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4 AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | April 2013

FROM THE EDITOR

Who is the best player not to win a Grand Slam singles title?

It’s a question fans will regularly ask, even if the answers –

in the men’s game at least – have seemed almost irrelevant

in recent years.

Juan Martin del Potro remains the only man to interrupt the major

domination that Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and

Rafael Nadal have maintained since June 2005. David Ferrer is the

only other player to crack the top four rankings since 2008 – and that

was virtually by default when Nadal was unable to contest the recent

Australian Open.

And yet while change might be slow, it’s also inevitable – and when

it comes, there may be some surprises. As our ‘Breaking down the Big

Four’ special feature examines this month, mingled among the most

obvious contenders to crack that elite group are some young players

with the requisite X Factor. Kei Nishikori, Grigor Dimitrov and Bernard

Tomic are prominent examples.

Athletic talent is only one part of the formula for taking the increasingly

monumental step into the game’s highest echelon. Technique, tactics,

fitness and determination are also critical and just as those qualities are

evident in some Next Generation members in the men’s game, they’re

also key components as young women set out to emulate the major

success that Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova

have recently achieved.

Rising American star Sloane Stephens, also featured this month, is

currently generating the most buzz. Interestingly, the 20-year-old once

posted images of Serena on her bedroom wall. Stephens went on to

form a close personal relationship with the 15-time Grand Slam singles

champion before defeating her in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

It underlined a key fact as observers consider when changes might next

occur: there’ll be both an irony and synchronicity if it’s the players they

once inspired who ultimately usurp them in their coveted top spots.

VIVIENNE CHRISTIE, Editor

REGULARS7 Top Spin

32 Aces & Places

43 My Game

50 My Coach

58 Rankings

60 Scoreboard

63 Your Serve

40

APRIL 2013VOL 38 No. 4A $7.50 (inc. GST) NZ $8.40 (inc. GST) US $7.50

EDITOR Vivienne Christie

ASSISTANT EDITOR Daniela Toleski

FOUNDING EDITOR Alan Trengove

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Andrea Williamson

ADVERTISING MANAGER Breanna Kray

ADMINISTRATION &

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PHOTOGRAPHS Getty Images, John Anthony (All photographs by Getty Images unless specified)

COVER PHOTO Getty Images

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

Distributed by Network Distribution CompanyPrinted in Australia by Webstar

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

AustrAliAn tennis MAgAzine | April 2013 5

FEATURES

12 On top of the world After reclaiming the world No.1 ranking, Serena Williams is highly motivated to keep adding milestones to her spectacular career.

14 Breaking down the big four Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have been pillars of the men’s game for years – but is their domination still assured?

20 Top 10 test How well do you know the stars of the WTA?

24 Sparkle with substance Sloane Stephens’ sense of fun only adds to her growing star power but achieving it hasn’t necessarily been easy for the No.2 American.

25 Ageless career At age 42, Kimiko Date-Krumm is winning many battles between youth and experience in her second career.

28 The life of Bryans While Bob and Mike Bryan’s off-court life takes each of them in an individual direction, their on-court achievements remain a stunning team effort.

40 Time limits A stricter enforcement of the ATP’s time-between-points rule is creating challenges for some players.

14 AUSTRALIAN TENNIS MAGAZINE | April 2013

BREAKING DOWNBREAKING DOWNBREAKING DOWNTHE BIG FOURTHE BIG FOURTHE BIG FOUR

Pillars of the men’s game for the past

10 years, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal,

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are

also not immune from age, injury or new

challengers. DARREN SALIGARI reports

on the players who could rise from the

pack to break down the Big Four.

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ACES & FAULTS2012 SEASON WRAP

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