 |
| |
|
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Friendly foes Young Americans don't go their separate ways off the courtPosted: Tuesday April 22, 2003 12:19 PM
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim will answer your tennis questions every Monday. Click here to send a question. This week's annual Player of the Week award goes to Juan Carlos Ferrero, who defended his title at Monte Carlo's Masters Series event, beating Guillermo Coria in the final. If you're in the market for a French Open pick, look no further than Ferrero. ... Max Mirnyi and Mahesh Bhupathi beat Michael Llodra and Fabrice Santoro to win the doubles crown. ... The runner-up is Elena Dementieva, who won her first career title (yes, you read that correctly) by beating Lindsay Davenport to win Amelia Island. With any luck this is could be a real turning point for Dementieva, a talented, intelligent player who has struggled with her game and her confidence for much of the past two years. ... In addition to making exceptionally gracious postmatch remarks, Davenport did herself proud in the doubles final, teaming with Lisa Raymond to beat Paola Suarez and Virginia Ruano Pascual. Say this, too, about Davenport: For a player who doesn't hide her dislike of clay, she has to be reasonably happy about her results these past two weeks. ... In Budapest, Magui Serna of Spain won her second title in as many weeks, defeating Australian Alicia Molik in three sets in the final. Molik, however, can't be too disappointed; she has already reached three finals this year. ... Congrats to our friends at the Tennis Channel for their much-awaited launch. ... Martina Navratilova was honored by the WTA Tour last week for having completed a lifetime "Super Slam." Navratilova became the first player, man or woman, in the modern era to win the singles, doubles and mixed titles at all four Grand Slams during her career. ... Just asking: Does Daniela Hantuchova have a WTA Tour mentor? And if not, can someone get her one, quick? ... Serena Williams withdrew from next month's MasterCard German Open in Berlin. She is bypassing the tournament, which begins May 5, in order to rest and continue her preparation for the rest of the European portion of her season. Her next scheduled event is the Telecom Italia Masters, beginning May 12, in Rome. The strange development is that it looks as if Venus will play Berlin in Serena's stead. ... In honor of the 50th anniversary of Maureen "Little Mo" Connolly winning the 1953 Grand Slam, a documentary film, Unforgettable: The Little Mo Connolly Story, will premiere at the 33rd annual USA Film Festival on Friday, April 25, at the Angelika Film Center in New York (a few blocks from my apartment). ... The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Tim Heckler of Houston and E. Paul Roetert of Key Biscayne, Fla., as the recipients of the 2002 Tennis Educational Merit Awards, presented annually to U.S. citizens or residents who have made notable contributions in the tennis-education field at the national level. The awards were presented to Heckler and Roetert last week at a special luncheon held during the USTA annual meeting in La Quinta, Calif. ... From the ATP newsletter: "It may have some way to go before rivaling the Tennis Masters Monte Carlo in terms of tradition and prestige, but the annual Players' Cabaret in Monaco is certainly becoming an event not to be missed. This year was no exception as the players let their hair down and enjoyed an evening full of laughs and entertainment at their own expense. Held at the Sea Club at the Meridien Beach Plaza, Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan hosted the show, where the stars took part in various sketches and comedy acts throughout the night. Max Mirnyi opened proceedings by playing Russian lounge music on his guitar before teaming up with doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi, Don Johnson and Josh Eagle for a special rendition of the Village People's YMCA. Jonas Bjorkman joined Bob and Mike Bryan with their version of Kylie Minogue's megahit Can't Get You Out of My Head, while Bob, playing keyboards, and Mike, on drums, also delighted the crowd with Santana's Oye Como Va. Juan Carlos Ferrero won a player-coach eating contest, defeating opposition from the teams of Carlos Moya and Michael Llodra, while Pavel Vizner wowed the crowd with his tribute to the Oscar-winning musical Chicago. Jose Acasuso, Fernando Gonzalez, David Nalbandian and Horacio de la Peña created a laugh of their own with their adaptation of The Full Monty."... Regarding last week's question about contacting your favorite players, you can send fan mail directly to James Blake at jbinfo1@mindspring.com. If you're lucky, he might respond personally. Onward ... What's your take on the apparent trend of increasing camaraderie between young American men's tennis players? For example, in their early years, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors seemed to be on less friendly terms than Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, who seemed to have been less supportive of each other than the James Blake-Andy Roddick-Mardy Fish-Robby Ginepri-et al. crew.
If their play wasn't enough of a source of optimism, the camaraderie that exists in the Roddick-Blake-Ginepri-Fish-Taylor Dent axis is another reason to get excited about these guys. There's a real sense of fraternity, and while some of the roots are deep -- Fish, for instance, lived chez Roddick during high school -- I think you have to credit Pat McEnroe with cultivating these relationships during Davis Cup weeks. My take on this trend? It's great. Collectively, these are bright, outgoing guys who don't take themselves too seriously and who recognize that one needn't carry a blood feud with every opponent on tour. Particularly in this fiercely individual sport, it helps to have pals and it helps to have a support network. The only drawback: When these guys face each other (see: Blake vs. Ginepri in Key Biscayne), the matches can be flat and awkward, because it's hard to channel your inner Jimbo when you genuinely like the guy on other side of the net. After winning the Family Circle Cup, Justine Henin-Hardenne indicated that she intended to play a full schedule of five tournaments leading up to Roland Garros. Is Henin-Hardenne in danger of suffering another burnout and an early crash at the French like last year? Why don't other top players take cues from the Williams sisters and play tournaments for quality rather than for quantity?
Five tournaments in the six or seven weeks prior to Roland Garros does sound excessive, especially if you have designs on lasting two weeks in Paris. But different players need to do different prep work. While the Williams sisters are reluctant to overtax themselves in the weeks before a major, others stars play themselves into shape, as it were. In JHH's case, she also happens to be defending significant points between now and the French. (The cynic might also point out that with Davenport and the Williamses playing a reduced schedule, with Monica Seles injured and with Hantuchova in need of some serious regrouping, the WTA needs Henin-Hardenne to enter some of these events if the tour plans on meeting its commitment obligations to the tournaments.) Is it just me, or does the coach/player pairing of Jeff Tarango and Younes El Aynaoui seem odd? I guess it's no stranger than the romantic pairing of Lleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters. Both partnerships seem to work better for the kinder, gentler of the two.
The Tarango-El Aynaoui pairing is stranger at first blush than it is in practice. Despite his checkered past and reputation as a something of a flake, Tarango is a bright guy who knows his tennis. A player of El Aynaoui's vintage doesn't need a [Robert] Lansdorpian guru to help him hit forehands; he doesn't need a glorified babysitter to carry his bags and to help him get his get rackets strung at the right tension; and he doesn't need a Bob Brett type to motivate him. If Tarango can act as an extra set of eyes -- perhaps noticing a few things El Aynaoui might do differently or picking up on an opponent's tendencies -- and can double as a buddy and conversationalist who can reduce the insularity of the tour, he'll have more than earned his keep. Now that the clay-court season has arrived, do you think Alex Corretja, the overlooked Spaniard this year, can find his form and make it to the latter rounds of Masters Series events more often (with the benefit of some diluted draws, such as this week in Monte Carlo)? Also, since Sjeng Schalken had such a stellar season on grass last year, what are his chances of making an impact on clay? I wouldn't be surprised if you're not too optimistic about his chances.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, E., but ... Corretja is an awfully nice guy whose best years are behind him. Even on clay. Schalken reached the second week at both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year, but don't expect to hear much from him when the surface underfoot changes. We're talking about a guy who's never been past the third round at Roland Garros. Did I read correctly? Anna Kournikova is scheduled to play a Challenger event this month? What's the scoop? Whose decision was this, and do you really think she will play?
This point is somewhat academic since Kournikova already pulled out with a thigh injury, but we had a lot of questions about her decision to enter an Alabama Challenger (as opposed to an Alabama Slammer, I suppose). On the one hand, that Kournikova is entering Challengers is testament to just how far her game has fallen and how low her confidence must be. (One might also deduce that it's an indication that the "never won a tournament" albatross affects her more than she lets on.) On the other hand, let's give her some credit for humility. Kournikova rightly pointed out a few weeks ago that she needs more match play. Right now she is better served playing early and often in the bush leagues than she is receiving wild cards and being bounced early at Tier Is and IIs. If this is what Kournikova thinks will repair the spandex-clad ship, good for her for taking the initiative. A lot of negative stuff is written about Jennifer Capriati and her manners, etc. (most of which I agree with). However, anyone else think that Serena Williams is the most ungracious loser of the lot? Every time she loses, which admittedly is not often, she always comes up with an excuse rather than praise for her opponent. The latest: "My whole game was like 9,000 notches down." Another time I heard her quoted as saying, "She played some of her best tennis and I played OK." Venus, on the other hand, I find very complimentary about opponents who have beaten her. For me, Venus may not be the better of the tennis sisters at the moment, but she's certainly more graceful and humble and I find that ultimately more admirable.
Stephen, you pretty much answered your own question. It's hard to be considered an ungracious loser when you lose so infrequently. But you're point is well taken. When your opponent scores one of the biggest wins of her career and beats you in a tight three-setter, it's generally bad form to stress that you stunk worse than a frat-house basement. Serena is also notorious on tour for blaming defeats on assorted injuries and ailments. (Who can forget the infamous "There should be a picture of me [in the dictionary] next to the word hypochondriac" remark at Wimbledon a few years ago?) It's probably unfortunate that we reflexively compare Serena to Venus and vice versa. But for the record, you're right. Venus usually shows a great deal of poise and grace in defeat. The flaw with your choice of Argentina as Davis Cup champion does not lie in its ability to knock out Spain, it lies in the final round. If Argentina plays Australia in the final, the tie will take place in Australia (because last time they played, in 2002, they played on clay in Argentina). This means that the likely surface will be grass. You don't actually think Argentina is going to beat Mark Philippoussis and Lleyton Hewitt on grass, do you? I would explore the possibility of Argentina vs. Switzerland, but Australia is the favorite and I shall leave it at that. If Spain wins its semifinal, then it will play an away tie against either Australia or Switzerland. The moral of the story, Jon, is that the winner of Australia/Switzerland should the Cup. But Argentina is the team of the future!
You got me. (And, no, Argentina ain't beating Australia on grass.) But wait till next year when the Gauchos have more favorable home-court status. Surgeon General's warningHERE COME A BUNCH OF HALL OF FAME QUESTIONS. IF THIS TOPIC BORES YOU, SKIP AHEAD. WE WON'T BE OFFENDED. It's no wonder the International Tennis Hall of Fame means little to the players, with some of the people you have on your borderline list. Those types of players who have just a couple of good years wouldn't come close to making it into any other sport's Hall of Fame. Low standards won't create prestige.
Low standards? A few of you complained about my recommendation that Capriati ought to be enshrined. Let's see: She's won three Slams, an Olympic gold medal, achieved the top ranking, entered the top 10 as a 14-year-old and is still there in her late 20s. Is that any worse than, say, Lynn Swann getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Or Don Sutton making it to Cooperstown? My general take on this is to err on the side of being charitable. I'm not saying that every Bucharest Open champion should get an automatic pass to Newport. But how much is the prestige really diminished by giving serious consideration to anyone who has won a Grand Slam singles title? If, say, Yannick Noah had his bust on the wall, is anyone really the worse for it? That said ... Perhaps Leander Paes deserves a mention as possibly having an outside chance, what with his achievements in doubles and also considering his Davis Cup and Olympics heroics. Leander really is a different player when he's playing under the Indian flag.
Not a crazy suggestion, but I think you need to be a more accomplished singles players than Paes was (is?). I know Todd Woodbridge made my list but: A) he reached the Wimbledon semis in singles and was a credible top-30 player earlier in his career, and B) he not merely excelled at doubles, as Paes did, but for many years Woodbridge dominated. I was wondering where Thomas Muster would fit in? He was an amazing player in middle '90s and finally reached No. 1. Do you think that the king of clay has a shot at the Hall of Fame?
Now I think our standards might be too low. Yes, the Moo Man won a French Open dropping only three sets, achieved the No. 1 spot and authored an inspiring comeback story. But ultimately, he doesn't pass muster, so to speak (sorry). His results dropped dramatically on surfaces other than clay. We're talking about a guy who never won a single match at Wimbledon. Just to repeat: HE NEVER WON A MATCH AT WIMBLEDON. (Just curious: Is that a singular feat among Grand Slam champions?) Also, inasmuch as there exists a Lee Bollinger "plus factor," Muster won't receive much special dispensation in the charisma/helped-promote-the-sport department. Why not add Conchita Martinez to your list? Although she only has the one Slam title, she has more regular tour titles than Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce combined. She also has won on all surfaces and has been a part of numerous winning Fed Cup teams.
Yikes. OK, now I think we've lowered our standards too far. You love the Cheetah. I love the Cheetah. We all love the Cheetah. But c'mon, Fred, we're talking Hall of Fame here. Story timeJohn Lubin of Lexington, Mass., was kind enough to send in this generally irrelevant, but nonetheless entertaining, anecdote:
Long Lost SiblingsYounes El Aynaoui* and Sacramento Kings' guard Doug Christie.
*We can only hope that Mrs. El Aynaoui isn't quite as involved in her husband's career as Jackie Christie is in Doug's.
Francisco Clavet and actor Guy Pearce.
Have a great week, everyone.
Sports Illustrated senior writer Jon Wertheim covers tennis for the magazine and is a regular contributor to SI.com. Click here to send him a question or comment.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
