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Hewitt's behavior crosses the line Posted: Monday August 12, 2002 3:43 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim will answer your tennis questions every Monday. Click here to send a question. Our first Player of the Week Award goes to Chanda Rubin. One of the classier players the sport has known shot to the head of the U.S. Open darkhorse list. In L.A., she took out world No. 1 Serena Williams in a thrilling three-set quarterfinal. A day later, she waxed Jelena Dokic in the semis. Then, in the Dr. Steadman final (Colorado surgeon Dr. Richard Steadman operated on both Rubin's and Davenport's knees), Rubin outlasted Lindsay Davenport to win her fifth career title. "It has definitely been one of the best weeks, if not the best,'' Rubin said. "It gives me a great deal of confidence." ... Runner-up for the award is the resurgent Carlos Moya, who beat Lleyton Hewitt to win the Cincinnati Masters Series event (we'd write the official tournament name but space is limited ... OK, OK, it's the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters). Moya won nearly $400,000 for the title. Hewitt may well have to give half of his $206,000 back to the tour for a fine (see below). ... Moya is now 20-2 since bailing on Wimbledon. ... Hewitt lost for the first time in 11 finals. ... Mixed reviews on the Pete Sampras Watch: Our man beat Guillermo Cañas, the champ at the Toronto Masters Series event a week ago, in a thrilling three-setter in Cincinnati. In his next match, he lost a third-set breaker for the second straight week, this one to Wayne Arthurs. Playing back-to-back three-setters is obviously not in Sampras' best interest these days. But at least at the Open, he'll have a day in between to convalesce. John McEnroe, for one, isn't optimistic: "I don't know if Pete's chances are that great. He's always had a huge serve, but his confidence is low and his movement isn't quite the same." ... Think Andy Roddick gets it? Here are his first remarks after losing his quarterfinal match to Fernando Gonzalez last week: "First of all, it was a blast. It was so much fun, you know. It was a definite challenge playing against someone who is hitting the kind of shots that he was hitting. He just played lights-out. I tried to crap -- not crap, scrap and claw my way back. But, you know, he was too good tonight." ... It was announced last week that McEnroe will play Boris Becker in an exhibition prior to the U.S. Open women's final. One has to believe that the WTA Tour isn't thrilled about this. We're imagining Venus and Serena pacing the locker room before the final waiting for this ridiculous hit-and-giggle to end. Honestly, if McEnroe and Becker were aging boxers and not aging tennis players, they'd be duking it out with Butterbean and Larry Holmes on a floating casino somewhere outside the Quad Cities. Why is the USTA giving them this prime(time) stage? ... A rare social invitation to pass along to our New York area readers: Holding Court, a new public-access television show devoted to women's professional tennis and the temperamental cast of divas who make it fabulous, will debut on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network on Monday, Aug. 26, at 9 p.m. -- the same day the U.S. Open kicks off. Holding Court will air two more times during the Open: Monday, Sept. 2, at 10 a.m., and Thursday, Sept. 5, at 10 p.m., all on Time Warner Cable Channel 34. A party for the show will be held Monday, Aug. 26, at 8 p.m. at Remote Lounge on Bowery. Dress: Tennis attire! Pack it up, pack it in, let me begin ... Li'l LleytonA good chunk of this week's mail pertained to Hewitt. No, not to his reaching the Cincy final, which included a solid win over Andre Agassi. Instead, most of you weighed in on the latest L'Affaire Lleyton. The words überjerk, punk and should be pummeled cropped up repeatedly. Sara Darride of Middletown, N.Y., asked: "After his latest antics, do you think Lleyton Hewitt has replaced Marcelo Rios as the biggest jerk in the sport? Heaven forbid the ATP Tour wants the No. 1 player in the world to promote a struggling game. More than ever, I hope the little brat's reign at the top ends soon." Martin Fletcher of Jackson, Miss., chimes in with: "A lot of people want to blame Lleyton Hewitt's handlers for the way he's perceived in the media and public. I am beginning to think that's garbage. I think his people might have known all along what a jerk he is and tried to keep his public exposure to a minimum. Let's start calling athletes who behave badly what they are, instead of always finding excuses for them." My riff: First, for those who missed it, last week in Cincinnati Hewitt's petulance and his inaccessibility came together to create yet another firestorm. The weekend before the tournament, Hewitt refused to cede a few minutes of his time to ESPN for an interview to supplement the tournament broadcasts. Never mind that the interviews are mandatory for players (and a precondition for ESPN agreeing to the coverage) and that every other star on tour, including Sampras and Agassi, made time. Never mind that tying one's shoes requires about as much time -- and more brain power -- than these frothy Q&As. Never mind that Hewitt had already declined, inexplicably, to submit to the ESPN interview the week before in Toronto. Never mind that the network devotes more than 300 hours a year to televising tennis -- exposure that plays no small role in the millions of dollars Hewitt has made. Never mind that Hewitt, who, before Tuesday, hadn't won a match since the Wimbledon final, had time to spare. Hewitt, you see, likes giving interviews roughly as much as he does losing matches. And he has a special vendetta against ESPN. So he stomped his feet and put his hands over his ears and screamed "No." By the time he finally consented, less than half an hour before he was to take the court, it was too late for the network. The tour told him he was subject to a fine of $20,000 or half his tournament winnings, whichever is greater. Hewitt, in response, pondered pulling out of the tournament. "I wasn't going to walk on the court," he said. "Simple as that." He went out and double-bageled poor Robby Ginepri. Then. in the press conference that followed, he offered a rambling tirade, firing away at Mark Miles, the men's tour, the ATP staffers, earth, the other eight planets, anything he could think of. Among the memorable lines in his diatribe: "I can really understand why people see the WTA as going stronger than the ATP at the moment." (Great. Men's tennis has enough detractors these days, in no small part because of the perceived solipsism of the stars. Now the top player is joining in.) The first problem is that Hewitt is under the mistaken impression that his duties end when he leaves the court. Hey, others can be the tour's public face. Sorry, mate, it doesn't work that way. A professional athlete who wants only to compete and forego the marketing, the media, the mingling with the public is like a brain surgeon who does the cerebrum but not the cerebellum. It's all part of the job description -- particularly when your sport is hard-up for a transcendent, personable star. Hewitt isn't, however, solely to blame. He is, after all "only" 21 and, like any top athlete, has been pampered for years. Ordinarily it is the place of handlers and agents to disabuse athletes of the notion that they are bigger than the sport, to pave the path for reason to prevail. But the Hewitt "brain trust" is part of the problem, not the solution. Since his ascent, they have allowed him to be so inaccessible that he may as well be in Tora Bora. And time and again, they have proven to be more interested in conciliating Hewitt and trying, albeit clumsily, to justify his bush-league behavior than in doing the right thing, much less what's best for the sport. (Naturally, no apology was forthcoming last week; instead Team Hewitt has vowed to appeal the fine, blah, blah, blah). One of you asked whether there was any silver lining to this latest black eye. Well, for one, let's make clear that Hewitt is the exception and not the rule. Other young stars like Marat Safin, Tommy Haas, Juan Carlos Ferrero, James Blake and Roddick get the drill. What's more, Hewitt is still young. A decade ago, another ultratalented player comported himself like a jackass and tried to operate under his own set of rules. Andre Agassi eventually grew up and discovered the high road. Today, he is the Buddha of men's tennis, a wise, well-spoken player who emanates class and calm. A few more public-relations fiascoes and perhaps Hewitt will finally give his image some much-needed reupholstering. Better Lleyton never, so to speak. Also, as I mentioned last week, Hewitt does, at times, show a human and humane side. One of you suggested that he creates controversy (see: 2001 U.S. Open match against Blake) as a way of motivating himself, and that deep down he thrives on being the villain. It's not an unreasonable theory. But you have to believe that there comes a point when you want people to think well of you and not begrudge you your success. And just so you don't think all is hopeless and we're dealing with the devil incarnate ... I noted with interest your response to a reader's question on Andy Roddick, in which you mentioned Lleyton Hewitt and a softer side you believe he has. I agree, and I have seen it firsthand. Australia was playing a Davis Cup tie here in Perth and I went with some friends to watch Australia practice. I took great delight in seeing Pat Rafter play Hewitt in what was one of the most fiercely competitive games I've ever seen, tournament or practice. Disputing line calls, sledging, both brought their best games. Hewitt beat Rafter 7-5, I believe. Anyway, there were probably about 50 people watching, and after practice both stars stayed around, signed autographs and took time to chat with the fans. I expected this from Pat "Mr. Nice Guy" Rafter, but I thought Hewitt would sign a few autographs and head off to the showers. He didn't. I have his autograph, and he talked to me and my two friends for a couple of minutes. He's a really nice guy; I think he's easily misunderstood. Hewitt stayed for as long as Pat did and seemed to enjoy it. After that, he paid a visit to the local children's hospital. Lleyton Hewitt guards his private life fiercely and therefore comes across very aggressive. And, yeah, he could handle the media better. Still, don't forget how young he is, and, although that is not an excuse, it contributes. I think the frank honesty he brings to the tennis world is long overdue. Just thought you should know.
On to the questions ... Please take a look at the record of Alejandro "Alex" Olmedo. I think he must be named among the best South American players.
Good catch. Several other readers echoed your sentiments. Also, Nelson Cantero of Asunción, Paraguay, whacked me for omitting Victor Pecci. Just to clarify, last week's list was in no particular order. A few of you wondered how I could have "ranked" Gustavo Kuerten ahead of Guillermo Vilas. Now that Martina Hingis is back from surgery, she has requested a wild card for the U.S. Open. What do you think her chances are of winning there given the Williams juggernaut?
It's great to see Hingis back in the fray. She was truly missed. I'm eager to see her movement next week. Her chances of derailing the Williams juggernaut, however, are tiny. At least in the immediate future. A big deal has been made about whether or not Pete Sampras should retire. But there is an even sadder story out there on the professional circuit ... Aranxta Sánchez-Vicario. I realize she has nowhere near the legacy of Sampras, but give me a break. A former world No. 1 and a multiple-Slam winner, she has continued to lose time and time again in the early rounds of really weak clay-court tournaments. It seems to me that she's making her career a joke. Two questions: 1) Which is more of a factor, the increase of depth in the women's game or ASV's loss of footspeed, fire and passion? 2) If she were in her prime, where would you rank her in today's world?
Ouch. Many of you have taken notice of the Ranch's results -- or lack thereof -- and seen the agate type when she loses in the early rounds of Tier III's to lesser-lights. You and I may wonder why she doesn't pack it in but, hey, as long as she can still get into draws, more power to her. In her prime, where does she rank in today's game? Her defenders will point out that as recently as 2000, she beat Venus Williams at the French en route to the semis. But honestly, even at her best, I have a hard time seeing her in the top five. The Williams sisters, Kim Clijsters, Davenport and Monica Seles would simply overpower her. ASV would have done fine on clay, but no way does she get to the Wimbledon final (which she did in 1995 and '96) or win the U.S. Open (as she did in 1994). Why isn't there an all-star weekend (or day) for tennis? We keep seeing the occasional halfcourt exhibitions for charities, but why not something organized (proceeds could still go to charity)? If anything, it would be a promotion for both tours and for tennis in general.
Agree, agree, a thousand times agree. We've said it before and we'll say it again: When the tours get their acts together and hold a simultaneous year-end championship -- I know, I know: It will happen around the same time Hewitt grows up and icicles hang in Hades -- there ought to be an all-star weekend that celebrates and promotes our sport. Serving contests, mixed-doubles round robin between stars, 50-yard dashes, chili cookoffs. I'm talking the whole shebang, Tanya. Anna endorsements Finally, last week's contest asking what five products Anna Kournikova should endorse elicited a frightening number of responses. As always, a good many were damn funny. (A good many also violated the good-taste provision.) If your responses were chosen, pass along your vital info and I'll hook you up. Have a good week! 5. Gillette: Because she's the best a man can get.
5. "Many Excuses" Jeans: Monica Seles did a few ads for No Excuses Jeans, but I think a simple rebranding of the product will suit Anna's needs and her career just fine.
Professional tennis player Barbie.
1. Maybelline: Maybe she's born with it ... nope, she'll have to buy a tournament win.
A product that Anna Kournikova should endorse: BanANNA Republic.
5. Coppertone: To prevent overexposure.
I don't believe that Anna Kournikova should endorse a product per se, but rather that she should become the new mascot for the Boston Red Sox. They do have an awful lot in common: They occasionally make it perilously close to winning it all, will normally flame out in spectacular style rather than early on, and always wind up leaving their predominantly male fan base heartbroken.
Anna K. should endorse hockey sticks. That's the only sport she's had any kind of lasting effect on.
Although this means I officially have too much time on my hands, I had to chime in with the Top 5 Products Anna K. Should Endorse:
Send all Turtle Wax to my office so people will know of my superb tennis acumen.
5. Anything made of spandex.
1. Any publishing company that will put out a weekly magazine describing how to be the queen of the week even though you lost in the first round of yet another tournament.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim covers tennis for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. Click here to send him a question or comment.
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