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Saturday's Notebook Kournikova told to watch the men, Rafter on sidelines
Posted: Saturday January 22, 2000 09:38 PM
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Whenever Anna Kournikova sits in the stands to watch a men's match, it sets off a flurry of speculation about her love life. On Saturday, she watched fourth-seeded Nicolas Keifer move into the fourth round with a victory over Morocco's Karim Alami. The wily German said later: "We are sweethearts." Then he added: "It's not true. My real girlfriend will be upset if you write that. Anna's just a friend and we might play mixed doubles together one day." Kournikova has twice watched Australia's Mark Philippoussis on center court, but both say they are just friends. She often watched Ecuador's Nicolas Lapentti on his way to the semifinal of last year's Australian Open. The Russian said her coach had advised her to watch the men's game and pick up some ideas.
Sideline viewInjured Patrick Rafter, who was No. 1 in the world for a week last year, says sitting out the Australian Open is easier than he expected."The first week of a Grand Slam is always sensational and I have loved sitting back as a spectator," the Australian wrote in a column in the Sunday Herald Sun of Melbourne. "To be honest, I did not expect to enjoy being on the sidelines with the Open going on, but I have been surprised by how much I have been able to get into it without missing it," he said. Rafter won the U.S. Open in 1997 and 1998 but has never made it past the fourth round in the Australian Open singles. He won the doubles title in Melbourne last year with Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden. Rafter has been sidelined since withdrawing from last year's U.S. Open and is still recuperating from surgery to his right shoulder.
Double DutyAustralian Lleyton Hewitt not only has 13 consecutive singles victories, but is also in demand on the doubles circuit.The 18-year-old is paired with compatriot Sandon Stolle in the men's doubles and they've suggested they're aspiring to become Australia's Davis Cup combination. Hewitt was also scheduled Sunday to play mixed doubles with his sister, Jaslyn Hewitt. Earlier in the tournament, Hewitt said his sister would never forgive him if he didn't fulfill his family commitments in the mixed doubles but after a tough third-round victory Saturday, the teen-ager said he may have to reconsider. In the women's draw, no other player spent as much time on court as Jana Kandarr in the last 10 days. The German, who has been taken to three sets in each of the first three rounds and has saved nine match points, has played 181 games including qualifying.
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