Notebook

Margaret Court says she'd fit into the Williams era

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Australian Margaret Court won 24 Grand Slam singles titles in a career stretching from 1959 to 1975, including all four majors in 1970.

So how would she have gone against the Williams sisters?

"I think it's totally different (now)," Court said. "We played 10 months traveling, then two months home. Today they can play three weeks on, three weeks off."

Sports science has also evolved.

"The rackets make a big difference," Court said. "They have their psychologists and their masseurs and their family around them. I think if we were born into the same era we'd probably fit in just fine."

The Australian great had a court named after her at this year's Australian Open and Thursday was honored with her image on a new 50c stamp.

"It was a great honor to have that (court) named after me," Court said. "I went in one day to watch a match between two young girls but it wasn't very interesting. I just thought I'd be able to sit in it. I've stood outside it often enough."

COURIER REMEMBERS: Former world No. 1 Jim Courier played in one of the most memorable Australian Open matches. It was against Pete Sampras in 1995, just after Sampras' coach Tim Gullikson was diagnosed with cancer.

Sampras wept openly during the match as he came from two sets down to beat Courier. Gullikson, who left midway through the tournament, died the next year.

Courier was asked to nominate special matches in the wake of Andy Roddick's quarterfinal win over Younes El Aynaoui, which went to a record 21-19 in the fifth set.

"It would be in the top three or four matches I played and it would be the only match I lost," Courier said of the Sampras match.

"Both of us, in effect, were playing for Gully out there. The match was a tribute to Pete's coach."

Of the Roddick-El Aynaoui match, Courier said, "It was a privilege and pleasure to watch it. These are the kind of matches that keep me in love with tennis."

GORAN JR.: Now there might be four Gorans. Goran Ivanisevic, who owned up to having three distinct personalities when he won the 2001 Wimbledon title, is expecting a Goran Jr.

A Croatian newspaper reports Goran and his model girlfriend Tatjana Dragovic are expecting a child in June.

"Little Ivanisevic is the most clever thing I have done in my life," Goran was quoted as saying.

Ivanisevic returned to practice this week after shoulder surgery and is looking to play for Croatia at the Davis Cup next month.

NO RESPECT: One player who won't be playing Davis Cup is South African Wayne Ferreira. The Australian Open semifinalist, thumped in straight sets by Andre Agassi, is in dispute with his national federation.

"A lot of things have to change before I'm going to play Davis Cup for South Africa again," said Ferreira, who lives in Berkeley, California.

"I can't explain more to you right now (it's) just the people that are involved, how they run things, what they do.

"It's a shambles right now. You know, they don't deserve me to play for them right now."

Ferreira said he has not received credit from his national body for past service.

"I feel disappointed not to be able to play for my country but I felt like I put in a lot of time and effort over the past seven or eight years," he said.

"We were in the world group, we had chances, we got to the quarterfinals twice. I just don't feel I get any respect."

South Africa plays Poland in a Euro/African Zone match April 4-6.

GIRL TALK: -- Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters had something in common after their semifinal at the Australian Open -- their cell phones weren't working in the locker room.

So they talked to each other.

Williams had just completed a dramatic victory, rallying from a 5-1 deficit in the final set. The top-ranked Williams saved two match points and took the final six games to win 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Williams described Clijsters as a "great person" and thinks she'll "make a great champion because she is always positive. Even if inside she's dying."

"We were actually chatting in the locker room," Williams said. "You can appreciate that because after I lose -- when I was younger -- I would be angry," Williams said.

"Now it's just a game and I just wish the other person good luck in the future," she added.

Clijsters said she and Serena were "always really nice to each other" off the court.

"I have a lot of respect for every player. I can't even remember what she said (afterward). You know, I congratulated her. I said that she deserved to win."

LOVE DOUBLE: Are Lleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters next?

Steffi Graf is contemplating a return by teaming with husband Andre Agassi in mixed doubles at the French Open, raising questions if Hewitt and his girlfriend will play together again.

For now, both are concentrating on their singles games. Hewitt is ranked No. 1 and Clijsters is No. 4.

"Who knows?" Clijsters said. "Once, when our careers are maybe slowing down a little bit, we might just put some mixed doubles in it as well.

"I really enjoy playing mixed doubles. It's a lot of fun, very relaxing and, yeah, I have a good partner."

The two teamed for mixed doubles at Wimbledon in 2000, losing the final to Donald Johnson and Kimberly Po.

TEST TIME: By the end of the Australian Open on Sunday, the International Tennis Federation will have collected samples for 120 drug tests.

All players selected for the tests will give urine samples. The International Tennis Federation wouldn't say how many will give blood samples.

This is the first time blood testing is taking place at an international tennis tournament for the endurance-enhancing substance erythropoietin (EPO).

CUP RUNNETH OVER: Billie Jean King can expect an e-mail in the next few days with news she wants to hear: Serena and Venus Williams plan to play in the Fed Cup.

Serena, the tour's top-ranked player, said Friday she had not yet spoken with King, the captain of the U.S. team.

"I do plan on playing," she said. "I'll try to e-mail her or try to get in contact with her. But, yeah, I planned it."

Venus, Serena's older sister, also wants to take part.

"I really would like to. If everything goes well -- healthy, happy -- I want to be there," Venus said.

The United States plays the Czech Republic in the first round April 26-27 at Lowell, Mass.

 

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