Hsieh hits the shops
Su-Wei Hsieh has been clothes shopping in London, but not for the type of summer frocks you might think.
Despite reaching the last 16 at two different Grand Slams, winning both the Wimbledon and Roland-Garros doubles championships, and having been a top 25 singles player and No.1 in doubles, Hseih has never had a clothing contract. Still doesn’t.
When she combined with Peng Shuai to win the 2013 ladies’ doubles title at the All England Club, it was with a racket purchased online.
On Saturday she shocked No.1 seed Simona Halep 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 and was wearing kit she bought herself.
It does not bother the charming giant-killer from Chinese Taipei, who is as entertaining in the interview room as a repertoire of double-handed drop shots, slices and lobs, spins and angles, ensure she is fascinatingly unorthodox on the court.
Ask former mentor Paul McNamee, a three-time Grand Slam doubles and mixed doubles winner and former No.23 in singles, what it was like to coach Hsieh and he says, laughing: "Different". As for her game style, there’s one word for that, too: Unique.
"It’s the old saying: tennis is a game of control and restraint, and hitting the ball where the other person ain’t," he says. "That’s really what Su-Wei is about. She hits it where they’re not, and where they’re not expecting it.
"Obviously her serve’s not her strength, but the rest of her game’s pretty damn good, and she’s a particularly good volleyer, which is handy on those swing points. She’s also got a lovely drop shot, and it’s true to say she’s got a unique style. And when she’s playing well she’s a joyful sort of player, if you know what I mean."
Driving everyone crazy
Yet, while keen to befuddle opponents, Hsieh admits she can drive even her practice partners to the point of despair. “I normally drive the girl crazy before because when I practise, in two shots I do drop shot. If I don't drop shot, I hit as hard as I can. Maybe I should have someone to travel with me and I don't drive the other girl crazy. Now I am little bit better. I try to practise normal with the girls, don't go too crazy on the drop shot."
Now coached by her brother Tommy, McNamee was in charge from 2013-16 before returning to live in Melbourne but remains a close friend and advisor at the Grand Slams, in particular. So instinctive is Hsieh that she does best when not overthinking things, and or being overloaded by tactical or technical advice. As McNamee quips: "It was really quite a passive coaching role that I’ve had over the years!"
Her breakthrough major was this year’s Australian Open, when the world No.88 upset both Garbiñe Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska before failing to serve out her quarter-final against Angelique Kerber. It was a far different scenario at Wimbledon, where she started nervously but then recovered from 2-5 and match point down to frustrate and then eliminate Halep.
"It started in Australia. That was the first time she’d gone deep, really deep, and it was also about who she beat, and then having a set and 5-4 on Kerber, that showed ‘hey, wait a second, I can go deep in a Slam’,’’ says McNamee, crediting the positive influence of Hsieh’s French partner on her life and tennis.
“The clock’s been ticking with her career, and I think she felt like she wants to not leave anything on the table, so she’s really made a big effort. The example of that was to win against a big player from 5-2 down in the third. Normally she would have struggled fitness-wise to win a match like that, so she’s made a lot of progress in that way.
“On grass, the first big thing was to win the Wimbledon doubles title. That showed her she can play on grass. So I think it does suit her, but on the other hand she beat Muguruza and Radwanska in straight sets in Australia. Interestingly, she doesn’t notice much difference in the surfaces. She says ‘they’re all the same to me."
