
(which does not mean superfi cially) and dramatising your
victory or your defeat much less. When you are on the
tennis court you need to feel like a cloud rather than like
a stone. Allow the pleasure and joy of the play to prevail
over tensions.
THE CEREBRAL TACTICIANAs you no doubt know, reasoning over tennis is not wrong,
but if you think too much it may become a handicap, mainly
when doubts and fears are the object of your thoughts. The
same can happen when you do not let yourself go during
a match but are inclined to control yourself continually.
The match often represents a problem for you, since you
commit yourself mentally to fi nding a solution, a scheme
that works, a tactic that may prove to be the winning one.
This is not wrong. In fact, if it is true that a match frequently
becomes a chess game, particularly when the forces on the
court appear well balanced, your inclination to make good
use of your head may help you win that game. However,
at times you seem to go too far in thinking and asking
yourself questions that may hamper rather than help you.
Well, too often you do place your trust in the “restraining”
mind and do not set the “running” mind free. This tendency
might make you anxious and confused instead of as cool
and clear as you would like to be. Moreover, even that pinch
of extra perfectionism that labels you proves to be a limit.
HOW YOU ARE PERCEIVED ON THE TENNIS COURT
You give the impression that you are a bookkeeper busy
squaring an account and carrying out your task carefully.
Actually someone like you, who knows how to make
good use of his head, appears to his rival as a dangerous
obstacle, not easy to overcome, except when he realises that
the weight of your brain becomes a dead weight for you
when, instead of letting your game take off, you ditch it
by making your choices after too much thinking, thus not
allowing your tennis instinct to enjoy your winning shot.
YOUR AUTOMATIC PILOT
It may happen, though not frequently, that you are in the
perfect tennis condition, which is a positive consequence
of an agonistic trance – maybe because you are in excessive
control of yourself, or because you are by nature a rather
rational and analytic person. In short, you do not seem to
trust your automatic pilot enough, even if you may have
attained a good tennis level.
THE SUGGESTION
It is therefore not advisable for you either to lose your
tactical abilities or to turn into an instinctive player – all
instinct and no head. Yet you should have more confi dence
in yourself, in your spontaneous good qualities and, like
a leaf fl oating on the water, recover the pleasure of letting
yourself go to some current promptings by granting space
to your tennis creativity which you can/must not plan.
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INSTINCTIVE THINKERObviously your problem is not that you think too much
and allow doubts, tensions and fears to dominate you.
Moreover you are not a victim of perfectionism in tennis,
but this does not exclude the possibility that you can reveal
the personality of a sharp tactician, that you know how
to use your head and occasionally connect the automatic
pilot by playing instinctively. This does not mean playing
recklessly, with no logic or profi t. On the other hand the
blending of the right amount of instinct and reason are
often the successful recipe for good tennis. Anyway you
could always refi ne your talent so as to be able to attain
the agonistic trance; your capability of letting yourself be
guided by trust and confi dence in what I have defi ned
“the running mind”, that is by a situation of thorough
interior freedom, still has a good margin of improvement.
Maybe at times you lack the awareness that the more you
trust yourself and the faster you slide into that condition
of hollow mind (which does not exclude the possibility
of thinking tactically), the more incisive and dangerous
your play becomes. In short, once the automatic pilot is
engaged, you often do the right thing.
HOW YOU ARE PERCEIVED ON THE TENNIS COURT
You are a player diffi cult to understand because you can
disguise some sides of your personality and confuse
your rival, who cannot fi gure out if he is facing a one-
dimensional and predictable rival or one from whom to
expect surprises. In short, it is not easy to discover what
you think or do not think, what you are about to do, which
is the tactic that you will make use of, since you often turn
aside from what are thought to be fi rm schemes through
some sudden variation and invention of the moment. Your
rival cannot be sure . . .
YOUR AUTOMATIC PILOT
Probably you are often in that state of agonistic trance
which favours your best tennis. The problem may be that
you have not learned well how to switch your automatic
pilot on or off. In brief, you are still partly guided by it and
do not handle the controls well, even if you have already
found out that you do not profi t by too much thinking.
THE SUGGESTION
On the court you often suffer from some uncertainty that
may make you tense and ineffective. Sometimes too much
or too little thinking is detrimental to your performances.
You should avoid being too involved in the thought of
the result; rather be free to express yourself in the mere
pleasure of the play. This way you will attain more easily the
positive condition of agonistic trance.
INSPIRED AND CREATIVEThe test cannot verify it, but you may also be an impulsive
player, even too instinctive, not in the least free from
frequent doubts, fears or uncertainties that grip you. The
only undisputable fact is that you are not a perfectionist,
you do not reason or refl ect excessively and therefore it
is not too much thinking that may possibly affect your
performances in a negative way.
On the other hand − and this appears as a possibility −
you are the sort of player who knows how to stay on the
court with a totally free mind, and to attain frequently
that state of agonistic trance which may help you to
express the best of yourself. In conclusion, even off the
court it looks like your nature and character will make
you lose the “memory of yourself” so that you will
fall under the spell of what is beautiful, gliding into
a pleasant relaxation carried away by the pleasure of your
emotions. This could make of you an ecstatic, creative
being or, better still, a player that often and successfully
places his trust in his own automatic pilot.
HOW YOU ARE PERCEIVED ON THE TENNIS COURT
If you are in an agonistic trance, your rival will think that
you are almost invulnerable; he may think it impossible
to catch you off guard or oppose you. If you dominate
the situation, everything will be successful, even the
most improbable shots. If the match is well balanced,
nothing will affect you, not even the most problematic
moments. On the other hand, if you are dominated in the
score, you will fi ght with an always burning spirit. When
instead you are not in an agonistic trance, you may look
inattentive, almost absent-minded and perhaps also lazy
but unpredictable if you possess an indisputable talent.
YOUR AUTOMATIC PILOT
Your tennis instinct works and is productive when you
manage to detach your mind. Since you are able to drop
it, and of abandoning yourself with pleasure to the joy of
playing, it may happen that you fi nd yourself in a positive
situation of agonistic trance. Of course the tennis instinct
must be coupled with calm, tranquillity and inner serenity.
THE SUGGESTION
Promise always to do what comes spontaneously from the
technical or tactical point of view, when you feel the inner
pleasure of expressing yourself on the court and of playing
with the lightness of a feather. Look out: do not rely on
your instinct when reasoning is needed. Agonistic trance
and impulsiveness dictated by tension are completely
different from each other.
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT THERE ARE POINTS . . . AND THEN THERE ARE POINTS . . . BUT NOT EVERYONE KNOWS THAT ONE
CAN CALCULATE WITH ARITHMETIC PRECISION EXACTLY HOW MUCH EVERY SINGLE PHASE OF A MATCH CAN INFLUENCE
THE FINAL OUTCOME. HERE ARE SOME NUMBERS THAT CAN HELP PLAYERS AND COACHES IN DOLING OUT EXACTLY THE
MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EFFORTS DURING EACH ENCOUNTER.
THE BASIC SITUATION
The importance of each point played within
a given game can be measured by the actual
infl uence it has on a player’s chances of
winning that game.
In the following examples, let’s assume
that the players are of equal skill and that
each, when it’s his turn to serve, has a 60%
probability of winning the point.
Let’s look at the fi rst point of the game. At the
beginning of the game, the probability that
the server will win the game is 73,6%. If the
server wins the fi rst point (15−0) his chances
of winning the game rise to 84,2%. He has
therefore improved his probability of winning
by 10,6%. But if he loses the point (0−15),
the probability of winning the game drops
to 57,2% (he loses 15,9%). Hence, taking an
average of the two values (+10,6 and –15,9)
we notice that winning the fi rst point is of
moderate importance (= 13,25%).
It is not surprising that the most critical
situation is on the 30−40, or advantage out,
when the server’s probability of winning
the game is 41,5%. If the server wins the
next step, the probability rises to 69,2%. If
he loses the next step, the probability drops
to zero. The importance of the point is high,
i.e. 33,2%. It follows that 30−40 is 2,6 times
more important than the fi rst point of the
game and 14 times more important than
a point played on the 40−0.
Listed below are the 15 possible situations
in a normal game (no tiebreak), with the
importance calculated for each:
30−40 or advantage out: 33,2%
30−30 or 40−40: 22,1%
15−30: 21,2%
15−40: 19,9%
0−30: 17,5%
0−15: 16,5%
15−15: 15,9%
40−30 or advantage in: 14,7%
0−0: 12,7%
30−15: 12,4%
15−0: 10,2%
30−0: 6,36%
40−15: 5,9%
40−0: 2,36%
One can then see that, generally, the most
important points occur when the server
is lagging behind in score. Note also the
importance of 15−30, which is always
overlooked.
Less important in the economy of the game
are those situations that enable the server
to choose a long-term strategy, i.e. the
following: 40−15, 30−0, 40−0.
If, however, the server is ahead by a point
(15−0, 30−15) the importance of the next
point increases!
Things are very different when it is the
receiver who leads by two points (0−30,
15−40).
THE TIEBREAK
Calculations for the tiebreak situation bring
few surprises. The most important occur
when the score is close:
6−5; 5−6; 5−5: 24%
5−4; 4−5; 4−4: 18,2%
THE GAMES
Now let’s take into account the importance of
winning the game. The most important game
is the one that could lead to the tiebreak.
6−5; 5−6: 50%
4−4; 5−5: 22,6%
5−3: 16,6%
3−2; 2−3; 2−2: 15,5%
4–2:14,5%
2−1; 1−2; 1−1: 13,7%
3–1: 13%
1−0; 0−1; 0−0: 12,4%
2–0: 11,9%
0–2: 8,7%
1–3: 8,6%
2−4: 8%
3−0; 0−3: 7%
4−1; 1−4: 6,2%
3–5: 5,9%
4–0: 4,8%
5−2; 2−5: 4,4%
5–1: 3,2%
0–4: 2,2%
1–5:1,1%
5−0; 0−5: 0,8%
A logical question is: Why is the 5−3 more
important than the 3−5?
On 5−3, if the server wins the next game,
he also wins the set. If he loses the game,
he has lost his serve and loses the advantage
he has gained.
On a score of 3−5, if the server wins the
game, this poses a lesser threat to the balance
(superiority of the opponent) compared to
the previous situation, because the former
receiver will then serve for the set, with
a psychological advantage.
100 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 101
football
100 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 101
Then came the manager, just as in
boxing. And one of the fi rst was
certainly Ion Tiriac, who invented
a job for himself as an improvised
“promoter” of that wild and reckless, but
highly talented Ilie Nastase. Not just a great
player, all fl air, fantasy and unpredictability,
but an indisputable character too.
A profession learned very well, and brought
to much fruition by that big man with the
big moustache of humble origins and no
means, but extremely intelligent. What would
Guillermo Vilas ever have been without Tiriac,
the bear of the Carpathians, the Count Dracula
of Brasov?
Tiriac, true pioneer of the managers of the
racquet in lieu of the glove, was too Latin
and too individualistic; he didn’t trust others
enough to build a great management company
as Donald Dell of ProServ and Mark “the
Shark” McCormack of IMG, the International
Management Group, were able to do in the
United States.
With the growing development of large
sports management companies, tennis
players, constantly followed by an agent,
were no longer accompanied only by a coach
or a trainer, but slowly over the years they
would be joined – not necessarily in this
order – by a masseur, a physiotherapist and/
or athletic preparer, a doctor, a psychologist
and sometimes a dietician.
As far as I can recall, the fi rst champions to
feel the need to no longer be surrounded
by a single man – on the model of young
Bjorn Borg who lived in symbiosis with old
Lennart Bergelin – but by an entire technical
team were two Czechs strongly determined
to make it, were particularly professional
in their methodological approach. First,
Martina Navratilova, born in 1956, somewhat
distracted by too many intrusive girlfriends,
followed by Ivan Lendl, born in 1960, the
Frankenstein of Moravia, the man who never
laughed and who left nothing to chance.
But while Navratilova changed more coaches,
and partners, than Liz Taylor did husbands
(from Sandra Haynie to Renée Richards,
Nancy Lieberman, and the only boy, Mike
Estep), Ivan – the fi rst one to methodically
change racquets with each ball exchange in
order to always hit new balls with the same
string tension – was also the fi rst to choose
his coach in relation to his main objective.
Ivan was known to be obsessed with the idea
of a victory at Wimbledon. He knew his limits:
the volley, the attack game that, on the grass of
those times, seemed the only possible strategy
to dominate the lawn courts of the All England
Club. So he hired Tony Roche, the grass
specialist.
Someone might say that so much
determination did not pay off. But Lendl
knows that he tried and he has no regrets.
Although he won at the Queen’s Barons Court,
he was cruelly stopped in two fi nals (Becker in
1985 and Cash in 1987) and fi ve semi-fi nals
at Church Road.
Yet some twenty years later Roger Federer,
already world number one, would follow in
Lendl’s footsteps, by hiring the same Tony
Roche. But only – listen to this – to draw
from his forty years of experience on a totally
different surface, red clay. Oh yes, because
“Rock” had played three fi nals at Roland
Garros, not just one, although he had only
won in 1966.
Federer, unlike Lendl, did not need to improve
his game on grass, but on clay. His goal was
not to win at Wimbledon – too easy for him!
– but at Roland Garros. He had to fi nd a way
to beat Nadal, the king of “red” tennis, who
was trained by another Tony, his uncle.
FEDERER SUCCEEDED IN 2009,
HELPED BY NADAL’S LOSS AGAINST
SODERLING, BUT WITHOUT ROCHE
AT HIS SIDE, HAVING SACKED HIM
A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE.
In the meantime a couple of American
youngsters had copied the Lendl example
to put an end to the long famine. Their
countrymen had been incapable of winning
on the Roland Garros clay since the days of
“Grandpa” Trabert (1954). The breakthrough
came only 25 years later. Little Michael Chang
(unforgettable 1989) was the fi rst followed
twice by Florida red Jim Courier (1991–
1992). Both had the intelligence to enlist
the help of a former countryman, a Spaniard
emigrated to America and an expert in the red
marshes, José “Pepe” Higueras.
Since then, the ranks of marginal characters
have been growing disproportionately around
the players and the young champions, but the
coach has always remained only one.
For a new era of tennis to open, one
had to wait until this past year, 2009.
The ‘revolutionaries’ are or rather would be
two boys born in May 1987, only seven days
apart: Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic.
They have been the fi rst two to decide not
to rely only on one coach, but two; one for
each surface type. And this at a time when the
world number one doesn’t even have one!
Murray has been competitive on cement and
grass for a couple of years, but on clay he has
never achieved any signifi cant results despite
his Spanish experience and in spite of having
changed many coaches (Leon Smith when he
was a little boy prior to his exile to Barcelona,
Pato Alvarez in Catalonia, Mark Petchey
upon his return to treacherous Albion, Brad
Gilbert from July 2006, the trio formed by
coach Miles McLaghlan and physiotherapists
Matt Little and Jez Green). And so, what did
he do? He hired the wise Alex Corretja, the
Spaniard who won in Rome, who lost in the
fi nal in Paris, one that knows more than most
about red clay, but also game-plans and game
strategies. He was world number two, and
triumphed in the Masters Cup without having
a proper shot! He had good backhand, but
a brilliant tactical intelligence.
Novak Djokovic also succumbed to the
prospect of recruiting someone else besides
Slovakian Marian Vajda, a former ATP number
34 who has followed him for a long time
(virtually since Ricardo Piatti made him
understand that he would not have abandoned
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hes
as in
TENNIS PLAYERS ONCE STOOD ALONE. OR DID THEY, FOR IN SOME CASES
HIS MOTHER AND/OR FATHER, OR PERHAPS EVEN THE OLD MASTER WHO PUT
HIS FIRST LITTLE RACQUET IN HIS HAND, WHO GREW FOND OF HIM AND HAD
TAKEN TO ACCOMPANYING HIM TO TOURNAMENTS BECAUSE HE WAS LITTLE AND
A LITTLE PROMISING.
102 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 103
his adoptive son Ivan Ljubicic). Djokovic won
the Australian Open in January 2008, crushing
Federer in the semifi nal (and then the Tsonga
revelation) and made statements worthy of
a number one. But then the results were not
those which he had hoped for, although
Djokovic has recently returned to number
three behind the usual Fed-Nad pair. And
so came the move of placing former world
number fi ve (or even four?), Todd Martin,
alongside that old fox of cement Vajda. Yet if
there was ever a surface on which Djokovic
demonstrated his talent, and not only in
Australia, then it was cement. That he might
not have fully trusted Vajda, in the same way
that Murray could perhaps be perplexed about
the qualities of McLaghlan, is legitimate.
For this reason, and although the matter has
been raised by several parties, I am not entirely
sold on the idea that we may be moving
towards an ever greater specialisation of the
coaches, towards their use in an “American
football way” where there are different
coaches for the different game situations,
in attack or in defence – albeit coordinated
by a head-coach.
MURRAY AND DJOKOVIC,
AND POSSIBLY EVEN FEDERER,
HAVE PREFERRED TO SURROUND
THEMSELVES WITH COACHES
OF MODEST FAME AND EVEN LESS
CHARISMA, IN ORDER TO BE FREE
TO DEVELOP THEIR UNQUESTIONABLE
PERSONALITY.
They are thoroughbred horses, like Becker and
Ivanisevic who preferred to have friends, or
inconspicuous people, around them, rather
than tough guys like Bob Brett. And it also
suits Murray and Djokovic well – indeed very
well – to integrate their existing relationships
with the usual subordinates, with a few
“expert consultants” more or less passing by
a dozen weeks in the year and then each goes
their separate way.
Tell me what coach you have and I will tell
you who you are. If you choose a low-profi le
one, or even don’t have one, it means that
you prefer to do your own thing, but with
a secretary. And then, for the big occasions,
the Slams, you call in a valuable technician.
Someone who can have little infl uence on the
end result – but this is my personal opinion,
and as such, questionable – but can also serve
as an excuse, as a decoy for the public who
will say “goodness, he is serious about this”
and for the press (I am thinking particularly
of the British one) that otherwise won’t leave
you alone.
My view remains the same. Coaches are
important, very important for tennis players
of modest stature (some Italians?) or for
those who are going through very diffi cult
psychological situations (for instance, an
Agassi who had dropped to world number
140 and needed a Gilbert at that delicate
moment of his career).
But if you have the physical and mental
strength of a Williams (either one – Serena
or Venus – makes little difference), the talent
of Federer, the explosive nature of Nadal,
the uncontrollable madness of Ivanisevic,
the coolness of Sampras in the crucial
moments, the formidable aggressiveness of
Seles for whom the only tactic was to hit as
hard from the right as from the left . . . if
you have nobody behind you, or Richard
Williams (and/or Oracene...), or an uncle
Tony, a Martic, an Annacone, a Luthi or a
Károly or – to go back to Murray and Djokovic
– a McLaghlan or a Vajda makes very little
difference. And with a Corretja and a Martin
part-time, and in any event already rich and
satisfi ed champions as well as very serious
people, the same applies.
104 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 105
REVIEWS
TECHNICAL SPECS
Make Babolat
Model Pure Drive Lite Gt
Material graphite, tungsten
Head size 100 square inches
Length 68,5 cm
Beam width 23-25-25-23 mm
String pattern 16x19
Recommended
string tension 25-28 kg
COMPETITORS
Make Model
Dunlop Aerogel 500 4D
Fischer Pro No. One X-Lite 98
Head You Tex Speed Elite
Prince Ozone Tour Lite MP
Pro Kennex KI 5 280
Tecnifi bre T-Flash 285
Völkl PB 6
Wilson (K) Pro Team FX
Yonex RQS 11
IN THE LAB
Weight 299 g (strung)
Balance point 33 cm
Swingweight 305
String fl exibility 65
Stiffness 65
Power 38-C
Control 64-A
Manoeuvrability 83-A
ON COURT
Power
Control
Manoeuvrability
Baseline play
Net play
Serve
Flat shots
Spin
Comfort
Tactic Complete all-court
Technique Drive shots, fl at shots
TECHNICAL SPECS
Make Head
Model You Tek Radical Pro
Material high module graphite,
D30, tefl on
Head size 100 square inches
Length 68,5 cm
Beam width 22-22-22-22 mm
String pattern 16x19
Recommended
string tension 24-28 kg
COMPETITORS
Make Model
Babolat Aero Storm Tour
Dunlop Aerogel 300 Tour 4D
Fischer Black Granite Tour
Prince Exo3 Graphite 100
Pro Kennex Ki 5 315
Tecnifi bre T-Flash 315
Völkl PB 10 325G
Wilson (K) Obra Tour
Yonex RDIS 100 Mp
IN THE LAB
Weight 333 g (strung)
Balance point 33 cm
Swingweight 335
String fl exibility 56
Stiffness 57
Power 43-B
Control 58-B
Manoeuvrability 63-A
ON COURT
Power
Control
Manoeuvrability
Baseline play
Net play
Serve
Flat shots
Spin
Comfort
Tactic Complete all-court
Technique Drive shots, fl at shots
BABOLAT PURE DRIVE LITE HEAD YOU TEK RADICAL PROTHIS RACQUET IS THE FIRST DESCENDANT OF THE BETTER KNOWN PURE DRIVE – LIGHTER IN WEIGHT AND IN REBOUND.
IT PROVIDES GOOD CONTROL AND IS PARTICULARLY SUITED TO FLAT SHOTS. PLAYING VOLLEY SHOTS AND SERVING ARE
ENJOYABLE BECAUSE OF ITS HIGH MANOEUVRABILITY. BEST SUITED TO VERY YOUNG COMPETITIVE PLAYERS OR CLUB PLAYERS.
ANDY MURRAY IS THIS RACQUET’S EXCEPTIONAL TESTIMONIAL. OVERALL A MANOEUVRABLE HEAD WITH GOOD REBOUND.
FLAT SHOTS ARE PREFERABLE TO TOPSPIN AND BACKSPIN. BEST PERFORMANCE AT THE NET WHERE IT IS TOLERANT BUT
RESOLUTE. FOR WELL-TRAINED COMPETITIVE PLAYERS.
The Pure Drive had always represented a “range on its own”, on the strength of its numbers (it is still the French fi rm’s
most sought-after model on the market) and its natural adaptability to a varied audience (the closest comparison being the Roddick version). With Pure Drive Lite, Babolat expands its lineage, introducing a young and fresh product, just like the Italian “azzurri” who endorse the model this year.
IN THE LAB
The head (100 square inches), the medium beam width (variable between 23 and 25 mm) and the string patters (16 x 19) all belong to the family DNA. The differences occur primarily in the weight, close to 300 g when strung, and the remaining specs, reworked accordingly so as to achieve the right balance within a new dimension. The balance point leans accordingly towards the head of the racquet, at 33 cm, whereas the stiffness is confi rmed rather high (65). The ratio between power level and control clearly favours the latter (64 to 38). Manoeuvrability is approved with full marks (83) and couldn’t be otherwise with an unstrung weight of 275 g. The machine instead gives inertia (swingweight) a modest score (305).
ON COURT
The fi rst exchanges confi rm the outcome of the diagnostic. It is a conventionally “easy” racquet but conceals a mismatch between rebound and control. The former lags, or at least falls short of expectations, whereas the latter is at top
The motto of the Austrian fi rm reads ‘You Tek’, technology for you. And the Radical in question can only belong to
this range of new heads inaugurated with the Speed Pro model for which Novak Djokovic is a testimonial. Radical represents a different branch of the Head collection that features among its sponsored players, athletes such as Andy Murray and Amelie Mauresmo. The Pro variant is specifi cally the one adopted by the Scottish player. A markedly competitive tool, that is able to mitigate its severe category traits through more democratic characteristics, such as the 100 square inch head.
IN THE LAB
A 100 square inch head with a pattern of 16 vertical and 19 horizontal strings is in itself a guarantee for good rebound. If we add to this the indication of a remarkable weight (333 g strung), further assisted by a balance point leaning towards the head (33 cm), we have structural certainty that we are dealing with a powerful weapon. Inertia (swingweight) is considerable (335), especially when compared with competing models; stiffness is fairly low (57). The beam width is constant at 22 mm. Interestingly, the diagnostic attributes more credit to the control value (58) than to the power level (43). This apparent contradiction will make the test on court all the more interesting. Finally, manoeuvrability is deemed moderate.
ON COURT
Any doubts about the relative supremacy of power and control are soon cleared up. The
level. Transferred onto the court: the ball leaves the head with ease but loses some momentum before hitting the ground. It starts off fast, without much effort, but it struggles to grip. This characteristic is even more evident in the acceleration. On the other hand, the shot is totally reliable. The control is very convincing, be it in attack or in defence, a situation in which the high tolerance of the racquet can be fully appreciated. At the baseline, drive shots or fl at shots come out better than convoluted executions. However, a distinction is necessary between the backspin, which is unanimously liked – even though the effect is not one of the most vicious (it is challenging to try and make it travel close to the ground) – and the topspin, which is easy to transfer only when time allows an adequate preparation. Grips too close to a Western are forbidden.
In the volley, the excellent manoeuvrability makes anything possible. It is easy to defend oneself, especially with low volleys, and comfortably regain an attack position. The excessive tolerance of the head might cost you a few ‘15’ from above the shoulder, by making it possible to return otherwise winning shots. The Pure Drive Lite performs best in smashes and serves. If handled with skill, it also returns that pleasing rustling sound on impact, which is typical of some custom-built racquets. Few distinctions between a fl at fi rst ball and the variants in slice or kick, all good nonetheless. The target audience ranges from the young competitive player, to the average amateur, the instructor, all of them looking for a precious multipurpose “toy”.
sweet spot is the undisputed judge, which is rather limited for a head of this size. When impact occurs fully in the centre, the ball leaves fast and heavy; it only takes a shift of a few centimetres, though, and the response of the head changes substantially. The previous comfort is replaced by a feeling of dryness and the shot loses depth and meanness. Shots are therefore precise and powerful, if carefully executed; delays and off-centre shots are however penalised with some intransigence. In these situations it is better to be prepared and pull on the handbrake.
From the baseline, the Radical Pro feels rather generous with fl at shots, whereas it struggles to transfer the ball in extreme “wraps”. All in all, top slices should be preferred to topspin effects; backspins run low but tend to rise after the bounce. What the head executes with mastery are closing shots prepared with a little anticipation.
Performance at the net is truly impeccable. This racquet is easy to manoeuvre despite its weight, certain in the attack volleys and as certain in the insidious balls above the shoulder. A smash impacted with the right timing will be diffi cult to recover. The same applies to the serve. Considering the weight of this tool, though, a good acceleration is required to make a drive shot truly effective. This will cause a high impact to occur and the mass will be fully transferred. The slice, kick and lift variants can deliver some satisfaction if supported by a good arm. This racquet is recommended for well-trained competitive players with a marked aptitude for volley play.
106 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 107
South African Tennis Association
PO Box 521022, Saxonwold 2132
The Wanderers Cricket Stadium, Corlett Drive, Illovo 2196
Tel: 011 442-0500 Fax: 011 442-0503
email: [email protected]
website: www.satennis.co.za
SATA Magazine Liaison: Wendy Chadwick
MASTERS FINAL RANKINGS:
MASTERS BOYS
1 Wayne Montgomery RSA
2 Mazen Ousama EGY
3 Soufi ene Mouline MAR
4 Matthew Rossouw RSA
5 Kais Dghais TUN
6 Guy-Orly Iradukunda BDI
7 Adam Noureldin SUD
8 Ibrahim Shabani TAN
MASTERS GIRLS
1 Mayar Sherif EGY
2 Marina Albert EGY
3 Kay-Leigh Nicholas RSA
4 Mona Jebri TUN
5 Intissar Rassif MAR
6 Nihel Adjali ALG
7 S Wong Hon Chan MRI
8 Damaris Musera KEN
THE RESULTS ARE:
WAYNE MONTGOMERY
beat S Mouline MAR 6−2 6−0
beat I Shabani TAN 6−0 6−0
beat A Noureldin SUD 6−0 6−1
beat M Rossouw RSA 6−0 6−1
beat M Ousama TUN 6−4 3−6 6−3
MATTHEW ROSSOUW
beat K Dghais EGY 6−2 3−6 6−2
beat G-O Iradukunda BDI 6−0 6−0
lost M Ousama TUN 7−5 6−7(1) 2−6
lost S Mouline MAR 4−6 5−7
lost W Montgomery RSA 0−6 1−6
KAY-LEIGH NICHOLAS
beat S Wong Hon Chan MRI 6−3 6−1
beat I Rassif MAR 4−6 6−2 6−3
lost M Albert EGY 0−6 6−2 3−6
beat M Jebri ALG 6−2 6−3
lost M Sherif EGY 1−6 5−7
Three South African juniors played in the African 14 & under Masters
in Egypt from 9–15 November 2009.
African 14 & under MastersDATES TOURNAMENT TYPE/STRENGTH
DECEMBER
12–15 Gauteng North Junior Open OR / 4
09–12 SWD Great Wilson Junior Open OR / 2
13–17 Boland KeyHealth Sportsmans Warehouse KeyHealth / 7
13–17 Boland KeyHealth Sportsmans Warehouse Open
16–19 South West Districts Veterans Open Vets
16–18 Gauteng North Junior OR / 2
18–22 WP KeyHealth–Slazenger Classic KeyHealth / 7
JANUARY
03–07 Border KeyHealth – SA Junior Open KeyHealth / 8
05–08 Gauteng North Moot OR / 2
05–08 Gauteng Central Junior Open OR / 4
07–11 Eastern Province KeyHealth KeyHealth / 7
08–10 Mpumalanga Junior Mini Masters Mini / 3
09–12 Gauteng North Junior Open OR / 5
09–12 KFC Western Province Junior Summer OR / 5
15–18 Western Province Veterans Vets
22–24 Free State Mini 1 Mini / 3
23–29 Open Nationals Open / 8
23/24 & 30/31 Gauteng East Open Vets
30 Jan – 02 Feb SATA Masters – under 12 & 14
FEBRUARY
01–07 The SA Open ATP 250
02–05 SATA Masters – under 16 & 18
11–14 West Rand Open Vets
13/14 & 20/21 & 27/28 GC Slazenger Junior Weekender 1 OR / 3
07 & 14 & 21 KZN Mini 1 Mini / 4
14 & 21 & 28 Western Province KFC Mini 1 Mini / 5
20/21 & 27/28 Gauteng North Mini 1 Mini / 5
MARCH
05–07 Border EC New Balance Mini 2 Mini / 3
07 & 13/14 Boland Sportsmans Warehouse Mini 1 Mini / 5
07 & 13/14 Boland Sportsmans Warehouse Mini 1 Open / 5
06–10 ITF SAVTA Nationals Vets
06/07 & 13/14 Gauteng North Dros Curro Mini 1 Mini / 3
06–12 RVTA ITF Junior ITF / Grade 2
13–19 SATA ITF Junior ITF / Grade 2
20–22 Mpumalanga Mini 1 Mini / 4
26–29 Boland Junior OR / 5
27–31 North West Province Junior Open OR / 4
27–30 SATA High Schools Week Schools
27–29 Western Mpumalanga Open Open / 3
29 March – 03 April ITF Seniors Mexico Vets
30 March - 02 April Gauteng North Milites OR / 2
31 March – 05 April Gauteng Central KeyHealth Series KeyHealth / 7
30 March – 01 April Western Province Junior Open OR / 5
SATA reserves the right to make changes to this calendar. Please always check the website for updates.
A demanding but rewarding yearAs 2009 draws to
a close, I refl ect
on a demanding
but rewarding
year for South
African tennis –
a year in which
we made
signifi cant
progress both nationally and
internationally. We look forward to
building on these successes in 2010.
On behalf of the SATA Board and staff,
I wish you a wonderful holiday with
family and friends, an exciting and
fulfi lling New Year and, most of all,
peace and goodwill.
– Ian Smith, CEO: SATA
Two titles for SA in ITF Individual World Championships
South Africa was represented by a team
of Super Senior players at the ITF Seniors
Competition hosted in Perth, Australia,
in November 2009.
Janine Lieffrig added another title to her long
list of wins when she successfully defended
her title in the Women’s 70+ singles, defeating
Mary Gordon from Australia. Janine beat her
opponent 6–4, 6–2, thoroughly deserving her
fourth World Championship singles title. Then,
together with her long-time women’s doubles
partner, Audrey van Coller, seeded number one,
lost to the Australian pair of Nola Collins and
Mary Gordon 4–6 6–3 2–6.
Having lost in the semifi nals of the Women’s
65+ singles to Heidi Orth (Ger) 6–2, 6–7, 3–6
after a match point, Petro Kruger then teamed
up with Heidi to win the women’s doubles
event, beating the number three seeds Heather
McKay and Helen Muir (Aus) 6–2, 0–6, 6–1.
South African results in the ITF team
competitions held in Perth the week before are
as follows:
CUP FINAL
POSITION
Alice Marble Cup (W60) 8th
Kitty Godfree Cup (W65) 5th
Althea Gibson Cup (W70) Silver
Von Cramm Cup (M60) 5th
Britannia Cup (M65) 12th
Jack Crawford Cup (M70) 11th
Bitsy Grant up (M75) 9th
Gardnar Mulloy Cup (M80) 6th
Jessica Motaung appointed to the boardThe South African
Tennis Association
(SATA) has pleasure
in announcing
the co-option
of Ms Jessica
Motaung to its
board of directors.
Ms Motaung
currently serves as
the marketing manager for Kaiser Chiefs and
through this and other sport-related interests,
will bring the wealth of experience and
knowledge she has gained from the sporting
industry to tennis.
We welcome Jessica to tennis and know that
her contribution to the administration and
promotion of our game will be substantial.
Sata Tournament Calendar DECEMBER 2009 – MARCH 2010
Erratum – 2009 National Club Championships – Oud-
studente came 4th in the Men’s B Section and 7th in
the Women’s B Section and not Alumni as published.
From left – Back: Johann Koorts (Chairman SATA Board), Terrey Schweitzer (Coach), Matthew Rossouw Front: Wayne Montgomery and Kay-Leigh Nicholas
108 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 109
Western Province player Jody Claassen
recently won the 2009 U18 Junior National
Championships for the fi rst time. Claassen
was born on 25 October 1991 in Mitchell’s
Plain and now lives in Strandfontein, Cape
Town. Since he is the fi rst in his family to play
competitive tennis, his parents Wendy and
Jonathan are mighty proud of their only son.
Jody attended Strandfontein Primary School
where he played a variety of sports and
unbelievably none of them was tennis! He was
opening bowler and number three batsman
for the school cricket team, right wing in
rugby and striker in soccer.
He moved to Wynberg Boys High in 2005
where he has just completed his matric
examinations. Claassen started playing tennis
and table tennis in Grade 8 but dropped the
table tennis after two years to concentrate on
tennis. From as early as Grade 9 he not only
played in the number one position but also
captained the school’s fi rst team.
Claassen has received many accolades from his school for his success in tennis, and his personal achievements have included being awarded school colours in Grade 8 for playing more than 80% of fi rst team matches; receiving blues in Grade 9 for Western Province U19 schools level and honours awards in Grades 10 and 11 for representing South Africa in the U19.
This young man seems to make a habit of
taking home the silverware and has won
a staggering 34 tournaments as a junior
player. However, he feels that his biggest
achievements as a junior were winning this
year’s National Championship and the fi ve
times that he represented Western Province
at Interprovincial.
Claassen has already started playing ITF
tournaments.He lost in round one of
his fi rst three but managed to make it to
the quarterfi nals in his fourth attempt.
Representing South Africa in the U19 schools
team he played on clay in Austria and Slovakia
– an experience he won’t forget in a hurry.
He is looking forward to moving abroad to
study Sports Psychology at Elon University in
North Carolina where he will continue to play
college tennis.
Success doesn’t come easy and Claassen puts
in a minimum of three hours practice a day,
which includes fi tness training with coach
Stephan de Kock. He also plays club tennis
and is the Western Province Cricket Club
Champion.
“Dream big: nothing is impossible; always
strive for perfection and never give up” is
Claassen’s motto; and it is one which clearly
works for him. Good advice for our upcoming
junior players.
JUNIOR TENNIS
For the past decade, Pretoria Boys High
School (PBHS) has been one of the leading
tennis schools in the country. During this
time, the school has produced two Davis Cup
players: namely Rik De Voest for South Africa
and Christian Vituli for Kenya, U18 National
Champion, Tucker Voster as well as numerous
players who have represented their countries
and provinces.
Six players have received tennis bursaries
to American universities and many have
represented their specifi c university locally
at the top level.
Boys High’s fi rst tennis team has done well.
They have twice won both the prestigious
Wayne Ferreira Tournament and Grey College
Festival; the Kearsney Festival once and
the “150 year” Grey High Port Elizabeth
Anniversary Festival, in which most of the
top schools in the country participated.
The fi rst team has also won the Pretoria
and Johannesburg League several times.
Much of the team’s success has been the result
of the professional and inspirational coaching
of Mr Gerald Stoffberg, employed by the
school as its head coach.
Annually, they enter eleven teams in the
Pretoria League and each year play in the
Menlo Park and Paul Roos Festival. PBHS
co-hosts the annual Under15 National Festival
with Afrikaans Seuns Hoër and Waterkloof
Hoërskool.
The school caters for all levels of players and
each player attends a twohour squad session
2009 First Team Tennis,
from left, back;
J Sauer, P Ngwenzi
front; N Carmichael,
B Lock, T Edwards,
W le Roux (Capt),
A Jekel
with the head coach. In addition, the fi rst team
(junior and senior) also attend specialised
fi tness sessions to improve their agility, speed,
power and general fi tness. Mr Stoffberg
offers private coaching at the school on two
afternoons a week.
PBHS has seven tennis courts set in beautiful,
scenic surroundings. The boys have proved
to be true ambassadors for the school, both
on and off the court and have consistently
endeavoured to play their best tennis.
Paul Roos Gymnasium is situated in
Stellenbosch and currently has 1 170 boys
enrolled. This boys-only school has a proud
academic and sports tradition that extends
over many years with many current learners
and old boys excelling in various walks of life.
The school participates in the Boland Tennis
League and also competes in tournaments
across the country.
Paul Roos Gymnasium hosts the annual Bestmed Gerrie Berner Tennis Tournament during March when twelve of the strongest tennis schools from around the country compete for the trophy. The school also participates in the Kearsney College Tennis Festival, the Marilie Moolman Tennis Tournament in Cradock, the Pretoria Schools U15 Boys Tennis Tournament as well as the Grey College Tennis Tournament.
The fi rst tennis team started to attend national
tournaments in the 1990s, but since 2002 the
team’s results have been astounding. With more
than 24 victories
out of the
30 tournaments
played and as
runner-up in
most other
tournaments, the
team is a force
to be reckoned
with. Credit is due
to the legendary
Gerrie Berner, the
team’s coach and
mentor for the past 15 years. The school recently
appointed the well-known coach Jacobus
Swanepoel to succeed Berner who is retiring.
This year the Paul Roos fi rst team consisted
of Jurgen de Jager as captain, Berno de Villiers,
Francois O’Kennedy, Wesley Montgomery,
Marc van der Merwe, Wayne Montgomery
and Eben Schellink. Lourens Fick and Brahm
Moolman also represented the school in the
fi rst team.
Montgomery played in the Confederation
of African Tennis (CAT) Championships and
in the African Junior Championships (AJC)
in Morocco earlier this year. After winning
both these titles, he represented South
Africa at the Junior World Cup in the Czech
Republic. He also participated in the Nike
Junior International Masters Tournament in
the Dominican Republic where he reached the
semifi nals. Montgomery and van der Merwe
are currently also the Junior National winners
in the U14 and U16 age groups respectively.
Jan-Willem Kleynhans also represented
South Africa in the U15
South African side which
toured Europe in July.
Paul Roos Gymnasium
Pretoria Boys High Tennis Prior to 1994 South African schools tennis
was run by a committee under the auspices
of SATA with George Balios as the last
chairman in offi ce. Schools tennis was strong
and tournaments were rated among the best
in the country. Things changed drastically
after 1994 as many people were forced to
reconsider old mindsets. Past differences had
to be settled and previously disadvantaged
players recognised and incorporated into the
system. A new sports organisation, USSASA
(United Schools Sport Association of South
Africa), was established by the government.
The ensuing period was a diffi cult one; while
some embraced change with alacrity, others
found it hard to change habits and customs
that had worked well in the past.
From a schools tennis point of view, we felt
left in the dark. School organising committees
wanted to be part of the federation, but with
the government taking control of all school
sports, the federation found itself between
the devil and the deep blue sea. Unfortunately
many role players turned their backs on the
game and vowed never again to be involved
in the administration and organisation of the
sport. With the best of intentions, USSASA
wanted to host multi-coded events, but this
resulted in logistical nightmares during
tournaments and it took some time to reach
the high standards obtained in the past.
At some stage SASCOC announced that
federations should be in charge of all sport in
the country. USSASA was duly disbanded and
schools seized the opportunity to make a fresh
start. The High Schools Committee under the
chairmanship of David Jaquire, requested Leon
Freimond and Clark Coetzee to hold an indaba
with SATA, with the aim of offi cially becoming
part of the federation. Fortunately their request
was granted and a meeting took place on
Saturday 29 August 2009 at Emperor’s Palace
in Johannesburg. Role players arrived from all
over the country and could testify to the new
spirit which had been born.
Many issues were discussed, the primary
focus being the promotion of schools
tennis nationally. An interim committee
was elected comprising of David Jaquire,
Jenny Koster, Kallie Cromhout, Jill Meyer
and Sybrand Viviers.
“A rather daunting task has been given to us.
We have to fi nalise a national constitution in
consultation with SATA and we will also be
looking at all provincial schools structures
in the country. Selection for provincial and
national teams will be standardised, and many
more strategic activities are planned,” says
David Jaquire.
The deadline for drawing up the constitution
was the end of October 2009 and an annual
general meeting is planned for 28 March 2010
in Pretoria to coincide with the High Schools
Inter-Provincial Tournament. Offi cial notice
will be sent to all concerned.
SA High Schools integrate with SATA
Paul Roos Team, from left: Wesley Montgomery, Francois O’Kennedy, Jurgen de Jager, Lourens
Fick, Berno de Villiers, Marc van der Merwe, Nelius Stephan (manager), Eben Schellink, Gerrie
Berner (coach). In front Wayne Montgomery
Claassen has won 34 tournaments as a junior. He also won
the 2009 National Championship and has represented
Western Province fi ve times at Interprovincial
PROFILE OF A CHAMPION
JODY CLAASSEN
David Jaquire
110 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 111
SATA’s premier event Junior Nationals was played in Bloemfontein from 28 September to 3 October 2009. Congratulations to the winners.
Under 12
Boys singles: Lloyd George HarrisGirls singles: Kelsey JoffeBoys doubles: L G Harris/B LaubserGirls doubles: K Joffe/M Dickason
Under 14
Boys singles: Wayne Montgomery
Girls singles: Lynn Kiro
Boys doubles: M Rossouw/W Montgomery
Girls doubles: E van Zyl/A Saunders
Under 16
Boys singles: Marc van der MerweGirls singles: Natasha FourouclasBoys doubles: M van der Merwe/
M Jansen van VuurenGirls doubles: E de Villiers/D Joubert
Under 18
Boys singles: Jody ClaassenGirls singles: Veronique LuksichBoys doubles: J Claassen/B SchoemanGirls doubles: W Luus/E Potgieter
Junior nationals results
The Open Interprovincial
Tournament
The Open Interprovincial Tournament took place in Pretoria from 11–16 October 2009. Results are:
1 Western Province2 Gauteng North3 Gauteng Central4 Gauteng North U185 Boland6 Free State7 Gauteng East8 North West Province
Gauteng North futures results
Week 1
Men’s singlesJean Andersen (RSA) bt Yannick Bulcke (4)(BEL) 4–6, 7–5, 6–4
Men’s doublesRichard Ruckelshausen (AUT)/Ivo Klec (3)(SVK) bt Alexander Satschko (2)(GER)/Frank Wintermantel (GER) 6–3, 3–6 (10–7)
Women’s singlesChanel Simmonds (RSA) bt Davinia Lobbinger (BEL) 6–1, 6–0
Women’s doublesWelma Luus (RSA)/Erica Krisan (USA) bt Martina Caciotti (ITL)/Nicole Clerico (ITL) 6–1, 6–4
Week 2
Men’s singlesAndrew Anderson (RSA) bt Sebastian Rieschick (3) (GER) 6–4, 6–2
Men’s doublesAndrew Anderson (RSA)/B Janse van Rensburg (RSA) bt Hendrik Coertzen (RSA)/Ruan Roelofse (RSA) 6–3, 7–5
Women’s singlesIrina Ramialison (FRA) bt Piia Suomalainen (FIN) 7–5, 6–2
Women’s doublesSina Haas (GER)/Piia Suomalainen (FIN) bt Lucia Kovarcikova (3) (SUI)/Zuzana Linhova (CZE) 7–6(2), 6–0
Nationals photos by David Shekleton @ How’s That Shot Photography
JUNIOR TENNIS
OPEN TENNIS
Ryan and Brandon Laubser are brothers with a passion for tennis and currently have rankings in the top 5 of their age groups. Both boys attend St Benedicts College in Bedfordview and Ryan at only 13 years old is the number 1 player for the High School whilst younger brother, 11-year-old Brandon is the top player for the Primary School.
They are modest of their many achievements and both boys have remained humble and well mannered. Parents Andries and Nadine are rightfully proud and encourage them all the way.
To help us get to know them better they answered a few of our questions:
What other sports do you play at school?
Ryan participates in the 800m and Brandon plays 1st team soccer and also participates in athletics and cross country.
When did you start playing tennis and why?
Both boys were encouraged from an early age to try everything from soccer to karate and started playing tennis at age 4. Ryan knew from his early Playball days that he enjoyed tennis and started lessons with two friends when he was six and Brandon was only four. Private lessons subsequently followed and the boys then decided that they would both have to give up club soccer – which they loved – as there wasn’t enough time for both sports.
Who is your coach and how often do you have lessons/practice?
The boys are coached by Earl Grainger and they attend one private lesson and three squad sessions per week. Brandon has an additional weekly hour of private coaching with Brandon Kruger.
What tournaments have you won – singles/doubles?
R: GC Wilsons Marks Park, GN Belgrave Grand Prix, GN Mini Series, GC Mini Series
B: Nike Junior Tour SA Masters, GE KeyHealth Series, GC Wilsons Marks Park, GN Mini Series ,GE Mini Series ,GN Junior Grand Prix
What has been your tennis highlights so far?
The brothers feel that winning any tournament is very rewarding and reaching the semis of the CAT u14 tournament was, for Ryan, a defi nite high. However, they both agree that their highlight was in the Nike Junior Tour SA Masters this year where Brandon came fi rst and Ryan made it to the semi-fi nal.
Ryan and Brandon are right-handed players who prefer singles to doubles - however both would love the opportunity to partner their favourite player Roger Federer in a doubles match. These youngsters would like to eventually pursue a career in tennis and aim to work very hard towards this goal. They assured me that although they are both very competitive there is no sibling rivalry - they are good friends, great knocking partners and above all loving brothers to each other and younger sister Jenna!
DOUBLE ACE
NIKE JUNIOR TOUR INTERNATIONAL MASTERSFour South African juniors jetted their way to sunny Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic for the NJT International Masters in October 2009. The team, made up of Kelsey Joffe, Brandon Laubser, Kay-Leigh Nicholas and Wayne Montgomery, were accompanied by Coach Jason Smith and “Mom” Lorna Krog.
Boys and girls from over 26 countries participated in this prestigious international event and players from Spain, Russia and the Slovak Republic dominated the seedings. As the number 3 in the U14 section, Wayne Montgomery was the only South African to be seeded.
All four of our players progressed to the 2nd round in brutal heat with high humidity on the fi rst day of play. Day two wasn’t such a lucky one as Kelsey and Kay-Leigh were both defeated. However, the two boys managed to secure their places in the quarterfi nals with Brandon Laubser causing a major upset by outing the 7th seed Kim Leo Stutz of Switzerland 7-5 6-3. Unfortunately, his next opponent, Alex Molcan from Slovakia proved to be too strong and beat him 6-3 6-2.
By defeating the 6th seed from Russia, Wayne Montgomery was the last seed standing in the boys under 14 draw to progress to the semi-fi nals. The South African youngster was probably the smallest player in this age group but felt it was to his advantage saying “As far as the heat is concerned, I’m small; I don’t get tired too quickly.” Wayne lost to Ram Harel from Israel 6-0 6-2.
Congratulations to our players who defi nitely did us proud.
From left: Wayne Montgomery, Brandon Laubser, Kelsey Joffe, Kay-Leigh Nicholas and Jason Smit (Coach) Photograph by Reg Caldecott
112 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 113TENNISWORLD SA 113
The voice of victory
Held in great esteem by South African
tennis fans, WTSA lists the 2009
accomplishments among their best
to date, which include:
• Two of the country’s players are ranked
in the top 20 players in the world
• South Africa currently has an
astonishing 80 players on the world
ranking
• WTSA hosted six international-level
events held in various locations around
South Africa in 2009
• There are over 30 development centres
across South Africa that invite disabled
people to try their hand at tennis
Racquet rankings
Wheelchair Tennis South Africa (WTSA)
currently has more than 350 active players,
of whom many have achieved great things
for the country this year. One of the most
exciting triumphs for wheelchair tennis in
2009 is that South Africa has more players on
the international world ranking than any other
country.
SA’s next ace
In September 2009, up and coming teenage
champion, Evans Maripa won a gold medal
at the Asia Pacifi c Youth Para Games in Tokyo.
WTSA is especially proud of the youngster
since he only recently gained access to a tennis
court and coaching.
A fi rst for South Africa:
Only the top eight players in the world are
invited to the prestigious ‘Les Petit Ans’, the
World Junior Masters in France, and this year
South African Hanno Burger was one of them.
Hanno is currently number seven on the
World Junior Rankings, and at only 14 years
of age, he is tipped to become one of South
Africa’s wheelchair tennis champs. The French
invitation was particularly impressive as this
was a fi rst-ever for South Africa.
Colonial roots of Tennis
Yet another high-status invitation for four
of the WTSA players was that of the world
development camp in Britain. Nancy Moremi,
Marshall Marsh, Leon Els and Lucas Sithole
were fortunate enough to be among only
20 global players invited to this prestigious
camp held in London in July. These young,
up and coming players are considered to have
the potential to be among the top players
internationally, and under the guidance of one
of the best coaches in the world, they were
able to hone their skills.
World Team Cup
WTSA entered a men’s and women’s
team in the 2009 World Team Cup held in
Nottingham, England during July. This annual
event – by qualifi cation or invitation only
– boasts a fi eld from around 33 countries,
and year after year continues to draw the
top players from around the world. Team
South Africa did exceptionally well and their
performance gained an automatic entry
into the 2010 event. The ladies’ team took
eighth place – no small feat for the country –
while the men’s team came eighth in World
Group Two.
The 2010 base line
To add to the already impressive list of
ongoing international level events, South
Africa will host six tournaments attracting
worldwide teams in 2010. On the local front,
WTSA will host a series of regional Future
Stars tournaments aimed at beginner-level
players in the country. Additionally, WTSA
aims to open a minimum of 10 new training
centres nationally to encourage and nurture
local talent. These centres will serve to grow
wheelchair tennis as a sport in Africa.
In 2010, WTSA will send a minimum of two
teams to participate in the World Team Cup in
Turkey in May.
Thanking the sponsors
Much of WTSA’s phenomenal growth can
be attributed to the efforts of the Airports
Company South Africa, the offi cial sponsor of
the sport. They have contributed R14 million
to date. In 2009, WTSA was also fortunate to
secure a secondary sponsor – the National
Lottery Distribution Fund. The Airports
Company South Africa has committed itself
to continued investment in the sport as its
fl agship CSI project and this will ensure an
increased awareness of the sport among the
disabled community of South Africa.
Wheelchair tennis started in 1976
with a single tennis ball and a dream. Disabled American
Brad Parks discovered you could still hit a tennis ball over the net from the confi nes of a wheelchair. This prompted his life’s mission,
to create and promote the sport of wheelchair tennis. Thirty years later his tenacity has paid off and wheelchair tennis is now
a fl ourishing sport of champions.
Stringing the 2009 Racquet of Wheelchair Tennis South Africa
Drafted and distributed by SIMONSAYS communications and to contact on behalf of Wheelchair Tennis South Africa: 011 465 9815
A year of triumphs, glory and honour for this sport of champions
Getting started
WTSA has set up weekly coaching programmes
at schools and disabled centres, as well as
Future Stars Camps and Events at various venues
nationally. The programmes and camps offer
coaching that develops and supports young
potential wheelchair tennis players from
communities across South Africa.
For more information contact Karen Losch
Tel: 083 325 1169 Fax: 086 651 6664
Email:[email protected]
Summary of rule/format changes for the 2009/2010 Tournament Season commencing on 1 December 2009
TOURNAMENT RULE CHANGES
Age groups (Junior tournaments):
• Worldwide it is a phenomenon that players
born in the fi rst three (3) months of the
year have a distinct advantage over those
born later in the year.
• Many countries have questioned the
practice of using 1 January as the
changeover date.
• In line with the new trend internationally,
SATA has over a period of a year considered
making adjustments to its age group
structure.
• After monitoring reports on
implementation in other countries, it has
been decided to implement these changes
in South Africa.
• Effective 1 December 2009, a player
will, instead of changing age groups on
1 January of each year, change age groups
on his/her birthday.
• If the birthday falls during a tournament
date, the player will change age groups at
the start of the tournament.
• In effect, a player will remain in his/her
age group until the day before they turn
12, 14 and 16. On the day of their birthday
they will migrate to the next age group,
namely under 14, 16 and 18
• An exception will be made for a player
who turns 18 during the year and he /
she will be able to continue playing in the
previous age group till the end of that year
(31 December).
• Inevitably, the changeover will effect some
positively and others negatively; however,
once the fi rst year of implementation
has been completed, the system will be
a much fairer one and will result in a
variety which will be to the benefi t of all
concerned.
• ITF, CAT, Nike and Tennis Europe will
retain 1 January of the year as the day
on which age groups are determined/
changed.
Guaranteed strengths:
• Existing tournaments will continue to be
awarded guaranteed strengths based on
the previous year’s average strengths (as
calculated across the respective age groups)
and applied for the past tournament season.
• However, where a particular age group
(under12, under14 etc) achieves a higher
strength, based on the average ranking
of the top eight (8) seeds, this age group
strength will be increased to the actual
strength. In the case of an age group
strength being lower than the guaranteed
strength, the guaranteed strength will still
prevail.
• This system will still enable players to
“plan” a tournament schedule based on
guaranteed strength, but will also reward
players when a respective age group is
higher.
• Only Keyhealth Series Tournaments (former
Super 7s) will receive a guaranteed strength
of seven (7).
• The maximum strength that any other
ranking tournament will be able to achieve
will be strength six (6), with mini-series
being able to achieve a maximum of a
strength fi ve (5).
Mini-series doubles:
• In many instances some provinces/regions
host primarily mini-series events. While
this is good for the region, it does have
an impact on the player’s ranking as only
singles are played at these tournaments
• From 2009/2010 mini-series tournaments
will be able to apply to host doubles and a
minimum of 50% of the mini-series events
within a region will be encouraged to host
doubles, in order to enable the players
to gain the “missing” 25% that has to be
added to the fi nal ranking points table.
Play-off matches:
• Keyhealth Series events Platinum main
draw: Play-off events will cease from the
quarterfi nal stage, with quarterfi nal losers
receiving position eight (8) points. This
will apply to under 12, under 14, under 16
and under 18.
• Keyhealth Series Platinum qualifying draw
and All Other Sections (Gold, Silver etc):
All play-off matches to be completed in full.
• All other tournaments: Play-off matches to
be completed in full.
• Play-off sign-in: Players who want to
participate in the play-off section must
sign-in immediately after losing their
respective match (in any round) so as to be
included in the remainder of the play-off
competition. Players will no longer be
“forced” to compete in the play-off section
once they have lost. Players wishing not to
continue with the play-offs will be awarded
points up until the stage to which they
progressed within the draw.
• In the event of a player being injured/
retiring from a match/play-off match, but
wanting to continue to participate in the
play-off rounds, he/she will be permitted
to do this with the approval of his/her
parent/coach. A doctor’s certifi cate will
not be required.
• In the event of a player having to retire
from a singles match and wanting
to participate in doubles, a doctor’s
certifi cate will have to be produced due
to a retirement from one event.
• Doubles play-off matches will be on the
same basis as the singles. Players losing
their fi rst match will be required to sign-in
to be included in the play-off competition.
SATA National Ranking:
• The SATA National Ranking (inclusive of all
age group results and open results) will be
displayed on the SATA website by Monday
7 December.
• The age group ranking lists will still be
produced, but will be known as age group
seeding lists, as there will only be one
offi cial ranking, which will henceforth
be known as the SATA National Ranking.
• SATA National Ranking and age group
seeding lists will be available on the SATA
website and will continue to be updated
every Monday morning.
• A separate Nike list will also be available on
the website. This will be known as the Nike
12s and Nike 14s. These age group tables
will be updated on the same Mondays that
Keyhealth results are added.
• The revised points tables and ranking
formula will also be displayed on the SATA
website.
• In summary, the SATA National Ranking
will now comprise a player’s best six (6)
tournament results, irrespective of which
age group he/she achieved these points
in. i.e. player can have a combination of
age group results, ITF under 18 results
and Open results (local or international).
A player’s national ranking will
automatically be based on the best six (6)
results achieved.
• The total population of tournament results
that will be considered will be:
SATA age group tournaments (under 12
etc);
- SATA local Open tournaments;
- Under 18 ITF Junior tournaments;
- CAT under 14 Tournaments;
- African Junior Championships (under 14,
under 16 and under 18);
- All ITF Men and Women Futures/Pro
Circuit events;
- All ATP Challenger and Tour Events;
- All WTA Tour Events.
• A player’s age group seeding position will
be determined according to fi ltering of that
particular player’s best six (6) results. These
results will be his/her best achieved and
will not necessarily refl ect results in that
age group only. In this way players who
are taking the risk and playing out of their
age group or also venturing to participate
in higher graded events, will automatically
be able to retain an age group seeding
position.
• In cases where a player decides to play up
or out of his/her age group, the player’s
total best six (6) points will still be used to
determine his/her acceptance position in
the higher age group.
• Players should view the revised ranking
in such a way that it no longer refl ects
the best six (6) results in a particular age
group, but the best six (6) results achieved
across the board/all events played.
114 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 115
Following the monumental success
of this year’s tournament, Tsogo Suns
Montecasino in Johannesburg will
once again play host to the SA Open Tennis
tournament for 2010.
The R3.5-million event will run from
February 1 to 7, 2010 with the qualifying
tournament taking place on January 30 and
31. The main singles draw will comprise of 32
singles players with 16 teams competing for
the doubles title.
The ATP World Tour Series 250 tournament
carries prize money of R3.5-million and will
feature some of the biggest names in tennis.
Gael Monfi ls, the charismatic Frenchman
who is the current world number 13 has
honoured a commitment he made to the
South African Tennis Association earlier this
year and Spaniard David Ferrer currently
ranked number 18 will return to South Africa
for his second visit.
Tickets range in price from R25 to R200 and
are available from Computicket nationwide
and the Montecasino Box Offi ce. Hospitality
packages are also available and further details
may be obtained from Linda Nhando Linda@
circa.co.za or 084 682 4076.
“When you compare these prices with tickets
for other international sporting events in our
country, they are more than reasonable,” said
SATA Chief Executive Ian Smith, “especially if
one considers that many of the world’s best
tennis players will be in action playing both
singles and doubles during the week. If we
look back at the success of last year’s event,
we anticipate that the crowds will come out
in full force for the tournament.”
Photographs courtesy of The SA Open.
116 TENNISWORLD SA TENNISWORLD SA 117
The weather was gloomy on Saturday
31 October, but nothing could dampen the
spirits of the seventy players who turned
up for the fun Parent and Child Doubles
Tournament hosted by Gauteng Central.
The parents sized each other up while the
kids, unworried about rankings, seedings or
tournament points, were all pretty relaxed.
Most couples comprised a parent and child,
but individual entries were also accepted and
partnered with the very able GC Development
players which gave everyone a chance to
participate. Couples were divided into six
different groups, to play a round robin format.
The winners of each section were:
Aidan and Artur Carrazedo, Vaughn and Glen
Hunter, Jessica and Kim Wilson, Tremayne and
Shane Mitchell, Nicole and Garth Robinson,
Mickey Styles and Nompumulelo Montja
In an exhibition match between the two
highest-scoring winning couples, Aidan
Carrazedo and Dad Artur narrowly beat
Glen Hunter and son Vaughn in a tie-break.
However, it wasn’t about winning or losing
– it was about fun, sportsmanship, making
friends and who knows, maybe some of the
parents now realize that in actual fact it is
Bedfordview Country Club (previously
Kensington Polytechnic) was founded in
1925 when a meeting was held at Rhodes
Park Tearoom (as it is still known today) and
a decision taken to form a Sports Club offering
cricket, hockey, tennis, baseball, badminton,
soccer, swimming and table tennis. The club
remained at Rhodes Park until 1957, when
the Johannesburg City Council decided that
Kensington Polytechnic would have to change
its name to Rhodes Park Sports Club. The
die-hard club members did not approve and
decided to move to the present premises,
which had been vacated by Old Parks. In the
mid-seventies it was decided to name it the
Bedfordview Country Club. The Country Club
has a membership of approximately 900
members and the tennis section over 100
members. Earl Grainger is the resident coach
and has contributed signifi cantly to the success
of the tennis section with his input and all his
junior squad players.
The year 2009 was a signifi cantly prosperous
year for Bedfordview’s tennis. The men’s
1st team won the premier and the 2nd
team won the 2.1 section in the Gauteng
Central Egoli League. In the Gauteng East
Winter League the men’s and ladies’ teams
again enjoyed huge success with the 1st
winning premier; 2nd winning 1.2 and the
3rd winning 2.1. In the combined Gauteng
Mixed League the 1st team once again won
premier; 2nd won 1.2 and the 4th won
2.2. The highlight of the club’s success
was winning both the men’s and ladies’
sections of the Bundes League in August and
thereby qualifying for the National Club
Championships held in Durban, which the
ladies’ team went on to win and the men’s
team ended 2nd overall. Members who
participated in the winning Bundes League
teams were: Damon Gooch, Kevin Taylor
(both players have just returned back from
a four-year tennis scholarship in the USA),
Ngonidzashe Chizunza, Vasili Caripi, Ryan
Kennedy and David Creamer. The ladies were
Natasha Fourouclas, Tracy Plant, Rene Plant,
Geniveve Luksich and Francesca Burns.
Bedfordview’s tennis success does not lie only
in the strength of its players but also in the
outstanding contribution of its social players.
Social tennis is held every Wednesday evening,
Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
Sunday morning is the fl agship social day
when all eight courts are normally occupied.
Bedfordview also provides many players to
both Central and Eastern Veteran provincial
sides, with many players having represented
South Africa at veteran’s level. It has also
successfully hosted an ITF junior tournament.
All these factors, coupled with excellent
tennis facilities, make Bedfordview one of
the premier tennis clubs in South Africa today.
quite possible to miss that easy smash! With
compliments of the province, delicious Prego
rolls were served throughout the morning,
adding to the relaxed atmosphere.
Says Mickey Styles, general manager of the
Gauteng Central Provincial Tennis Association:
“Events like this are a great way of giving
something back to the players and parents.
No fun day is worth anything without give-
aways and prizes and special thanks go to
Altech NuPay for their generosity.”
This could quite possibly be the start of an
annual event in the Gauteng Central calendar.
A thriving Tennis section which brings numerous honours to the
club at all levels of the game. Has approximately 80 members at
present playing on eight courts. TENNIS LEVY R450.
CLUB PROFILEBEDFORDVIEW COUNTRY CLUB
Glen and Vaughn Hunter; Aidan and Artur CarrazedoGauteng Central challenges parents
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