Its almost here! 10 days folks! Here on Beyond the Baseline, we will give a full analysis of who we think will take home the trophy. Will number Novak Djokovic take it all the way? Or will defending champ, Rafael Nadal claim his prize again? Find out here on Beyond the Baseline this weekend!

I recently was a ball boy at a tournament at my local club. I found out a lot of interesting things, such as the impact of new balls and also the control of Wilson.

Me: Congrats Alex on the big win, First of all, what difference do new balls make, if any?

Alex: Well, they make a huge difference on the serve but not as much on groundstrokes. It makes the balls go a little faster.

Me: What do you eat to prepare for a big match?

Alex: I’ve been lucky enough to stay with Lisa Klotz, she’s been an awesome host and has given me exactly what I need.

Me: How do you prepare for those early morning matches?

Alex: Well you’ve just got to deal with it, and not press the snooze button to often.

I later talked Alex about his racquets and interestingly enough, he has used Wilson since he started playing. Wilson fits Kuznetsov’s playing style which is a smooth game, with a big serve and volley. Almost like Federer. In this case I would call that his Winner’s Edge. The thing that edged him to be just a little better than his opponent. Kuznetsov plays Ryan Sweeting, the #21 seed, in the first round of the Australian Open.

Hello everyone, I am very sorry for the recent delay. A lot has been going on and I hope it doesn’t happen again. I am now committed to informing, advising, and helping you with your tennis game.