Tennis | Apia International Sydney 2015

Tennis | Apia International Sydney 2015 

South Wales Open, now known as the Apia International Sydney, is one of the oldest tournaments in the world, dating back to 1885.

The Sydney Cricket ground was the first venue for the New South Wales Open, followed by a location at Double Bay and then White City, which hosted the championships for an amazing 76 years up to and including 1999.

In 2000, the tournament moved to its fourth home, the state-of-the-art Sydney Olympic Park Tennis centre where it is played to this day.

Caroline Wozniacki 2.0

Playing at the WTA Finals in Singapore against Serena Williams in the semifinals, Caroline Wozniacki ripped a forehand down the line and then smacked a crosscourt forehand winner off the short reply.

“She is being so aggressive,” an approving Tracy Austin observed in her commentary, as Wozniacki surged even further ahead in the first set.

“Before she relied just on her defence, her consistency and placement, now she’s hitting with conviction and really pushing her opponents around.

“Honestly, I think she’s playing better (now) than when she was No.1 in the world.”

High praise indeed. And there was merit to the comments – it was hard to remember a time when the Dane had ever played with such attacking flair.

And even though she eventually lost in a third set tiebreak to Williams – the player who went on to win the tournament and cement the year-end No.1 ranking – the week in Singapore had capped a stunning return to form in 2014 for the popular 24-year-old.

“Five months ago didn’t look like I was going to be here, even though I always believed it,” she said of qualifying for the elite eight-player season-ending championship.

“The way I’ve been playing the last five months really brings me some great momentum into next year. Gives me some confidence.”

Her new year will start at the Apia International Sydney, where, at world No.8, she is one of six top 10 players competing. And she has certainly come a long way since her last visit to Harbour City.

Almost a year ago to the day after celebrating New Years Eve in Sydney, Wozniacki announced her engagement to golfing star Rory McIlory; four months later, the relationship ended. Shortly afterward Wozniacki fell in the opening round of the French Open, her ranking in danger of falling outside the top 20.

Showing admirable courage and resolve, Wozniacki began to rediscover her form on grass at Eastbourne, where she beat Sam Stosur and Sloane Stephens en route to the semifinals. This results was quickly followed by a fourth-round run at Wimbledon.

It set the stage for a stunning North American summer hardcourt season. Arriving in Montreal fresh off the WTA title in Istanbul, she reached the quarterfinals before winning through to the semifinals in Cincinnati, falling at both events in three torrid sets to Williams. She was even better in Flushing Meadows, beating reigning Roland Garros champion Maria Sharapova on the way to her first Grand Slam final in five years.

Beginning with Eastbourne to start the second half of the season and ending with her aforementioned performance in Singapore, Wozniacki’s compiled a magnificent win-loss record of 34-10, including six victories over top 10 opponents.

“I think I can be really proud of how I’ve handled everything this year, how I’ve fought back,” she said.

“I think I’ve proved to myself that I’m a really strong person and that I can keep improving my game. I’m just really happy that I’ve learned so much from this year. It’s been a very, very meaningful year for me and very learningful. Can you say that? (laughter)

“I’m serving well, I’m running well, I’m staying aggressive when I have to, and I make the right decisions at the right moment. And I enjoy playing.”

The former world No.1 will attempt to continue her rich vein of form when she begins her 2015 season at the Apia International, an event at which she will make her seventh appearance and where her best results were quarterfinal finishes in 2009 and 2012.

If her hardcourt form, newfound aggression and on-court confidence are to persist, Wozniacki will be tough to beat.

“I’m really pumped. I’m really excited for (2015),” she said.

“I think the way I’ve been playing lately, I think that’s proof to myself that I can keep improving and playing better and beat anyone who is on the other side of the net.”

Want to see world No.8 Caroline Wozniacki in action at Apia International Sydney 2015? Get your tickets through Ticketek now!

Del Potro confirms Sydney return

Juan Martin del Potro has confirmed that he will begin his 2015 season at Apia International Sydney.

The Argentine, the defending Apia International champion, has not played since February 2014 due to a wrist injury.

He was expected to make his return at the Brisbane International, yet delayed his comeback.

“Hello everyone!!! I wanted to tell you that we decided to travel to play Sydney and the Australian Open,” he tweeted on Wednesday evening (Australian time).

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WHERE: Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre

Rod Laver Drive,
Sydney Olympic Park
(off Australia Avenue)

View Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on Google Maps

WHEN: 11 – 17 Jan 2015

http://www.apiainternational.com.au/event-guide

Australian Open 2014: Victoria Azarenka, Novak Djokovic and Bernard Tomic Draw Their Battle Lines in Melbourne

Intimidation tactics: Victoria Azarenka starts the Australian Open as a second seed behind Serena Williams but defiantly says she 'doesn't care'

Victoria Azarenka covets third Australian Open title, Novak Djokovic bets Boris Becker gamble will pay off and underdog Bernard Tomic dares to dream of Rafael Nadal's fall at Sydney International

Open winner not scared of Serena

Victoria Azarenka is confident that she can make it three Australian Open titles in a row despite stating the tournament as second seed behind Serena Williams.

The Belarusian said that she had no complaints about Williams, who was due to get her campaign under way last night, coming into the event as favourite.

“I don’t really care about it, honestly,” Azarenka said. “I never cared about it. For us, it’s a matter of playing tennis and giving your best on the court. Everybody will be motivated to beat her.”

Azarenka is due to begin her campaign against Sweden’s Johanna Larsson on Rod Laver Court tonight .

Becker Gamble Excites Djokovic

Novak Djokovic accepts that he has taken a gamble by hiring Boris Becker as his head coach.

After losing the US Open final against Rafael Nadal last year and ceding his No1 ranking to the Spaniard, Djokovic decided that he needed a change and brought in the six-time grand slam champion.

Djokovic said: “Whenever you make a change in life, it’s a potential risk. But I don’t want to think from that perspective. I’m really excited about this co-operation. I’m excited about this partnership that I have with Boris.

“All I see is positive results, and I hope for that, obviously. I cannot predict or promise anything now.”

Tomic Boasts of Threat to Nadal

Bernard Tomic believes that he is capable of beating top seed Rafael Nadal in the first round tonight , but knows he will have to be at his best.

The local favourite was hammered in the Sydney International final by fifth-ranked Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday, but had been in good form.

Few believe Tomic, 21, has much of a chance against the 13-time Grand Slam winner, but the Australian said: “Everything is possible these days, everything is possible.

“I’m playing good. I’m pretty confident. I’ve just got to play the tennis I played early throughout Sydney. Obviously if I can do that I’m going to give myself a chance. It’s going to be difficult, going to have to be one of those days where I can play my best.”

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Andy Murray Set for Brisbane Return

Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray will return to Queensland this summer to defend his Brisbane International title.

The World No. 4 is the first player to be announced for the 2013 tournament, hot off his historic Olympic Games gold medal win over current World No. 1 Roger Federer.

“I really enjoyed playing the Brisbane International for the first time this January, and claiming the title was great preparation leading into the Australian Open,” Murray said.

“Brisbane attracts a tough draw with a lot of top players ... obviously I want to play as many matches as possible, and if I can, win. Winning always gives you extra confidence and is the perfect start leading into the first Grand Slam of the year.

“The Brisbane International is a fantastic event with great facilities, and I look forward to returning to Queensland to defend my title,” Murray continued.

Brisbane International Tournament Director, Cameron Pearson, said 25-year-old Murray will be a strong drawcard for the event.

“Andy is our defending champion, so we are thrilled he has again decided to start his year with us.

“It speaks volumes for Queensland that he values the Brisbane International so highly for his Australian Open preparation.

“His Brisbane win was the start of a stellar year for him, going on to reach the final of Wimbledon and then on to win a memorable Olympic gold medal in front of his home crowd,“ Pearson added.

Throughout his career Murray has captured 22 ATP titles and is currently coached by tennis legend Ivan Lendl.

Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Jann Stuckey, welcomed the news the Scottish champion was returning.

“It is a great coup to have Andy Murray back to defend his Brisbane title. It is another win for Queensland as it strives to cement itself as a major sporting state,” said Ms Stuckey.

“The Brisbane International is a fantastic start to the year for events. Last year’s matches attracted a record 92,802 attendees.

“The Newman Government is proud to support tournaments like this through Events Queensland, as part of our determined strategy to showcase Queensland as Australia’s number one tourism destination.”

In 2012 the ATP recognised the Brisbane International for the best fan experience of any tournament in the ATP International Group, which includes the Middle East, Asia and Pacific regions.

Brisbane International 2013 is presented in association with Events Queensland and will take place at the Queensland Tennis Centre, Brisbane, from December 30, 2012 to January 6, 2013.

Brisbane International 2013 series packages will go on sale at 9:00am (AEST) on Wednesday October 3.

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The Tomic Train Rolls on Further - Fuelled by Self-Belief

WHERE Sam Stosur struggles, Bernard Tomic thrives. Stosur, famously, owns a US Open title, while Tomic's best-known possession is a $150,000 orange BMW familiar to the Gold Coast police, but the innate self-belief that Tomic seems to have in abundance is what Stosur sometimes lacks. Here, especially.

As a first-round singles loser, Stosur has been left to compete for the mixed doubles consolation prize, while Tomic last night repeated his third-round singles effort of a year ago to remain in the main game.

The teenager toppled American Sam Querrey 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 at Rod Laver Arena and tomorrow will play flashy Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Is he looking forward to it? ''Absolutely not,'' Tomic admitted candidly. ''I think he doesn't like my game, I don't like his. He is a very good player, and a lot of people struggle with him, but I've got to do smart things when I play him and I think the last few times I played him I didn't do the right thing after winning the first set.''

Against Querrey, Tomic displayed his usual array of spins, paces and placements; the problem is that Dolgopolov plays a similarly quirky, unconventional game, and the 13th seed who last night saved a match point before outlasting German Tobias Kamke 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 8-6 was by some margin Tomic's least preferred third-round foe.

Coached by eccentric South Australian Jack Reader, Dolgopolov has won all three of the pair's previous meetings, most recently in Shanghai in October when, in Reader's words, a beaten Tomic ''didn't see any reason to keep trying'' late in the three-set match.

But that was a smaller stage; this is a big one, and size can sometimes matter where Tomic is concerned. Certainly, he is growing all the time - no longer in centimetres but in stature. He has already succeeded Lleyton Hewitt as the national No. 1, and has now equalled his best Australian Open result.

Querrey, ranked 95th but was as high as 23rd just a year ago before losing three months to elbow surgery, had spent just 87 minutes on court in his first-round match against French wild card Kenny de Scheppers, compared with the four hours, 11 minutes Tomic needed to give Fernando Verdasco a two-set start, play dead before a comeback in the third, and then roll on to a famous five-set victory.

But if conditioning was not an issue in the far cooler evening conditions, then at times Querrey's renowned serve proved to be. Blink. That was the first set. Gone in just 24 minutes, Tomic broken in the fifth game and unable to get a look back in on the American's towering serve.

Among a minimal Querrey error count there were seven aces among 14 winners to three in the first nine games.

But Tomic has been a winner for as long as anyone can remember, the fact that he is just 19 notwithstanding, and by the start of the second set he was starting to settle in.

Querrey's first serve percentage began to drop away, and Tomic took advantage of a few more looks at the second, as well as a climbing mistake count, to draw level on his fifth set point. By then, the match was still just an hour old.

Tomic is remarkably tennis-mature for his age, and, already with an impressive record in tie-breaks, he last night improved to 19-7 to take an important two-sets-to-one advantage. Ahead for the first time, he stayed there.

''It was a tough match,'' Tomic said. ''He's a world-class player, and to come back after that first round and recover the right way, I think I did a good job. After that first set, I was thinking, 'Please don't make it another two-sets-to-love [down], I don't want to play five sets.'''

Tomic said he would prefer to meet Dolgopolov at night than in the faster daytime conditions. In the same round 12 months ago, he met top seed Rafael Nadal. ''One year older,' he said. ''It's the same feeling, and same round. [But] no Nadal, so better chance than last year.''

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Tomic Ticks all the Boxes with his Gutsy Win

WORLD No.8 Mardy Fish has already hailed Bernard Tomic a superior talent, but Tomic yesterday showed competitive qualities even he was not sure he possessed.

What yesterday propelled the young Australian into the second round of the Australian Open should carry him much further still. This, unquestionably, was a major step.

For the second time in his career, Tomic recovered from a two-sets-to-love grand slam deficit against a higher-ranked opponent, but in far more testing circumstances on a scalding Rod Laver Arena. He beat 22nd seed Fernando Verdasco 4-6, 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 in more than four hours. It drew a standing ovation and was greeted, inside the locker room, with approving nods.

''He's a great player. He's going to be a great player. He already is,'' Fish said. ''He's gotten so much better since I played him in the fall. He was a good player then, too. He showed out there that he enjoys playing down here. He enjoys this surface. He enjoys playing during the day in the heat, all the conditions and variables that this tournament has. I mean, he's light years ahead of me now, but especially when I was 19, at that time. Very impressive.''

So that's another box ticked, then. Ability, we knew. So, too, a cagey, unorthodox style that can lure his opponents into error. But few could have been certain that his fighting qualities were a match for his instinctive court craft, world-class backhand and love of the big occasion. Now we know something more. Tick, tick, tick.

''You can learn about yourself, and how in the future you can play,'' said Tomic, who will play American Sam Querrey in tomorrow's second round. ''I think there's a lot of guys that get two sets to love down - especially in a grand slam it's the toughest thing to come back like that - and they throw the towel in. Anything's possible if you keep trying … Showed me what I'm capable of doing.''

Indeed, what used to be Lleyton Hewitt's time - the Aussie warrior routine in the afternoon-fightback slot - is now Tomic's. Baton handed. ''A lot of [Hewitt's] matches, same stories, did the impossible: turned around a match in this situation. I think it's a good thing that I can believe in myself at this age. It can only be better for me in the future … When I'm down, I can lift myself and give it a go always.''

Against Russian Igor Andreev at Wimbledon, when he trailed by two sets and a break, Tomic was able to recharge with an overnight break before resuming for the final two sets. This was tougher, better, more satisfying, and the first time in four years that Tomic earned direct main draw entry was also the fourth consecutive time the wildcard graduate had won his opening round. ''Today wasn't fun, it was torture,'' he quipped later. ''I really don't know how I won, so I'm going to recover. I'm the happiest person alive now.''

Indeed, he could have won the first set, and should have won the second; wounded by two awful forehand misses: one on break point in a lengthy ninth game of the first set, and another when holding a set point at 30-40 in the 12th game of the second. That one, which could have levelled the match, was a sitter, but instead plonked into the net. And by early in the third set, he was twice forced to save potentially decisive break-point chances, fortunate that Verdasco was suffering in the sweltering conditions, he later revealed, and unable to put foot on throat.

Tomic's rally came after what commentator Todd Woodbridge called a ''semi-tank'' early in the third, and what the world No.38 admitted was a display of foxing. ''I eased off and seemed I didn't care, and I think that's what [drew] him in a little bit tonight. He thought he was going to win that third set, and when the right time came, I broke him. After that, he started … not hitting his shots.''

While his pre-match decision to question Verdasco's recent form and divulge his exploit-the-backhand game plan did not backfire, Tomic admitted his request for a day match had not been smart. ''Silly me,'' he smiled, while acknowledging the benefits of a ramped-up fitness campaign with post-match treadmill sessions to prepare for such best-of-five situations. ''Did not know that the heat was going to be like this.''

Yet he cannot help but be conscious of the national investment. Australia is sweating on the success of Wimbledon's youngest quarter-finalist in 25 years and, although not yet the finished product, there are constant additions being made to the preliminary sketch. ''It's not a good feeling, especially when you're losing,'' he said. ''You see the fans just disappearing one by one. It's a tough feeling. Then you start winning and they come back one by one.''

Those who returned would have liked what they saw. Impossible not to. One to remember.