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Peering into my crystal tennis ball
Sports Illustrated staff writer Jon Wertheim will answer your tennis questions weekly. Click here to send a question. After reading a column by my esteemed colleague Steve Rushin in Sports Illustrated, one of you asked me to try and play tennis Carnac the Magnificent, and (a la Johnny Carson) try to divine the answers to tennis-related questions. After contemplating my navel since the U.S. Open, here's what I'm able to see:
A: Ban
Roll-On
A: Mark
Miles
A:
Winsome
A: The Starting
Quarterback
A: Fuel
tanks
A: Peat
Moss
A: Norman
Conquest:
On to your questions...
Can you please explain why Lindsay Davenport would play in the Olympics if
she was having foot problems? The Games only come around once every four years,
and I think she should have given up her spot to another player (namely, Serena
Williams) who would have had a better chance at winning gold instead of
selfishly taking the spot only to win one match and then
default. A few of you asked about this. It's a valid question, but I say we give LD the benefit of the doubt. First, she did play in the U.S. Open final just a week prior to the Olympics, so it's not as though she's been immobile since she first hurt her foot in Montreal. Second, as the defending gold medalist, if anyone had the right to try and "gut out" an injury it was she. Finally, shouldn't we reserve our righteous indignation for the players who refused to represent their countries, not for one who made the trip despite sub-optimal health?
What are the odds that Andre Agassi will ever win another grand slam? Or, for
that matter, continue to play after this
year? Assuming, knock wood, that the health of AA's mother and sister are non-factors...Endorsement deals being what they are, I say he comes back and continues playing next year, particularly since he's the defending champ Down Under. But another Slamless campaign in 2001 and I can't imagine him playing in 2002. I know it's easy to go broke underestimating Agassi, but I say your hometown Bills win a Super Bowl before he wins another Slam.
Do you think Marat Safin has the temperament to be a consistent force at the
top? He definitely has the talent, but can he sustain it like a Pete Sampras or
will he be in and out of form throughout his career like Andre Agassi? I think
if he can sustain it, he has a chance to break Sampras' 13-slam record because
he can win on all surfaces (grass is just a matter of time with that serve and
return of his). Also, do you think U.S. tennis fans will ever embrace
Safin-Lleyton Hewitt as a Sampras-Agassi type rivalry if it develops? Certainly
they have opposing styles and are the two most talented young players in the
world. First, with regard to Safin, I don't see any player doing what Sampras has done by basically ruling the game for the better part of a decade. Consider the amount of focus and the immunity from distraction it takes to sustain excellence for just two weeks and Sampras' achievements are simply amazing. Overall, though, I'm high on Safin. His tennis is non pareil -- provided he steers clear of that nattering Fabrice Santoro -- and he's precisely the type of funny, good-looking, multicultural figure men's tennis desperately needs. Without question, Safin has the ability to blow a gasket, but now that he's tasted success and truly believes in himself, I'd be surprised if he let himself slide the way Agassi did. I'm with you too on your observation re: grass. If Safin continues to serves and whip lasers from the baseline the way he did in Flushing, there's no reason he can't win at WB 19. Tough call on Safin-Hewitt. As NBC's Olympic coverage attests, American sports fans are generally xenophobic idiots. If you don't have an American accent and expect to be well received in the States you'd better either:
a) look like Anna
Kournikova I agree that Safin and Hewitt offer a wonderful contrast in styles and personalities and they're both likeable enough that the support will be split. The question: When one is based in Monte Carlo and the other is in Australia -- and you can't get them together for that Hollywood Squares appearance, the GQ shoot or that Leno taping -- will they capture the imagination of the American sporting public? I, for one, hope so.
I've read past mailbags and noticed that you have done a top 5 forehands list in the men's game. Could you do a list of the best women's forehands? Also, what do you think Lindsey Davenport should do the rest of the year? Should she just pack it in for 2000, and try to come back strong in 2001? Best forehand in the women's game:
1) Steffi Graf (emeritus) Yes, Davenport would forfeit $400,000 in commitment money if she were to pack it in for the rest of the year, but it sounds as if she could sure use the rest. This, let's remember, is a player who blazed out of the starting gates in 2000 but hasn't won an event since Indian Wells. She's never been too motivated by money anyway, so why not rest up and come back strong to defend her title in Melbourne?
I know I've asked this question before, but as a faithful 'bag reader, I get frustrated by the pounding Pete Sampras seems to take in your column. (Weak backhand!?!) Can you do a little research and compare Pete's record in Slam semis to his record in finals as further evidence of his greatness? Readers, appreciate what you see before you. You are in the presence of an all-time great (Sampras, not you Jon). I have no time for research, especially after you have the audacity to deem me something other than an all-time great. Seriously, how about these apples: even after the debacle against Safin at the U.S. Open, Sampras' record in Grand Slam finals is 13-3. Heading into this year, he had won 61 titles and been a runner-up only 17 times. You're right though, Sampras does seem to take a pounding.
Please list the five best unconventional (as in should not be taught to beginners) tennis shots/strokes in history. Hello Duong. You win the most random question of the week award. I'd say:
1) The Venus Williams full-swinging volley from behind the service line can lead to disaster (this concludes the personal testimonial section of today's show)
A friend of mine saw a column of yours asking about my whereabouts and suggested I check it out. After my second back injury in 1996, I was never able to fully recover. As a result, the 1997 U.S Open was my last tournament. I got married May 13, 2000. I am a senior at Rice University in Houston and I've accepted an analyst position with Goldman Sachs for after I graduate. Congrats, on the job, the wife and the success after tennis. Thanks for writing in. (For those of you who don't know, American Tommy Ho was an absolute stud in the juniors and is among the youngest players ever to have won an ATP Tour match.) Glad to hear you're doing well. And if they work you too hard at Goldman, just leverage yourself with a dotcom offer. Trust me, they'll match it. As long as I've got you, any idea what Al Parker is up to?
Click here to send a question or comment to Jon Wertheim's Tennis Mailbag.
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