Tennis: The January 14 edition
Introducing the new guard shaking things up in the world of professional tennis; meet Ajla Tomljanovic, the Aussie who beat Serena Williams in the US Open; Ash Barty and former coach Craig Tyzzer discuss their ongoing friendship; rising Australian player Rinky Hijikata talks tennis with Benjamin Law; the new Netflix documentary playing to the Australian Open’s entertainment agenda; and a tennis-themed The Quiz and Get It.
She beat Serena – but for many, that isn’t the only surprise about Ajla Tomljanovic
Surrounded by 24,000 hostile fans at Arthur Ashe stadium, Tomljanovic was not expected to beat her childhood idol Serena Williams at last year’s US Open.
- by Amanda Hooton
Record winning streaks. Freak forehands. The young guns transforming tennis
For two decades, a handful of legendary names dominated tennis. Now, the guard’s changing: the current No.1 players are aged just 19 and 21.
- by Courtney Walsh
Quit while ahead or wait ’til the bitter end? The other challenge in tennis: retiring
Roger, Serena, Ash: for a player, choosing when to say goodbye may well be one of the most difficult parts of the job – and of life.
- by Alan Attwood
Big serves: Pat Rafter loved bananas. Hingis: sushi. Kournikova: turkey sandwiches
Catering to tennis players and their entourages: how hard can it be? Bone-breakingly, soul-shatteringly hard – but also, strangely thrilling.
- by Helen Goh
Tennis and fashion’s love game – on and off the court
From Agassi’s fluoro threads to Federer’s Rolex watches to Serena Williams’ – well – everything, fashion and tennis have long been happy bedfellows.
- by Melissa Singer
‘Make it like a bullfight arena’: How tennis is amping up the shock and awe
Thumping contests. Fly-on-the-wall documentaries. These days, there’s a lot more boosting the Australian Open – and tennis.
- by Brook Turner
‘I was so teary’: Ash Barty on the moment that stunned even her coach
When the former No. 1 decided to quit last year, her coach Craig Tyzzer was taken by surprise. But now, Barty says their friendship is a “beautiful thing”.
- by Konrad Marshall
‘He did look a bit nervous’: Aussie Rinky Hijikata on taking a set from Nadal
The 21-year-old discusses last year’s US Open match against Rafael Nadal, the challenges of being an Aussie on tour, and how a little self-doubt can be helpful.
- by Benjamin Law
Danielle Alvarez’s smoked trout dip with crudites
A play on taramasalata – made traditionally with cod roe – this uses smoked river trout fillets, which are delicious and a more sustainable option than salmon.
- by Danielle Alvarez
Julia Busuttil Nishimura’s Japanese fried chicken with quick cucumber pickles
In our house, tennis is king – and so is this incredibly flavourful and succulent chicken karaage, which I like to serve with quick cucumber pickles, shichimi togarashi and mayo.
- by Julia Busuttil Nishimura
