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Articles on Australian Open 2013

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga thinks women’s tennis is affected by their unstable emotions. AAP/Joe Castro

Azarenka, Tsonga and the sexism that chokes women’s tennis

Two interesting and intersecting events occurred at the Australian Open this week. First, Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga questioned women’s ability to control their emotions while playing tennis at a press…
Questions have arisen over the cause of Victoria Azarenka’s extended break during her semi-final match. AAP/Joe Castro

Panic stations: Azarenka’s ‘extended break’ and the science of choking

A controversial extended medical break taken by tennis world number one Victoria Azarenka after losing five match points in her match against Sloane Stephens has raised the issue of “choking” in sport…
Elite tennis players put their bodies through a lot, so what does it take to recover properly? AAP Image/Joe Castro

Djokovic has longer to recover, so should Murray and FedEx bother?

Will an extra day’s rest and recovery give Novak Djokovic an advantage over Federer or Murray in Sunday’s Australian Open final? In case you missed it, Djokovic, the defending Australian Open champion…
Don’t we deserve to see Roger Federer in HD? AAP/Mark Dadswell

Does Channel 7 serve the Australian Open we’re owed?

The Australian Open reaches its climax this Australia Day weekend, so it is opportune to reflect how it relates to the nation. All the singles finalists will be overseas players, meaning that, to the dismay…
To give young players the best chance of success, we need to scale the game down for them. AAP Image/Dan Peled.

Small courts, big futures: how to nurture young tennis aces

Whether you’re a tennis fan or not, it’s impossible not to admire the sublime skills on display at the Australian Open. From Roger Federer’s brilliant backhand to Serena William’s sensational serve, we…
Andy Murray’s coach Ivan Lendl (left) has led the Scot to great success … so what makes a great coach? EPA/Barbara Walton

Keep your eye off the ball: the secrets of elite tennis coaching

Every January the Australian Open attracts the world’s best tennis players to Melbourne in a bid to become champion of the Asia-Pacific Grand Slam. While the players are undoubtedly the main draw card…
If Serena Williams didn’t play tennis, would her sheer athleticism ensure an elite career in another sport? AAP

Fitness play-off: how tennis stars compare with other athletes

Ever wondered how elite tennis players compare to their contemporaries in other sports? Does Rafael Nadal have the same leg power as world 100m sprint champion Usain Bolt? Would Australian Sam Groth’s…
There are many links between training on clay and hard courts success. EPA/Yoan Valat

Training on clay: a recipe for success at the Australian Open?

Every year Melbourne plays host to the first major hard court tennis championship of the year – the Australian Open. The blue court surfaces of Melbourne Park are now a familiar part of the Australian…
Lleyton Hewitt went down in straight sets in the first round of the Australian Open last night. AAP/Julian Smith

Letting go: why athletes play on past their prime

Any hopes that Lleyton Hewitt could revisit past glories in his 2013 Australian Open campaign were dashed last night when he lost in straight sets to Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic. It now seems impossible…
How good will Bernard Tomic turn out to be? We can look to science for (some of) the answers. AAP Image/David Crosling

Numbers game: the Australian Open and predicting success

The Australian Open is upon us for another year, and the best tennis players in the world have assembled in Melbourne to compete for the right to call themselves “champion”. Much of the focus will be on…

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