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Wimbledon Notebook Dokic comes to father's defense
Posted: Monday June 21, 1999 06:36 PM
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) -- Jelena Dokic of Australia plays Martina Hingis on Tuesday in her opening match at Wimbledon. That's one problem. For the WTA Tour, there's another problem: her father. Damir Dokic was ejected two weeks ago from a tournament in Birmingham, England, for shouting abuse at officials during his 16-year-old daughter's match. He ranted and raved outside the club, threw himself on the ground in front of traffic and jumped on the hood of a car. He was arrested and police said they released after he sobered up. The WTA Tour put Damir Dokic on notice, threatening to ban him indefinitely if he acts up again in his daughter's next tournament, which is Wimbledon. Jelena Dokic reached Wimbledon as a qualifier. She was the world's No. 1 ranked junior before turning professional in January. She beat Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario earlier in the season. Jelena has come to her father's defense. "I definitely think the English are a bit fussy," she said.
On the ballThe International Tennis Federation will experiment with a slightly larger ball at some minor tournaments next year in an attempt to slow the grass-court game. Britain's big-serving Greg Rusedski wants none of it. "They should leave the game alone," he said. "Somebody is always trying to come up with something to change the natural development of players and it shouldn't happen. "The fact is there are only three or four top grass-court tournaments every year and that is when the big servers come into their own," he added. "On clay and carpet there are plenty of rallies, but I think fans love to see the big servers in their best environment from time to time."
Anna. welcome backAnna Kournikova, the 18-year-old Russian with the model looks, was welcomed back to Wimbledon by cheers, whistles and hundreds of photographers prying courtside with extra long lenses. Kournikova missed last year's Wimbledon with an injured thumb. She won her first-round match Monday over Barbara Schwartz 7-6 (7-2), 4-6, 6-2.
Fewer yanksThirty-seven countries had players entered on the men's side and 38 for the women when play opened Monday. There are 12 American men in singles, the most of any country followed by Britain and Australia with 11 and Germany with 10. However, U.S. dominance in men's tennis is on the wane. Just 15 years ago, 55 American men competed in singles. The United States also leads on the women's side with 21 players in singles followed by France with 11 and Britain the Czech Republic with eight.
Speed postedTradition-steeped Wimbledon has decided to let fans at Centre Court and Court 1 see the speed of the serves. The radar gun has been used for years on both courts with the information available only to reporters. But now the fans can see it, too. "We always want people to enjoy their visit to the championships and the introduction of speed of service ... should help enhance that enjoyment," said Chris Gorringe, chief executive of the All England club. Scott Draper must have been unhappy with idea. Warming up with defending champion Pete Sampras, Draper drove a practice serve into the box displaying the speed, leaving a huge hole in the side. Sampras won the match 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Golmard outFrance's Jerome Golmard has pulled out of Wimbledon with a knee injury. Ranked No. 23, he was to face Spain's Francisco Clavet on Tuesday. Golmard was replaced by Germany's Michael Kohlman.
Not for beginnersWimbledon is no place for women seeking their first Grand Slam. Only three women have won their first Grand Slam at Wimbledon since the Open era began in 1968 -- Martina Navratilova ('78), Conchita Martinez ('94) and Jana Novotna last year.
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