TENNIS in DEPTH.

Maria Sharapova is confident of being fit for January’s Australian Open despite pulling out of the Brisbane International with an ankle injury. The Brisbane International is a warm-up event for the Australian Open, which begins on 16 January. The Russian former world number one said: “Unfortunately my ankle is not 100% and I won’t be able to make it.

“I do expect to be ready for the year’s first Grand Slam and I am really looking forward to competing on court.”

Sharapova, who has won Wimbledon and the US Open, clinched the last of her three Grand Slam singles titles at Melbourne Park in 2008. However, she was beaten in the fourth round of the 2011 tournament by Germany’s Andrea Petkovic.

Bookmark It

The resurgent Roger Federer is primed to serve up a treat as the world’s premier players jostle for a record $30 million in riches over the Australian summer. The Australian Open, starting in Melbourne on January 16, boasts the biggest purse in tennis history, a total prize pool of $26 million, including a whopping $2.3 million each for the men’s and women’s singles champions. And recent form and revealing statistics suggest the sport’s all-time top earner is about to get a whole lot richer. Having already banked $68.38 million in on-court earnings, Federer will arrive at Melbourne Park oozing confidence after ending 2011 on a 17-match winning streak. The great Swiss hasn’t lost since blowing two match points against Novak Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals in September. He added his 68th, 69th and 70th career trophies to his collection with a fifth success in his home city of Basel, a maiden indoor title in Paris and an unprecedented sixth season-ending triumph at the World Tour Finals in London.

The secret, it appears, is all in the delivery. Despite having failed to land a grand slam crown for the first year since 2002, Federer, according to ATP number crunchers, is serving better than at any time in his remarkable career. Since his most recent defeat, Federer is winning 83.2 per cent of first-serve points, a stunning strike rate that’s made him almost impossible to beat. Just ask Rafael Nadal, his Spanish nemesis humbled 6-3 6-0 at the World Tour finals in his worst-ever loss to Federer. “For me, it was the strongest finish I’ve ever had in my career. I’m looking forward to next year,” Federer ominously said. Now 30, Federer’s 16th slam came in Melbourne in 2010, but fellow four-times Australian Open champion Ken Rosewall says it’d be foolish to back against the father of two breaking his two-year drought next month. “He’s got to have a lot of good things going for him, but I think he’s going to be close,” Rosewall told AAP ahead of the 40th anniversary celebration of his 1972 Open triumph. “I think he’s still got a lot of desire. I guess with his family he’s happy and he’s enjoying the competition, enjoying the tennis and, while he stays fit and healthy, he’s going to always be a force.”

In fact, far from expecting an Indian summer from Federer, Rosewall is tipping the most successful player in history to keep on keeping on for three or four more years. `The game seems to come pretty easy to him,” said Rosewall, who famously played into his 40s. “He moves well and, as far as I know, he’s never really had any physical problems. “He just floats around the court. He’s always in position. I think his game is good. “He’s always going to be dangerous. He hasn’t lost many matches to players he maybe should lose to. He’s always in there with a chance.”

Federer is the Open’s second favourite behind only world No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic. But after compiling a ridiculous 64-2 win-loss record and threatening to complete the best season since John McEnroe’s magical 82-3 effort in 1984, Djokovic suffered four defeats in his last 10 matches of 2011. Rosewall is unsure if the Serb can repeat his special three-from-four slam season. “You never know with those things,” he said. “Sometimes like the golfers, they have a great year and then all of a sudden something happens and they don’t perform well the next year. “But he’s improved a lot. He’s hitting the ball harder – it’s just the way the game has progressed. “If he stays healthy and doesn’t have any physical problems, he’s always going to be hard to beat.” Djokovic thinks as much too, declaring himself refreshed and ready to go after a desperately needed fortnight’s rest. “I’ve had enough time to recover physically and mentally and to get back into shape,” the 24-year-old said this week. Federer, Djokovic and world No.2 Rafael Nadal won’t play competitively in Australia until the Melbourne Park grand slam, but the finest women’s players on earth will flock down under for lead-up events in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Hobart.

World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki and the second-ranked Petra Kvitova, the official 2011 player of the year, will launch their summer assaults at the Hopman Cup from December 31. Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Open titleholder Kim Clijsters and US Open champion Samantha Stosur will all kick-start 2012 at the Brisbane International starting on New Year’s Day. Nine of the world’s top 10 women, including Stosur, will complete their Open preparations at the Sydney International from January 6-14 and Rosewall said there was no reason why Australia’s big home hope couldn’t clinch back-to-back majors in Melbourne. “It depends how she goes in either Brisbane or Sydney,” he said. “I think she’s got the type of game that needs a bit of tennis. So those two events, it would be good for her to do well. “The men, I don’t think you can look past the top four. (Andy) Murray, Nadal and Djokovic and Federer – these guys seem to have the wood on most of the other players.” Of the top 100, only men’s world No.13 Robin Soderling and women’s No.69 Alisa Kleybanova, both battling illness, have failed to enter the 2012 Open draw.

Bookmark It

Fifteen-year-old Ashleigh Barty from Queensland is set to make her WTA Tour debut following the granting of wildcards into Brisbane International qualifying and the main draw of the Moorilla Hobart International in January. “Ashleigh has achieved some amazing results this year, winning Junior Wimbledon and then the play-off, earning a wildcard into the Australian Open,” Craig Tiley, AO Tournament Director and Tennis Australia’s Director of Tennis said today. “Playing qualifying at Brisbane, a WTA Premier event, and then the main draw in Hobart, will give her the best possible preparation for her first Grand Slam tournament. “We’ve worked closely with Ash’s team – AIS Women’s Coach Nicole Pratt and coach Jason Stoltenberg, to come up with the best option for Ash in terms of her future development and progression to the pro ranks.” “I’m really looking forward to playing both qualifying in Brisbane and the main draw of Hobart,” Barty said.

“I know I’ll have to really step up to compete against the top girls in the WTA and it’s going to be pretty tough and a big challenge. But I also know it’s going to be a really important part of my development and improvement as a player. I’m going to make the most of the experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Bookmark It

The former world number one has been receiving treatment for Sjogren’s syndrome which can cause fatigue and joint pain. According to the tournament’s official website, after playing a number of recent exhibition matches Williams told her agent Carlos Fleming she was not ready to play in Auckland. ASB Classic tournament director Richard Palmer said: “We are disappointed to have lost a player of her calibre. While withdrawals of this nature are part and parcel of sport, we sincerely feel for the fans who will also be disappointed by the news of Venus’ withdrawal. ”Next month’s ASB Classic field is one of the strongest in the tournament’s history with four players in the top 20, the eight seeds in the top 30 and all 24 direct entries in the top 70 in the world. ”This is still an exceptional field despite the withdrawal of Venus Williams.” Palmer added: “Only last month she was reported saying she was looking forward to her first tournament of the year in Auckland and had heard great things about the ASB Classic. Her goal was to play a full schedule next year.”

With the Australian Open due to start on January 16, it is looking increasingly unlikely the American will participate.

Bookmark It

I am officially in the Holiday spirit. Yep, big time! This usually means that my post practice time is spent on my bedroom floor, picking up the wrapping paper, followed by the scissors, tape, and the final touch of the bow. Ahh, the beauty of mystery under that wrapping paper. I am finally getting my Christmas cards out and sneaking in a piece of peppermint bark with my cup of tea. Anyways since its the offseason and I know I usually answer questions from the media or my fans, I thought it would be fun if I interviewed myself….questions from Me to Moi. Of course its all about the Holidays! Check it out here:

Maria asks: When are you getting married?

Maria answers: It’s none of your f—— business!

Bookmark It

A week ago, 15-year-old Ashleigh Barty won the Australian Open Wildcard Play-off in Australia, and this past weekend another youngster – 16-year-old Madison Keys – won the American version of the event. Keys, who was the No.6 seed in the eight woman, single elimination draw, was nearly beaten in the quarterfinals, saving a match point down 7-6 in the third set to beat No.3 seed Jamie Hampton, 36 64 97. She then recorded another comeback victory in the semifinals, ousting No.2 seed Alison Riske, 36 64 61. ”I prefer not to go three sets if I have the choice, but if I lose the first set then of course I want to go three,” Keys said after toughing out her semifinal victory. “I just try and focus on playing better than I did in the previous set.” History would not repeat itself in Sunday’s final, as Keys won the first set against No.5 seed Gail Brodsky then closed her out in straights, 63 64.

“I’m starting to like these wildcard play-offs,” said Keys, who won a similar event in the summer to get a wildcard for the US Open. “I didn’t feel any pressure. I’m one of the younger ones still so I’m not supposed to win these matches. ”I knew she was getting pressured by my power. My serve came in handy.” Keys first made headlines two and a half years ago at the clay court event in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, when she became the seventh-youngest player ever to win a WTA main draw match (she was 14 years and 48 days old at the time, preceded by 13-year-olds Mary Joe Fernandez, Jennifer Capriati and Steffi Graf and 14-year-olds Martina Hingis, Kathy Rinaldi and Tracy Austin). A few months ago, after winning the aforementioned wildcard into the US Open, she beat WTA veteran Jill Craybas to reach the second round, where she then fell to Lucie Safarova – who ended up finishing the season ranked No.25. Now the Illinois-born Keys will play her second Grand Slam main draw.

“It still hasn’t hit me yet. I’m just really excited to be going to Australia. Just like the US Open, it’s going to take a couple of days before it sinks in.” Brodsky had also upset two Top 4 seeds en route to the final, first No.4 seed Melanie Oudin, 64 46 64, then No.1 seed Coco Vandeweghe, 63 36 97. ”I was a little bit fatigued but Madison had tough matches this weekend too. She was in the same position I was,” Brodsky said. “There’s really not much negative I can say about the way she played today. I just didn’t have enough to beat her – anything I was throwing at her was not good enough. But I’m not upset with myself because I know there’s not much else I could have done.”

Bookmark It

For Serbian stunner Ana Ivanovic, it’s the little things Scott does away from the gala dinners and red carpet that have courted her a second time. ”I like the relaxed, laid-back Australian mentality,” Ivanovic confessed. “And I also feel like he’s very helpful around the house. ”He hasn’t cooked yet … but he has promised to make me a dish.”

Ivanovic and Scott resumed their relationship this year to re-claim the undisputed crown of sport’s most glamorous couple. According to Ivanovic, their break-up was a chance to re-focus on their careers. ”It was tough times for both of us,” she said. ”Sometimes you need time apart to figure things out. We felt there was so much more we could achieve with our careers. ”In the end, it has all been for the good. It has been really nice for both of us.” But deciding on Mr Right hasn’t been the only challenge in Ivanovic’s life. She’s also spent most of her career searching for a right-hand man to inspire the form that took her to world No.1 three years ago. Ivanovic’s subsequent struggle with injury and mental demons has seen her flick through several coaches before settling on British guru Nigel Sears in July.

She and Scott rekindled their romance around the same time, and Ivanovic – now ranked No.22 – this week declared she has not felt as comfortable since notching her lone grand slam triumph at the 2008 French Open. ”This might be the first time I’ve felt good since I became world No.1,” she said. ”When that happened, I was really motivated and inspired to stay there. Then I went through a really tough patch with injury and some bad losses. ”That played on my mind and I lost my way a little bit … probably more than a little bit.” Ivanovic suffered from analysis paralysis – a condition common to sports stars who heed the advice of every well-wisher rather than a single wise head. The 24-year-old is now confident Sears, the former women’s head coach at the Lawn Tennis Association, can fulfil that vital role. ”I went to a lot of people for advice and tried to listen to them all, but sometimes it was the wrong advice,” she said. “Everyone had my best interests at heart, but it doesn’t all work. ”I just spent too much time thinking and talking about the best way to approach getting back to the top. There have been lots of moments when I was trying too hard. ”Looking back, it would’ve been better to just take a month off and get away from it all rather than try over and over and over again. ”All you can do is learn and realise from your mistakes. I’ve also done many good things and I can’t let myself forget about those. ”I really feel now that with Nigel, with his trust and commitment, I can get there.”

After claiming her first title of 2011 at the season’s final event in Bali, she slipped into her off-season alongside Scott in Australia with a little more pride. Renowned for her jaw-dropping photo shoots and fashion spreads, Ivanovic admitted that she had felt guilty posing for the paparazzi whenever her on-court form dipped. ”I want to be recognised for what I do in tennis,” she said. ”The photo shoots and fashion are fun, but they are definitely not my priority. ”I actually find that if I’m not playing well, I feel like I don’t deserve to be in the public eye.” Ivanovic clearly didn’t feel that way at last month’s Presidents Cup golf tournament in Melbourne, where she publicly cheered on Scott while in town visiting second cousins in suburban Mentone. She has since been training alongside Scott on the Sunshine Coast in preparation for next month’s Apia Sydney International, which is followed by the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

“Adam has been really helpful for me,” she said. “In the last few years we’ve both been through a lot and he’s now getting back to the top. ”He can help me with advice and support to get where I want to be.”

Bookmark It