"I've never felt as determined as I do now," says Van Der Zwalmen
Top players reflect on Ladies World Championship ahead of Australian Open
The world’s top women real tennis players have praised the format change for the upcoming Ladies World Championship in Newport. Speaking in their pre-tournament interviews for the Australian Open, the top two favourites for the title explained how the new format was changing their processes and preparations.
In the new format, the defending champion awaits a challenger in the final, and the defending runner-up awaits a qualifier in the Final Eliminator in a format similar to the Men’s World Championship and the MCC Gold and Silver Rackets. World Number 2 Lea Van Der Zwalmen, the runner up at the previous two editions had been critical of the old Open format in past interviews. “It was about time that these changes came into place,” said Van Der Zwalmen, “I had been lobbying for those kind of changes for years so I'm glad it's finally all there. I think it makes the whole Ladies World Championship event much more professional - less of what I used to call a Mickey Mouse event where anyone can enter. The top players now earn the right to compete against each other for the biggest title and I think it brings more spotlight and much more legitimacy to the game.”
Incumbent World Champion Claire Fahey likened the format change to the changes to the Men’s Championship instituted two decades ago by her husband Rob, where he relinquished the right to choose the venue of his challenge. “I think it's one of those kind of movements and moments in history where it changes just like they did with the Men's World Championship,” said Fahey, “I think this is a huge step forward. Obviously it's a bit of an unknown - everyone's going in hoping it's going to live up to all the expectations.”
The two players could potentially meet in the final of the Australian Open, as well as the forthcoming US Open in Philadelphia. Van Der Zwalmen explained her evolution as a player through the previous two editions. “I don't think I've ever felt as motivated and deteremined as I feel now. I feel like in previous World Championships I was maybe lacking a little bit of that experience. Certainly in Fontainebleau I was still a real tennis baby and playing at home for my first World Championship it was a little bit too much and I didn't have what it took at that time to handle the pressure I put on myself.
“The last one was also a good experience for me even though I was on Claire's home turf - that was always going to be tough. But I felt even the way I approached the match, the way I approached her was different. I feel like the win that I got in the Rackets World Championship last May kind of like provoked some change definitely in the mental side how I approach her and I approach the match.”
Fahey was more reserved in her commentary about her preparation. “Being around Rob's World Challenges and you learn a lot along the way about mindset and preparation. It's a bit of an unknown which is something different. When it came out I said to Rob, ‘how would I approach it differently?’ and he just said ‘you don't’.”
Meanwhile in the men’s interviews, the players discussed the upcoming Australian Open draws. Rob Fahey and Camden Riviere both are returning to the event for the first time since the pandemic. Fahey discussed his fitness levels as he continues to play in his retirement. “I did a bit of work pre-British Open just to stay competitive and not make sure my performances aren't too bad despite my retirement,” he said, “I felt quite good going to that and then of course got injured, although that's not a big surprise at my age trying to compete at this level.
“I think it's fine like but it's it's one of those injuries that you just don't know until you go flat out again. It survived a week skiing but I haven't actually done any practice so I don't know how it is on the tennis court so we're about to find out. Hopefully I can get through to Camden in the semifinals and have a good run.”
Riviere was also looking forward to a potential matchup against his old rival. “I think there's always a spectacle [playing Rob],” he said, “I think we've had so many incredible matches at so many tournaments that - especially not having had it for a while - I think people will be very excited. Obviously we're in Hobart where he's from and they tend to be quite loud and boisterous.”
The World Champion also hinted at what he saw were some potential exciting matches on the opposite side of the draw. “I think Kieran [Booth]'s always a bit of a dark horse coming through. I have to back my doubles partner uh Chris Chapman - I just I know how well Chris can play. I battled it out with him for years when he was still playing on the tour I know what he's capable of and I think it's still in there. I think Ben [Taylor-Matthews]’s to lose in terms of of getting through that side you know going into this Eliminator process - I think that he should be looking at this as a builder tournament where he wants to start off on the right foot and beat through to get to the final.”
Play at the Australian Open begins on Monday with the first round matches at the Hobart Real Tennis Club. All matches are streamed live on the Hobart Real Tennis Club YouTube channel. All the player interviews are also available from the same channel.