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'It's killed my game' Embattled Korda comtemplates retirement
Posted: Monday May 24, 1999 02:41 PM
PARIS (Reuters) -- Hounded by allegations of drug use and drained by the legal battle to clear his name, a weary Petr Korda said on Monday that the French Open could be his last tournament. Korda said his decision to retire would effectively belong to the trio of judges who are expected to hear his case soon at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne. If the CAS upholds a one-year ban imposed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the 31-year-old Czech said he will end his career in Paris where he played his first grand slam tournannet 11 years ago. "If it's my last tournament, fine, it's going to be my last tournament," said Korda, the 1998 Australian Open champion. "But if the French Open is going to be my last tournament, it's not going to be from my decision. "I felt that this was going to be my last tournament before the trial and with whatever happened there it could be my last tournament. "But the French Open was my first grand slam and if this has to be my last one, I think I would be happy." There were none of his trademark scissor kicks, nor any cartwheels -- only a small smile of relief as the pencil-thin Czech claimed his first victory in almost three months with a 7-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 opening round win over Spain's Alberto Martin on an obscure back court tucked away on the outer fringes of Roland Garros. Since failing a drug test after a quarterfinal loss at Wimbledon last year, Korda has been preoccupied with winning in another court. "It's killed my game, it's killed my personality on the court but it didn't kill me as a person," said Korda, a French Open finalist in 1992. "Until the last 11 days, I haven't enjoyed tennis for one year. "Really, I'm very disappointed with the situation. "I thought there would be a decision soon but it doesn't look like that." The ITF and Korda have submitted their evidence to the CAS's three-judge panel, who will also hear from both parties before making a decision. In the original ruling, an ITF Independent Appeal Panel ruled that Korda had committed a doping offense and withdrew his Wimbledon prize money and ranking points. Korda avoided a suspension when the Independent Appeal Panel determined there were exceptional circumstances which suggested the player did not know he had taken, or been given, the banned substance nandrolone. Later the ITF imposed a one-year ban on the Czech, who immediately launched an appeal which was upheld. The Court of Appeal in London ruled in March that the ITF could appeal to the CAS to have the ban reinstated.
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