Open and shut

Roddick cashes in as the Slam season comes to a close

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim will answer your tennis questions every Monday. Click here to send a question.

Out of chaos comes order. By the time Andy Roddick had won his first Slam and Justine Henin-Hardenne had backed up her riveting semifinal with her second Major, you scarcely remembered that it had ever rained. Those sounds you heard were sighs of relief coming from both the USTA war room and the CBS headquarters. Roddick was paid handsomely for his heroics in Queens -- $1 million for two weeks' work is a nice wage -- but one guesses the economic impact of his breakthrough will be several hundred times that. Roddick will get all sorts of plaudits for his massive serving. (Never mind the screaming aces. At one point, he went nearly 40 games without a double-fault and was kicking in his second serves at 115 mph.) But he also showed that he can hang from the baseline with the best of 'em....

Henin-Hardenne is simply the toughest woman in tennis, and her mental fortitude, once a liability, is every bit as big an asset as her picturesque groundies. And if I'm Serena Williams, I'm getting a little nervous right about now ....How about giving some credit to Juan Carlos Ferrero? To crossbreed animals, the Mosquito played a dog of a final against Roddick. But the Spaniard looked utterly deserving of his No.1 ranking in his previous six matches, including a comprehensive defeat of Andre Agassi....And as long as we're dispensing props, Jennifer Capriati deserves them as well. She won't soon forget her inability to close out Henin-Hardenne, but she handled herself with uncommon grace after her defeat in he semis. Credit Matthew Perry with helping to assuage the Capster's postmatch grief. Chandler even considered entering the postmatch press conference and asking if there were any questions about the Friends cast before turning the mike over to J. Cap. ...

The inimitable Gil Reyes on his plans following Agassi's retirement: He's going to climb on his Harley, fill the tank with premium gas, strap a bag of cheeseburgers to his shoulder and ride until the gas light turns yellow. Love that guy. ... Anyone else starting to wonder whether the spate of Russian women is a quantity-over-quality kind of thing?... In his semifinal match in Paris, Guillermo Coria hurt his hand when he foolishly decided to catch one of Marty Verkerk's errant serves. (This was before Coria nearly guillotined a ballkid with his racket.) Prior to his quarterfinal match against Agassi last Friday, he sliced his hand on a "callous knife" while reaching into his racket bag. Think this guy might be cursed on the day of big matches?...

Irony Award: Hours after the WTA announced that it was asking fans to vote for the greatest match in WTA history at www.wtatour.com, Henin-Hardenne and Capriati took the court for what would turn out to be an epic semifinal. (The Web site then added it as a 16th match.) ... Kim Clijsters, Jim Loehr. Jim Loehr, Kim Clijsters. ... How unsung is the Belgian No.1? After her semifinal romp over Lindsay Davenport, her name was misspelled "Clijters" on the giant draw-board near the front entrance. (It was changed the following day). ... We'll say it again: Remember the names Maria Kirilenko and Rafael Nadal. ... The race is on for an agent to sign Donald Young, a 14-year-old African-American from Chicago who has shown great promise in junior events. My money is on the guy with the leather-bound folder and the blackberry. ... Overheard in the media room. "Dodo Cheney? Name sounds familiar. Who's her agent?"...

David Nalbandian, the human backboard, may not have won the U.S. Open title, but in reaching the semis, his memorable wish at Wimbledon 2002 -- "Me no want to be one-hit wonder" -- has been granted. This guy is a Top 10 player for years to come. ... In boxing, a cutman usually takes 2 or 3 percent of a fighters' purse. Players ought to keep that in mind when they send a Christmas gift to Doug Spreen and Bill Norris. ... Funniest moment: Tamarine Tanasugarn's (hereafter nicknamed Tamari Tanasuga) premature exultation during her third round win over Daniela Hantuchova. It was truly memorable for its levity. But to her everlasting credit, the Thai a) regrouped and closed out the match by winning SIX games and b) could not have been more endearing afterward. ... If you watched Taylor Dent play Fernando Gonzalez and didn't come away a fan of both players, you may as well switch sports. ... Shed no tears for Justin Gimelstob, who lost in the first round of singles, doubles and mixed doubles. Our man still received $20,000 in prize money for his efforts. ...

Be it Williams-mania or the USTA's populist marketing (and for this it deserves immense credit) but, according to a recent study, one-third of all new tennis players are either black or Hispanic. ... That said: Memo to the USTA: would it be too much to ask for the sponsors presenting the checks to get the player's names right? The congratulations offered to "Christine Henin-Hardenne" by a representative of sponsor JP Morgan Chase was simply embarrassing. ... A wish for next year: A top player -- be it Agassi, James Blake or whomever -- would step into the USTA offices and say, "Arthur Ashe would turn over in his grave if he saw this monstrosity of a stadium that bears his name, what with its champagne-soaked skyboxes, preposterously expensive tickets and aura of exclusivity. I'd much prefer to play in the infinitely more soulful Louis Armstrong or on the Grandstand."...

A round of applause to our other winners:

<li> Women's doubles: Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suarez, who beat Martina Navratilova and Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final.

<li> Men's doubles: Todd Woodbridge and Jonas Bjorkman backed up their Wimbledon title beating the Bryan Brothers in a wildly entertaining three-setter. With his 77th career doubles title, Woodbridge tied John McEnroe and moved within a match of Tom Okker's all-time record.

<li> Mixed doubles: Katarina Srebotnik and Bob Bryan beat Daniel Nestor and Lina Krasnoroutskaya.

<li> Boys singles: France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga upset top-seeded Marcos Baghgatis.

<li> Girls Singles: The Battle of Belgium might move to a third front. Kirsten Flipkens beat Michaela (half sister of Richard) Krajicek.

A few questions before I crash...

I was a little disappointed to hear Pete Sampras say during his widely broadcast pre-Wimbledon interview with Pat McEnroe that he did not like the "other" tour events (i.e. he only enjoys the Grand Slam tournaments). I seem to recall Ivan Lendl saying the same thing late in his career. I am a huge Sampras fan, but this really kind of denigrates the backbone of the men's tour. After all, the smaller events are where most "real" (meaning those not occupying corporate box seats) people actually see them play in person. Early in their careers, when Pete and Ivan were both much younger and did not yet have mucho millions in the bank, they were ecstatic about playing and winning these smaller events. They seem to have forgotten this in the twilight of their careers as they try to establish their places in tennis history. I think a lot of people work very hard trying to increase the general popularity of tennis, so I wish the top players would show a little respect for the events that got them where they are. What do you think?<br>--Jerry A. Yamamuro, Newark, Del.

You're absolutely right. Someone should slip a copy of your question under the locker of every player on both tours. For players to minimize the dozens of events that fall on the calendar between the Majors doesn't merely "denigrate the backbone" of the sport, it also cuts against their own financial interests. It's like a New York Times writer saying, "Just buy the Sunday edition of the paper."

Not that Sampras is alone in his thinking. Lleyton Hewitt was asked about his mentality coming into the Open. With all the class and political savvy we've come to expect from him, he responded: "You know, you walk into this place, it's not like walking into Cincinnati or Montreal. This is a Grand Slam. You know, this is what you play for. This is what tennis is all about. Yeah, not many people will remember what happened in Montreal or Cincinnati if you go out and win this tournament."

He's right and he's wrong. True, the Slams are the signature events and Roddick will be recalled for winning the Open more than for winning in Quebec or Ohio (which, incidentally, is why the ATP's boycott threat rang so hollow). But in a perfect world, there is some synergy (to use my least favorite corporate catchphrase) between the Slams and the ATP events. The Slams have heft in part because the ATP events provide the pre-tournament build-up. Roddick wins two Super Nines so he becomes a hot prospect when the Open kicks off. By the same token, Roger Federer wins Wimbledon and suddenly the subsequent ATP events have more currency. Likewise, the fans who attend the Cincinnati tournament (a terrific, grassroots event, by the way) and get hip to Mardy Fish and Fernando Gonzalez are the same people who later tune in to watch the Open.

But for Hewitt and Co. to demean the garden variety events? It's like a pop star saying, "I don't want to record albums that play on the radio. I only want to do stadium shows."

I'm intrigued by a women's doubles team that got double-bageled in round one by that juggernaut duo of Bethanie Mattek and Shenay Perry. The victims of that drubbing were Nana DeVilliers and ... Gabriela Navratilova. Any relation? And any chance they got into the draw on name recognition?
--Doyle Srader, Nacogdoches, Texas

You might be on to something. The DeVilliers name carries a lot of weight. Seriously, Gabriela Navratilova is not related to Martina -- though she could clearly stand to take some tips from her namesake. Not often do we see a team getting double-bageled in doubles.

When acknowledging the coaches who helped him during his career, Pete Sampras, at his U.S. Open farewell party, did not mention Dr. Pete Fischer. I understand that Fischer was a major influence in Pete's development almost right up to Pete's first U.S. Open title. When Fischer was found guilty of child molestation, my recollection is that Sampras said that while he was unaware of any of Fischer's activities, he still had to give a lot of credit to this man for developing his game. Wouldn't The Life of Dr. Pete Fischer make a great read?
--Rob, Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Not sure I'd use the term "great," but, indeed, The Life of Dr. Pete Fischer would make for a compelling read. Sampras is understandably reluctant to speak much about the eccentric doctor, but for the record, his name was at least broached at the retirement festivities. To wit:

Q: Four men, if I'm right, were very important in your game: your dad took you out to the courts, Pete gave you your early strokes, Gully and Paul guided you. Of those four, which do you think was most key? Secondly, what was it like going through the Wimbledon fortnight and not being there? Did you watch? Was that tough?

SAMPRAS: I watched a little bit, but it wasn't tough. You know, the first day I saw Wimbledon, I missed it, I missed the court, I missed the stadium. It's another tournament. It's a grind. It's a lot of pressure. In a lot of ways, I was glad I was home. The answer to your first question, obviously, is my dad, he gave me the chance to play, which I'll always be thankful. And Tim, he took me from No. 6 in the world all the way to No. 1. ... Paul really, for the past seven years, has been huge for my career. I mean, he has never got the credit that he deserves, and has been instrumental in everything I've done in my career as far as staying No. 1. It worked out well.

Q: Would you be where you are without Pete Fisher?

SAMPRAS: You could say that. But, you know, I don't --

I just wanted to point out that Amanda Coetzer recently set a new record (she actually did it at Wimbledon): As of this U.S. Open, she has played in the main draw of 45 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, a run stretching back to the 1992 U.S. Open. Admittedly, she didn't get very far in some of those, but I felt that was deserving of some recognition all around, especially as she shows no signs of slowing down.
--Douglas Neman, Dallas

Thanks. Must be a South African thing. If memory serves, Wayne Ferreira hasn't missed a Slam since 1991.

Jon, please settle a bet between me and a friend. Is Martina Navratilova's doubles partner, Svetlana Kuznetsova, the sister of the junior player Alex Kuznetsov?
-- Tom M., Boston

Tom, in the future please be advised that for a small fee, I am happy to settle wagers in your favor. But since you didn't specify whether you thought they were or weren't siblings, I have to play it straight. To the best of my knowledge, they are not related.

I've heard of some kind of tennis documentary called Beyond the Baseline, but I haven't seen it anywhere. Do you know where I might find a copy?
--T.J. Martinez, Roy, N.M.

Beyond the Baseline is excellent. While it will air on the Tennis Channel, you can obtain a copy by contacting the brains behind the operation (and finance world refugee) Geoff Grant at ggrantmanaol.com.

It took me a while to figure out why athletes in many sports blow on their fingers. My best guess is that it is an unconscious imitation of Joe Montana on a last-minute touchdown drive. Look at some old video of Montana. It is a real trademark of his, part of his "focus."
--Robert Hannan, Miami

Yeah, a few of you wrote in with alternate suggestions. Any of you pick up on the "hand-blowing trend" at the Open? I, for one, didn't. But then again, I'm not sure Jelena Dokic and Mardy Fish -- the two exemplars noted -- lasted long enough for anyone to notice.

In men's tennis it's as if each of the surfaces produces its own game with its own set of top players. Do you think there should be three sets of rankings for that reason? With clay court specialists avoiding Wimbledon, do you think in the distant future it's possible there will be entirely different tours? Spaniards and Argentinians playing clay court tournaments during Wimbledon, etc.?
--Andrew Simon, Hong Kong

I think the opposite trend is afoot. The days of Thomas Muster winning a Slam on one surface (clay, obviously) and then failing to win a solitary tournament on another (grass) are, thankfully, gone. French Open champ Juan Carlos Ferrero, came within a match of winning the U.S. Open. While David Nalbandian can assuredly play on clay, his two best Slam results have come on grass and cement. Bill Coria won three straight clay titles this summer but also reached the U.S. Open quarters. Roger Federer has won titles on all major surfaces. Anyone who saw Rafael Nadal play in New York knows that he is not destined to be considered a "surface specialist."

If anything, the players who prefer faster courts (courtesy call for Roddick and Hewitt) need to improve on clay. But overall, another reason we ought to be bullish on the men's game is that most of the new guard can play well regardless of what's underfoot.

Martina Navratilova is playing the senior's event? I don't think there's a player over 30 playing the women's doubles event this year (except Navratilova). You just insulted all the women in the doubles. Were you joking?
--William, San Diego

It was a typo. Should have read: "Cheer for Martina Navratilova. She's 46 and she's NOT playing the seniors event. 'Nuff said." My bad. Speaking of, here's class personified: Navratilova is 46 years old, and has an extremely finite number of chances to add to her haul of Grand Slams titles. Before the tournament, her mixed doubles partner, Leander Paes, was diagnosed with a brain lesion (which, fortunately, was not as serious as originally feared). Though players would trip over themselves to play with Navratilova, out of respect to Paes she declined to play in the mixed event with another partner.

What's up with the yearbook pictures USA Network is using to promote future matches? I expected to see "Most Likely To Succeed" under Lindsay Davenport's picture.
--Ian Pettycrew, Phoenix

Yeah, I noticed that too. We wonder who paid the extra $19.95 for the "touch-up" (aka zit removal) option.

About your comment last week, "Keep in mind that the no-name player you watched get waxed in 43 minutes by Clijsters or Agassi or Capriati is still among the top 100 practitioners in the world in his or her chosen field." Why doesn't this phrase come to mind when people discuss Anna Kournikova?
--Derek Anderson, Washington, D.C.

Perhaps it should. At least my esteemed colleague Frank Deford thinks so. I would submit that Kournikova is not extended this courtesy because we like to think of popularity in sports as a rough meritocracy. And her appeal, her shameless promotion and self-promotion (and her income) so vastly outranks that of superior players that it's hard to see her as anything but a tennis-playing Barbie doll.

Why don't the Grand Slams go by the seedings when filling out the draw? For example, Andre Agassi should be in the same quarter of the draw as the No. 8 seed, Rainer Schuettler; instead, he is in the same quarter as Guillermo Coria, the No. 5 seed. Andy Roddick, the No. 4, is in the same quarter as Schuettler. Is there any reason for this? Isn't this a disadvantage to a top seed who might face a higher-ranked player than they theoretically should?
--Jack Reed, Starke, Fla.

Travis Etzel of West Allis, Wisc., asked a similar question. The Grand Slams have a somewhat quirky system of placing the four seeds in separate quadrants and sprinkling Nos. 5-8 randomly. I suppose you're right that it places the top seed at a "disadvantage," inasmuch as he or she could draw the No. 5 seed rather than be assured of drawing No. 8. But I rather like it. I'd prefer to see a 1-5 matchup and a 4-8 matchup than a 1-8 and 1-5.

I never thought I'd say this but does anyone miss Martina Hingis as much as I do? I can't help but think that if her feet are healed and she could find a way to crank up the second serve a bit she could still be a Top 5 player and legitimately in the mix at Grand Slams.
--Andrew McLaren, Winnipeg, Canada

The Chuckster is sorely missed. For all the players whose profiles drop when they retire -- out of sight, out of mind -- Hingis' absence has the made the hearts of many grow fonder. Not everyone appreciated her candor and at times she could have filtered what she said a bit more carefully. But she played a vital role in the surging popularity of women's tennis, was a terrific foil (in many ways) for the Williams sisters and has a personality on and off the court that no one has come close to replicating. That said, given how hard Henin-Hardenne (who is smaller than Hingis) hits the ball, you wonder If the "Martina-is-just-too-small-to-compete" analysis wasn't a bit simplistic.

Why do we have to force ourselves to declare Pete Sampras the greatest player ever knowing that a lot of people would object to this. I think its safe to say that Sampras is the greatest fast court player who ever lived. I don't think anyone would argue with that. With this in mind, I'd say Andre Agassi is the best all-around all surface player of all time.
--Erwin Mon, Singapore

Fair point. Though Laver's legions will take issue with the choice of Agassi. A lot of you wrote in about Sampras' place in history and whether he deserves to called "the best ever." We'll discuss at length next week.

Have a great week, everyone.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim covers tennis for the magazine and is a regular contributor to SI.com.