IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Harry Fowler

A year ago, IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Devin Britton earned all of his high school credits and decided to enroll early at Ole Miss. In the spring of 2009, Britton then ran through the entire field to become the NCAA Division I men’s singles champion.

Fast forward to the present, and IMG Bollettieri student Harry Fowler hopes to follow in Britton’s successful footsteps.

Fowler has verbally committed to Ole Miss and hopes to enroll for the spring 2010 semester. Fowler shared some thoughts on going to college, life at IMG Academies and rooming with some of the best junior tennis players in the world.

Harry Fowler on…

…enrolling at the Academy: I was 15 years old and my mom helped me move in for a couple days then she went back home to Texas. At first, it was kind of like having a sleepover every day. It was different. But you learn to be responsible pretty fast to keep pace. It’s definitely very different knowing you’re jumping into the place that has probably the highest concentration of great tennis players anywhere. It’s pretty tough, but you learn to push each other and thrive off each other’s drive. Everyone has the same goals and the same dreams. I’ve made tons of lifelong friends. On the tennis court, I’ve become a lot stronger. I’m really grateful for the support given to me.

It’s a really great experience. You get to learn other languages. Be a part of other cultures. Especially when you’re here to train for a specific sport, being around athletes in different sports just shows you that you’re not the only one working hard, and you make friends in all of the sports.

IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Harry Fowler

…training with the world’s top juniors: We’re kind of our own little group – me, Jordan (Cox), Yuki (Bhambri) and Ryan (Harrison). We’re all pretty much best friends. Over the last few years, we’ve really tried to push each other. It’s been really great. We want each other to succeed. We consider ourselves a team, even though it’s an individual sport – the IMG Bollettieri team. If we’re at tournaments, we train together. Unless we play each other, then it’s full speed ahead. As soon as the match ends, we’re friends again.

…when the group isn’t traveling to tournaments: I love football. Sometimes we’ll get a game going if a bunch of us have an off weekend. I’m a fast guy. I play a little wide receiver and running back. The best of us? Probably Ryan. He’s a pretty talented quarterback. He’s got a good arm.

…choosing the college route, instead of turning pro like Jordan, Ryan and Yuki: I feel like my game is close to theirs and that I can compete with anybody. I think I need to become a little more mentally strong. And I’m not a massive guy who weighs 200 pounds and serves 130 miles per hour. I think a year or two of maturing will really help me out. I don’t want to throw myself out there and lose confidence playing against guys who are 25 or 26 and trying to put food on the table. I have no doubts that I can get to that level, though.

IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Harry Fowler

…choosing Ole Miss: Devin comforted me by saying that he definitely made the right choice in going to school there. Plus, look at the success he’s had. It really helped develop his game. I’m really excited to play for a team. Becoming a college athlete, especially at somewhere like Ole Miss, will be really fun. Ole Miss is one of the top schools in the country for match attendance, so everyone really supports the program.

…individual goals for his freshman year: I want to be able to go in and at least make the NCAAs. Since I missed all of the individual tournaments in the fall, I’ll go into it without a ranking. My main goal, though, is to become an All-American as a freshman. That’s what I really want, and I think I have the ability to do it.

…the mental side of tennis: You don’t only have one opponent, you have two – yourself and the other guy. No one is there to stop you when you get upset or frustrated. It’s all up to you. You’ve got to love to fight and find ways to beat people. This year, in the first round of the Orange Bowl, it was about 90 or 95 degrees. I lost the first set 7-6. That’s the toughest thing for a tennis player because you realize you’ve got another couple hours and two more sets to go if you want to win that match. I’ve really worked hard here trying to improve my mental skills. I just took it point by point and took the match in the third.

It’s not only staying positive, it’s about taking my time. With my personality, I rush a lot. Just staying more aware of what I’m doing on the court and monitoring my breathing to help focus.

…wearing an ATP pro’s shirts: I was hitting with Tommy Haas one morning. I get some stuff from K-Swiss – the same company that sponsors him. His shirts, though, has this custom patch from a German bank sponsor or something that nobody else in the world has. I guess K-Swiss mixed up an order and sent me a bunch of his custom shirts. I just randomly threw one on that morning, and he looked at me and said, “Where did you get that shirt? Did you take that from me?” It caught me totally off guard.

…the most talented players that he’s seen: I think with just God-given talent, either Kei (Nishikori) or Filip (Krajinovic). Kei… I’ve just never seen anyone as fast as him. He’s so fast with his hands. Filip is just Filip. He’s just blessed with a gift. He’s got so many skills. Hitting with him, you can just see him crushing the ball. It’s fun to room with a guy who’s one of the best in the world at his age. For two years, it was me, Jordan and Filip rooming together. Now, we’re all going our separate ways.

…the best thing tennis has brought him: Definitely seeing the world. I’ve been to 4 of the 7 continents. I’ve been pretty blessed to play the sport that I love all over the world.

Two of the world’s top men’s tennis players took the court this morning at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy to do some practicing. Kei Nishikori, who is coming off of an injury, and veteran Tommy Haas were on Nick’s Court as they both prepare for the 2010 season. Both are long-time IMG Bollettieri students and both are looking for great 2010 seasons.

Before Kei took the court we found him warming up in the gym of the IMG Performance Institute and he took a couple of minutes out of his preparation to give us an update on his progress:

Here is another video of their practice with commentary from Nick:

IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy student Filip Krajinovic

Up-and-coming Serbian tennis sensation, Filip Krajinovic, was on court this morning with Nick Bollettieri practicing for the 2010 season. Filip is one of the top 17-year old players in the world and along with Ryan Harrison, Yuki Bhambri, and Jordan Cox who also train at the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Filip is one of the young players to watch in 2010 as he is primed for a great year. It won’t be long before tennis fans throughout the world know his name.

Here is a quick video from his practice session and then below it is a video with some comments from Nick:

I stayed up late last night to watch the Baghdatis/Ferrer match and I was thoroughly entertained. If you didn’t get a chance to see it, Baghdatis dropped the first two sets, but then came back and won it in five. After dropping those opening sets, Baghdatis threw his racket and realized that he was hitting the ball hard and flat. Ferrer took the ball easily and used Baghdatis’ power for his returns, catching Baghdatis out of position.

Baghdatis changed the pace and it changed the match. He added slices and hit forehands high and deep with spin and less power. Ferrer became frustrated and went for winners while having to generate his own power. This didn’t work. Baghdatis knew how to win the crowd over and began pounding his chest and looked to the audience.

All it took was a simple change of tactics and Baghdatis was able to make a huge difference and win the match. Hopefully, you can learn from this and use this when you play!

Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)

Henin passed a major test with a tough straight-set win over Elena Dementieva in the second round. Now that she has that match behind her, she is a real threat to make a deep run. Every time I watch Henin play I get even more impressed by her grit, determination and passion. She is truly a warrior out on the court and we have definitely missed her for the last couple of years.

Kleybanova is an alumnus of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy. She picked up a nice win over Jelena Dokic in the opening round and then beat Sorana Cirstea in the second. If she wins here it will be only the third time she has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam.

Match-Up:

Henin is 1-0 against Kleybanova with that win coming back in 2008 at Antwerp. Kleybanova knows how to play one way: hit the tar out of the ball. She isn’t built to play long points and will not try to. She goes for winners and will look to keep Henin pinned back behind the baseline. Henin will not see many soft balls in this match and will try to neutralize Kleybanova’s power with her ability to change the pace. Henin has so much variety and her movement has been excellent thus far. One thing to watch out for here is if Henin’s serve falters at all, Kleybanova will pounce on it. I look for Henin to move on, but Kleybanova will give her a match.

Nick’s Pick – Henin in 2 or 3 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)

Jankovic has looked great in the first two rounds, losing a total of eight games in four sets. A former semifinalist down under, Jankovic is looking to climb back into the top five with a solid showing here. She is determined to make 2010 a great year, and having worked with her at the Academy during the off-season I think she is ready to do it.

Bondarenko knocked off Polona Hercog in the second round in straight sets and is into the third round of the Aussie Open for the third time in her career. Bondarenko has never been to the fourth round of any Grand Slam, so this would be a big win for her.

Match-Up:

Jankovic knows Bondarenko’s game extremely well. The two have met nine times previously with Jankovic winning all nine of those matches. Their most recent encounter came back in 2008 at Stuttgart with Jankovic winning easily. I honestly don’t think much will change now. Jankovic is moving brilliantly, is full of confidence and knows how to win. She tweaked a couple of things on her forehand and backhand when she was at the Academy, and it looks to be paying off right now. Bondarenko covers the court well and is solid from the baseline, but she doesn’t have any weapons that can really hurt Jankovic. I look for the Serb to advance.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

John Isner (USA) vs. Gael Monfils (FRA)

Isner has had two tough wins, including a five-setter in the opening round, and is into the third round of the Australian Open for the first time in his career. He has only been to the fourth round of a Grand Slam once, and that was at last year’s US Open. This is going to be an important year for Isner, because Pat McEnroe is going to be counting on him for the Davis Cup and at the age of 24 this is the time for him to take his game to the next level.

Monfils has taken down two qualifiers to reach the third round and is definitely someone to keep an eye on. He reached the fourth round here last year, but has never been further. He played at the Brisbane warm up tournament where he reached the semis before falling to Radek Stepanek in straight sets. He then withdrew from the Medibank International citing a shoulder injury.

Match-Up:

Isner is 2-1 against Monfils and beat him last year at Indian Wells. We all know that Isner is going to serve big, hit monster forehands and then try to get one break. If he does that, he will be successful. The problem here is that Monfils is such an athletic freak, there could be some issues. Monfils has the ability to neutralize Isner’s power with his athleticism and he will make Isner hit one or two extra balls which will frustrate the American. Now, if Monfils’ serve breaks down at all Isner can get a break and win the set before you know it. The longer this match goes on, the more it favors Monfils. I don’t think this one will be done in three sets, and I look for Monfils to pull out a tough long match.

Nick’s Pick – Monfils in 4 or 5 sets

Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

Nadal may be the defending champion here, but I haven’t heard too many people say that he is the favorite to win. He beat Lukas Lacko in the second round in straight sets and I came away from the match thinking that Nadal has as good as a chance as anybody to win this tournament. Everyone is looking forward to a potential quarterfinal match with Andy Murray, but Nadal shouldn’t be looking ahead because Kohlschreiber is a tough cookie.

Speaking of Kohlschreiber, the 26-year old German comes into the tournament ranked #26 in the world. He’s been to the fourth round of the Aussie Open twice, and in 2008 he won a classic match against Andy Roddick 8-6 in the fifth set.

Match-Up:

Nadal is 4-0 against Kohlschreiber and did beat him in the second round of the Australian Open in four sets back in 2007. Kohlschreiber may not look like a big guy, but he has a big-time game. He hits the ball very hard from both sides and has a sonic serve. He covers the court well and will not be afraid to Nadal at all. The one thing that may hinder him here is that the court is playing slow and with the high bounces, it really favors Nadal’s heavy spin. You know that Nadal is going to grind points out, make Kohlschreiber work, and then pick his spots to hit winners. I just think with the court playing the way it is and with Nadal’s ability to neutralize just about anybody’s game, he will advance.

Nick’s Pick – Nadal in 4 sets

1. Tommy Haas needed five sets to beat Janko Tipsarevic, but he rose to the occasion and proved that a strong mind can be a weapon that equals an ace or a killer winning forehand.


2. Venus Williams’ transition to the net is one of, if not, the very best on the tour. She always wants to challenge her opponent’s shots and then come in as well. By doing so, she reaches the ball very quickly, catching her opponent out of position. Her balance and speed enable her to get to the ball quickly and during this transition she is preparing her back swing and shoulder turn as well. Her first volleys are very basic and hit more east and west because she closes in very close to the net, enabling her to have much more court to volley to. She gives away the lob because getting closer to the net will help her win more points in the long run. Also, because of her height it is very difficult to hit a lob over her head.


3. Donald Young – I have said it before (when he was 14 and turned pro) and I will say it again. Donald has so many natural weapons beginning with his lefty forehand than can open up the court, making it very difficult for the opponent to recover and hit a good shot. In addition to this he has quick hands, great anticipation, he takes the ball early and he has the ability to serve and control play. His biggest weakness is his physical fitness. Hewitt was able to wear him down and he must work on his body to be a top pro. The clock is ticking, and only Donlad can determine the outcome of his career.

Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

I watched her match against Gisela Dulko very closely and as a coach, I am bewildered that her team doesn’t recognize a very simple reason that her serve is breaking down (with the toss going all over the place). A few years ago, a fantastic young lady came to me nearing the end of her career. She said she got so nervous every time she served because she couldn’t toss in the same place. She had the classical ready position and the classical long back-swing – the full toss motion. Within a few minutes, I accepted the fact that she would get nervous and suggested and abbreviated half-motion which then made it possible to have a lower, more consistent toss. The results were extremely positive and her name was Mary Joe Fernandez. This little adjustment also gave her a new spirit for her entire game.

During the Ivanovic match, Mary Joe and the other commentators all said that Ivanovic’s toss is all over the place and that resulted in numerous double faults plus it hurt the other parts of her game. Ana should do the same thing that Mary Joe did. It’s a simple adjustment that could help her build her confidence and maybe get her to play the same way she did back in 2008.

P.S. – Ana you are always welcome at the Academy! I would definitely give you a full scholarship!

Serena Williams (USA) vs. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP)

Serena has cruised through her first two wins, losing a total of six games. As the defending champion, the pressure is on her to it again, but that has never been a problem for her and I don’t think it will this year either.

Suarez Navarro seems to play much better in the Grand Slams than she does throughout the rest of the year. She went to the quarters last year, where she upset Venus Williams in the second round before losing to Elena Dementieva. Could she pull off another Williams-sister upset?

Match-Up:

This is the first career meeting between these two fierce competitors. Suarez Navarro may be short in stature (5’4”), but she makes up for that in heart and hustle. She covers the court extremely well, hits the one-handed backhand like Federer or Haas, and will take chances whenever she has the opportunity. The problem here is that with Serena’s relentless groundstrokes, the one-handed backhand has a great chance of breaking down. Serena needs to be careful about drifting too far behind the baseline, but she will be ready to attack and will pounce on any defensive return. Look for the Williams express to continue into the next round!

Nick’s Pick – S. Williams in 2 sets

Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) vs. Shahar Peer (ISR)

Wozniacki comes into the tournament ranked a career high of #4 in the world, and for the first time in her career she is being considered as a legitimate title contender. That hasn’t affected her in the opening rounds, but now as she gets deeper into the tournament you might see some of that creep up in her game.

I thought Peer was on the track to stardom a couple of years ago, but it just hasn’t panned out for her. She is still only 22 years old and has time to develop, but at some point she is going to have to have a big breakthrough. Could 2010 be her year? We will have to wait and see.

Match-Up:

Wozniacki is 2-0 against Peer, with both of those wins coming last year. Everyone loves to watch Wozniacki play. She has the charm, the good looks, the beautiful smile and her ability cover the court makes her fantastic to watch. Peer brings discipline and tenacity to the tennis court, but right now she doesn’t have the weapons to really hurt Wozniacki and that will be the difference in this match. I think this one will go the distance, but in the end Wozniacki just has too much.

Nick’s Pick – Wozniacki in 3 sets

Justine Henin (BEL) vs. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS)

Henin passed a major test with a tough straight-set win over Elena Dementieva in the second round. Now that she has that match behind her, she is a real threat to make a deep run. Every time I watch Henin play I get even more impressed by her grit, determination and passion. She is truly a warrior out on the court and we have definitely missed her for the last couple of years.

Kleybanova is an alumnus of the IMG Bollettieri Tennis Academy. She picked up a nice win over Jelena Dokic in the opening round and then beat Sorana Cirstea in the second. If she wins here it will be only the third time she has reached the fourth round of a Grand Slam.

Match-Up:

Henin is 1-0 against Kleybanova with that win coming back in 2008 at Antwerp. Kleybanova knows how to play one way: hit the tar out of the ball. She isn’t built to play long points and will not try to. She goes for winners and will look to keep Henin pinned back behind the baseline. Henin will not see many soft balls in this match and will try to neutralize Kleybanova’s power with her ability to change the pace. Henin has so much variety and her movement has been excellent thus far. One thing to watch out for here is if Henin’s serve falters at all, Kleybanova will pounce on it. I look for Henin to move on, but Kleybanova will give her a match.

Nick’s Pick – Henin in 2 or 3 sets

Jelena Jankovic (SRB) vs. Alona Bondarenko (UKR)

Jankovic has looked great in the first two rounds, losing a total of eight games in four sets. A former semifinalist down under, Jankovic is looking to climb back into the top five with a solid showing here. She is determined to make 2010 a great year, and having worked with her at the Academy during the off-season I think she is ready to do it.

Bondarenko knocked off Polona Hercog in the second round in straight sets and is into the third round of the Aussie Open for the third time in her career. Bondarenko has never been to the fourth round of any Grand Slam, so this would be a big win for her.

Match-Up:

Jankovic knows Bondarenko’s game extremely well. The two have met nine times previously with Jankovic winning all nine of those matches. Their most recent encounter came back in 2008 at Stuttgart with Jankovic winning easily. I honestly don’t think much will change now. Jankovic is moving brilliantly, is full of confidence and knows how to win. She tweaked a couple of things on her forehand and backhand when she was at the Academy, and it looks to be paying off right now. Bondarenko covers the court well and is solid from the baseline, but she doesn’t have any weapons that can really hurt Jankovic. I look for the Serb to advance.

Nick’s Pick – Jankovic in 2 sets

Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)

Petrova surprised just about everyone with her complete annihilation of Kim Clijsters in the third round. I don’t think anybody would have seen that coming considering the way Clijsters had been playing and her victories prior to the start of the tournament. A win here would put Petrova in the quarters for the first time since 2006. Petrova has been to the quarters of every Grand Slam, but has only been to the semis of one Grand Slam (French Open).

Kuznetsova needed three sets to shake off Angelique Kerber in the third round, but once again, her consistent play is just too much for many of the women to handle. In recent days, she has made it very clear that her intentions are winning Grand Slams and that alone. She has said that being #1 in the world isn’t a priority, and that winning the big ones is her focus.

Match-Up:

Kuznetsova is 5-1 against Petrova, and won the only time they played last year. This looks to be one heck of a match for darn good reasons. Both girls have significant strength and can do just about anything with the ball. Both girls have for the most part flat groundstrokes and both have two-handed backhands. Both girls stand fairly close to the baseline and love to pound the ball. I give a slight edge to Petrova at the net because of her doubles play and their serves are fairly equal. I see this match going three sets, but in the end I like Kuznetsova because of her mental focus and her grit. She has the ability to step up during the big moments and I think that will be the difference.

Nick’s Pick – Kuznetsova in 3 sets

Maria Kirilenko (RUS) vs. Dinara Safina (RUS)

Kirilenko knocked off Maria Sharapova in the opening round and has played solid tennis since. This is only the second time she has been to the fourth round of a Grand Slam, and both have come at the Australian Open (2008). Can she knock off another tough Russian to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal?

Despite being seeded second, Safina has been overlooked by many of the pundits because of Serena and Justine. Let’s not forget that Safina is ranked this high for a reason, and she has the ability to beat anyone if her nerves hold up. Her side of the draw is wide open now that Jankovic is out and she could face Henin or Kuznetsova in the semis.

Match-Up:

Safina is 2-0 against Kirilenko, but the two haven’t played since 2007. Safina has looked much calmer in the first three rounds then she has in the past couple of Grand Slams. This has been a major boost for her, but who knows if that will hold up. Safina doesn’t have any glaring technical weaknesses except for sometimes she tries to be too physical and that hurts her. Kirilenko covers the court exceptionally well and has excellent groundstrokes. She has already proved that she is capable of taking on the big girls; it is just a matter of confidence for her. I see this match going three sets, and if Safina is able to control her emotions she should move on.

Nick’s Pick – Safina in 3 sets

Andy Roddick (USA) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO)

Down two sets to one in the fourth round, Roddick dug deep and beat Fernando Gonzalez 6-2 in the fifth to advance. He’s been to the semifinals down under four times previously, including last year, but he has never been to the finals. Could this be the year that Roddick makes an appearance on the final Sunday?

Cilic took down fellow young-gun Juan Martin Del Potro in five sets to advance to the quarters of a Grand Slam for the second time in his career. Cilic certainly stepped his game up during the big points and with a win here, he will reach the semis of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

Match-Up:

Roddick and Cilic have played twice, with each player winning a match. They most recently met back in 2008 at Canada with Cilic winning in three sets. Both of the quarterfinal matches on this half of the draw are tough to call, but I’ll do my best to break them down for you. Roddick is in fantastic shape, he’s getting a high percentage of his first serves in, he mobility is excellent, his slice is now a weapon, he is in control of his emotions and he is a fierce competitor. Right now, he is playing some of the best tennis of his life and I truly feel he could beat anyone at this point. On the other side, Cilic is also playing great tennis. He has monster strokes from both sides, has a sonic serve and is brimming with confidence. With the way Roddick is playing right now, and with his complete game I have to give him a slight edge.

Nick’s Pick – Roddick in 4 sets

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

Murray is the only man left in the draw who has yet to drop a set and he has done so rather quietly. He beat John Isner in the fourth round and is into the quarterfinals of the Aussie Open for the first time in his career. Murray has now been to at least the quarterfinals in every single Grand Slam.

Nadal needed four sets to get past big-serving Ivo Karlovic in the fourth round. Karlovic was able to test Nadal, but the Spaniard had too much for him in the end. He has been to the at least the semis of six out of the last eight Grand Slams and anything less for him is a disappointment.

Match-Up:

Murray is 4-2 against Nadal, but has lost to him the last two times they have played. They actually met in the fourth round of the 2007 Australian Open and Nadal won that in five tough sets. Murray’s movement is off the wall, he is both fast and quick. He is able to turn defense into offense better than just about anybody, and that is what really makes him stand out above his competition. His return of serve remind me of Andre Agassi. He has a very short backswing and comes forward into the court as he hits the ball. I think he is darn close to having everything to winning a Grand Slam, but the one thing he needs a little more of is power on his driving forehand. Nadal hasn’t looked like the Rafa of old. He doesn’t seem to have the same pop on his forehand or his serve, but Nadal at 90% is better than most players at 100%. He still has the ability grind out points and use his strength to keep his opponents pinned back.

I really feel like the longer this match goes, the more it favors Murray. In the past, I would have said Nadal, but right now I think Murray has the edge. I am going to go with the Scotsman, but it is very close.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 or 5 sets

Nadia Petrova (RUS) vs. Justine Henin (BEL)

Petrova has played extremely well in the last two rounds, beating Kim Clijsters and Svetlana Kuznetsova in back-to-back rounds. This is her second appearance in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, and she is looking to reach the semis for the first time in her career. In fact, Petrova has only been to the semis of a Grand Slam twice before, and those were both at the French Open (2003 and 2005).

Henin’s comeback has gone perfectly to script thus far, and she is definitely one of the favorites to win this tournament. She showed a little vulnerability in the fourth round when she slipped by Yanina Wickmayer in three sets. I don’t think that it’s a bad thing for her to lose some sets in the early rounds, because she hasn’t played a lot of tennis recently and she could use the match play.

Match-Up:

Henin is 12-2 against Petrova and just beat her earlier this year 7-5, 7-5 in Brisbane. Despite that lopsided record, I really feel that Petrova has an excellent chance to win this match. She has already beaten two contenders and really has it going on. She is serving well, her groundstrokes are extremely solid and she has the mental approach to win. The longer this match goes, the more it favors Petrova. If Henin is able to get off to a fast start and use her versatility and movement to keep Petrova off balance than she will win. This match could go either way.

Nick’s Pick – Henin in 2, Petrova in 3

Maria Kirilenko (RUS) vs. Jie Zheng (CHN)

It seems like every year we have a women’s quarterfinal that features two players you didn’t expect to be here. Kirilenko beat Sharapova in the first round, but really hasn’t been tested since. She was up 5-4 in the first set against second-seeded Dinara Safina in the fourth round, but Safina was forced to retire from the match with a back injury. Now, Kirilenko finds herself one win away from the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career.

Zheng made a great run to the semis of Wimbledon back in 2008, but this is her best result at a Grand Slam since. She beat Marion Bartoli in the third round and then Alona Bondarenko in the fourth round to get here. She is an excellent doubles player and she did win the doubles title at the 2006 Aussie Open, so she has had success in Melbourne.

Match-Up:

Zheng is 4-1 against Kirilenko and beat her once last year in Madrid. The weakest point of Zheng’s game has been her serve, but she seems to have worked on that during the off-season and she is serving better. Her movement is fantastic, she is comfortable at the net, and she is an extremely fierce competitor. I think with Zheng’s footwork and her groundstrokes, she has the edge in this match. Kirilenko has the talent to win this match for sure, but Zheng has been here before and I see her advancing.

Nick’s Pick – Zheng in 3 sets

Andy Murray (GBR) vs. Marin Cilic (CRO)

Murray played fantastic in the first two sets against Rafael Nadal in the quarters, and then Nadal retired midway through the third allowing Murray to advance. This is his first career appearance in the semis of the Australian Open and his third career Grand Slam semifinal. A win here would put him in the finals of a Grand Slam for the second time.

Cilic knocked out Andy Roddick in five sets and has now won consecutive five-set matches. This is his first career appearance in the semis of a Grand Slam and at the age of 21 he is certainly one of the best young players in the world. This is a big step for Cilic and if he continues on this path it won’t be long now until people start considering him a title contender each time he takes the court.

Match-Up:

Murray is 3-1 against Cili, but the Croat did win the last time they faced (2009 US Open). Everything about Cilic is big. His serve, his groundstrokes, and his body! Despite that height, Cilic moves well and does a good job of covering the court. He is definitely controlling his emotions better which has enabled him to stay in more points longer. Against Murray this is going to be a must! Murray’s return of serve is going to be a big factor in this match. Once the ball gets into play, I believe Murray has the advantage. His serve is improved and his footwork is fantastic. This is going to be close, but I give a slight edge to Murray.

Nick’s Pick – Murray in 4 sets

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) vs. Roger Federer (SUI)

After dropping the third set to Djokovic 6-1 in the quarters, it looked like Tsonga was done. He dug deep though and was able to win the last two sets 6-3, 6-1. He has had great success at the Aussie Open in the past, reaching the finals in 2008 and the quarters in 2009. In fact, he must love Australia because he has never been past fourth round in any other Grand Slam.

Many people thought Davydenko had a good chance to beat Federer in the quarters, but he demonstrated once again why he is the best player in the world. Federer’s ability to step his game up in big matches is what makes separates him from everyone else, and when he is able to do this consistently: WATCH OUT!

Match-Up:

Federer and Tsonga have played twice before with each player winning a match. Tsonga won the last time they faced which was in the quarterfinals in Canada. This match will be determined by Federer, and Federer alone. I’m not saying that Tsonga can’t win, but basically everything Tsonga does, Federer can do it a little better. He has the mental, physical and tactical edge and will need all of it for this match. I look for Federer to advance, but Tsonga will give him everything he has.

Nick’s Pick – Federer in 4 sets

Why?

1. She has a very compact swing pattern from both sides with instant backswing preparation.
2. She has a very low base and uses her strong legs for balance and power.
3. She stands very close to the baseline because of the previously mentioned items and this allows her to make early contact and puts her opponents on the defense.
4. She covers all of the court as well as anyone.
5. She is in tip-top shape.
6. She hits with very little spin and still has control and depth.
7. She also plays great defense and anticipates the path of the ball extremely well.

What does she need to improve on?

1. Her second serve needs work.
2. She could play with more variety by hitting slices and adding a little more height and spin. This could really help by moving her opponents even further back behind the baseline and will also throw off their rhythm.
3. She could come into the net more often. Her ability to take the ball so early gives her this opportunity. This addition could increase her chances of being one of the very best in the world.

Overall, I came away extremely impressed by her. Serena gave everything she had and Li was able to resist and I really feel that if this match went three sets, Li would have won it. If Li continues to play like this I wouldn’t be surprised to see her compete for titles throughout 2010.

The game of tennis is much more than just striking a ball. When you watch matches you will see all types of hitting styles, various strategies, and lots of variety in movement on the court!  With a few unusual exceptions, top tennis players have quick feet on the court.  Bjorn Borg said it best and proved it on the court, “There is no substitute for mobility.”

Unlike raw natural ability and common sense, mobility is something you can actually improve with practice.  One of the key components to great footwork (and least talked about) is flexibility.  Little children are amazingly flexible (just watch them swing with ease upside down on a jungle gym).  But, as we age we slowly lose our ability to bend, stretch and move quickly.  The key is to find ways to maintain the flexibility we had as children.  For some players it is just a matter of incorporating the right foot drills and great hitting partners to their practices.

However, some players just naturally are not great movers.  For those players I have the trainers work with them using specific foot drills and sprint exercises.  I have even sent some of my more rigid players to yoga just to stretch and loosen them up a little and to ultimately improve their footwork on the court.

The other advantage to improved movement is decreased injuries.  Muscle and tendon pulls decrease significantly if a player is conditioned and flexible.  My suggestion for anyone wanting to improve their game is to find time every day to improve your physical fitness and your flexibility.  At night when you are watching television instead of sitting in your usual comfy chair try sitting on a large exercise ball and stretch your muscles during the commercials.  When you first get up in the morning spend five minutes on that same exercise ball and warm your muscles up for the day.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park in the farthest spot from the work, and try to get up and move around several times a day.  All of the above will keep your muscles warm and flexible.

I also keep a simple exercise band hung over my bedroom door.  Every morning and before I go to bed I stretch and strengthen my arms, my back and my stomach for five minutes just from this one little band.  Plus it is easy to throw in my suitcase when I travel.

      I will turn 79 years old this year and still stretch a couple of times a day.  One of the benefits of a lifetime of stretching is that I still walk and move like a young man.  My reflexes are still quick and I have no aches and pains like some of my friends who are the same age.  But I am very disciplined and found out a long time ago that if I wanted to work full-time until I’m in my mid-nineties than I was going to have to keep my body in great shape.  Here is my daily schedule:

Not everyone can or wants to keep a schedule like mine but you can still improve your health, your flexibility and ultimately your game just by adding stretching to your daily routine.  For those of you who are truly ambitious…try activities like yoga, Pilates, or tai chi.  If you’re ever at the Academy I’ll show you my version of tai chi…it may not help you, but it is sure to make you laugh!