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Wednesday Notebook Rafter acknowledges beard needs a trim
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Pat Rafter, voted among the world's most attractive men in a host of magazine polls, acknowledges he needs to work on his scraggly beard. "I really do need to trim it up. It's shocking. It's very ugly," the 28-year-old Australian said after reaching the semifinals with a four-set win over Dominik Hrbaty on Tuesday night. Rafter, runner-up at Wimbledon last year and winner of back-to-back U.S. Open titles in 1997 and '98, suggested the beard brought him good luck and he was reluctant to lose it as long as he was winning. He said he would love to shave it off, but "I think it would be a stupid thing to do."
Tale of the tapeIt's a good thing for Amanda Coetzer that she wasn't meeting quarterfinals rival Venus Williams in a boxing match. Williams, the No. 3 seed, stands 185 centimeters (6-feet-1) tall and weighs 72 kilograms (159 pounds). Coetzer is 158 centimeters (5-feet-2) and 54 kilograms (119 pounds). No. 10-seeded Coetzer packed plenty of power but didn't have the reach to deliver a knockout against Williams. The South African opened with a flurry, winning the first four games en route to clinching the first set as Williams won just 12 points in eight games and hit 19 unforced errors. Williams rallied to win the second before a grueling third, where the pair trading breaks before Williams clinched a 2-6, 6-1, 8-6 win.
Ford reversingAuto manufacturer Ford is scaling down its sponsorship of the Australian Open. Ford, the major sponsor of the season-opening Grand Slam the last 16 years, has agreed to continue as vehicle supplier to the tournament for the next four years. Australian Open chief executive Paul McNamee said the Australian Open was in the market for a new major sponsor. "The Australian Open has asserted itself as a global marquee event," he said. "This is an exciting era for the tournament, and we are seeking a partner to capitalize on the unique opportunity."
Bad hair choiceVenus Williams likes to wear her hair to suit the occasion. Earlier in her career, she was famous for her beaded hair. Asked if playing under a closed roof at the Rod Laver Arena -- due to rain outside -- had any impact on her play, the No. 3 seed said it was only a cosmetic problem. "It affected my hairstyle," she said. "I thought the sun was going to be out, so I pulled my hair back, put my hat on. If I had known they were going to close the roof, I would have worn a ponytail."
Dokic walkoverYugoslav-born Jelena Dokic, who caused a stir by choosing to play under Yugoslavia's flag instead of that of her adopted Australia at Melbourne Park, pulled out of a mixed doubles match Wednesday because of a back injury. Dokic, the world's No. 26, suffered sudden back pain before she and Yugoslav compatriot Nenad Zimonjic were to play No. 3 seeds Ellis Ferreira of South Africa and American Corina Morariu in the quarterfinals. Dokic's injury was to be evaluated at the government-funded New South Wales Institute of Sport in Sydney, according to WTA officials. Earlier, she bowed out of the singles in a first-round loss to defending champion Lindsay Davenport and, partnering Jennifer Capriati in the women's doubles, lost to Martina Hingis and Monica Seles in the second round. Controversy periodically plagues Dokic, largely because of the outspoken comments and acts of her father, Damir. He said his daughter decided to obtain a Yugoslav passport because the Australian media and tennis establishment had mistreated her.
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