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KRAJICEK TOPS LIST OF WRITERS' FAVORITE STORY
A good read makes for a good champion
By Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporterrs.net
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Susan Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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FROM WIMBLEDON – Here’s how it works
in the media centers of Grand Slams around the world.
The international media converge at a major event such as Wimbledon
and they spend the first couple of days just observing the proceedings.
Impartial and neutral as the law of journalism dictates, they don’t
out-rightly back a player, although they have been known to hope
an athlete or two that has been difficult to deal with takes an
early flight home.
But as things start to play out the reporters actually start to
root for the story – an outcome that would make for interesting,
exciting, different drama that would be worthy of crafting an article
that would make for a good read.
Heading into this Wimbledon there were some scenarios that were
high on the list of favorite champion possibilities for the writers,
starting with Pete Sampras. What a great moment it would have been
if after two years without winning a tournament, Sampras could have
returned to the very place he won his last trophy – his seventh
Wimbledon title for a record 13th Grand Slam honor. To watch Sampras
resurrect his career, or maybe look at retirement with the winner’s
chalice in hand, simply would have added up to good copy.
But, alas, Sampras, and that other desirable story with Andre Agassi
winning here 10 years after he conquered the great lawns in 1992,
was not to be as both men were sent off in the second round.
KRAJICEK HAS GOT THE SPICE
So now, as this Wimbledon shakes down in the
latter part of the first week, the idea of what would make a grand
finale has seriously been altered in the media room.
At the moment one of the leading contenders in the rooting for the
story department is Richard Krajicek. The Dutchman was an unsuspecting
champion here in 1996 over American MaliVai Washington, certainly
the wackiest of Wimbledon’s in recent times, that is until
possibly this year. Since that time, Krajicek has been battling
injuries – knee problems and right elbow surgery on a damaged
tendon.
This is only the second tournament thatKrajicek’s
played since March 2001; he lost last week in the first round of
‘s-Hertogebosch to Roger Federer. When he beat Franco Squillari
in the first round here it was his first match victory since November
2000.
Now he’s unexpectedly into the fourth round against Australian
Mark Philippoussis, another player on the comeback trail from injury.
There is no one who anticipated Krajicek’s showing here, not
even the Dutchman himself.
“I haven’t practiced at all,” Krajicek said. “So
it is very surprising for me because normally when I come back from
injury, I first get healthy; then I practice three, four weeks really
hard to get physically in shape, but also mentally play matches.”
Nevertheless, Krajicek admits that by the time
he was staring across the net at Paradorn Srichaphan, the Andre
Agassi giant killer, he was feeling like a contender.
“This match was good because I had high expectations again,”
said the 30-year-old, who will assume the responsibility of tournament
director of the Rotterdam event after 2003. “I was expecting
to win; put some pressure on me. So I was happy I handled that pressure
I put on myself.”
SCUD WOULD BE SIZZLING
Krajicek’s next opponent is also considered an acceptable
story in that he’s never been able to realize his true potential
off of the supersonic serve he possesses. The 1998 U.S. Open runner-up,
Philippoussis has had a couple of knee surgeries and first seems
to be having some success with his return to the courts.
For Philippoussis, who knows that the knee could
permanently give out at any time, the ability to have another opportunity
to fulfill his tennis dream is a major bonus.
“All you want to do when you’re a kid
is become a professional tennis player, and you want people know
you,” Philippoussis said. “Once that happens, you sort
of don’t wish that anymore when you’re away from it. But
it’s just great having the fans out there and cheering you
on, knowing you’re going to have support at all the tournaments
you’re going to. It’s very important.”
Philippoussis is looking forward to the opportunity to play Krajicek
for a quarterfinal berth at Wimbledon, which would be his fourth
passage to the final eight at this prestigious event.
“Obviously, being a past champion here, he loves the tournament,
and he’s a great player on the grass,” Philippoussis said
of his next opponent. “One good thing I know, he’s going
to be serve-volleying first and second serve, so I can expect that.
“But like I said so many times, it doesn’t
really worry me who’s on the other end. As long as I do the
right thing on my part and concentrate on my serves and make him
play on his serves, I’m going to be dangerous.”
THE UNION JACK STILL
FLIES
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Fred Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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Of course, if you’re allegiance is with
the Union Jack, then you’re spirits are soaring as both Tim
Henman and Greg Rusedski are alive. Rusedski is already into the
fourth round after dissecting teen hopeful Andy Roddick. Rusedski
was so sharp and Roddick so off that it was like the American presented
himself for Rusedski to trounce and bounce from the grounds.
“I was very confident before the match,” said the southpaw
Rusedski, who has yet to lose his serve in three rounds played.
“I felt I had the experience. I think Andy’s a great player,
but I just felt I had that little edge on experience today and that
really helped. And I thought the crowd were great, getting into
it at the big moments.”
While this might not be he biggest story around the globe, it certainly
would be an occasion of immense proportion here in the United Kingdom.
There hasn’t been a British champion at the All England since
Fred Perry in 1936 and the country could end up more jubilant than
the Queen’s Jubilee if Henman or Rusedski could keep the trophy
on their own shores.
AUSSIE RULES
At this point in the draw, the betting man is probably wagering
on top seed Lleyton Hewitt to come through with flying colors. There
is no denying that the reigning U.S. Open champion is the man to
beat and that players will be gunning for him throughout the tournament.
In case your wondering, this will not be the
most popular story to emerge from Wimbledon in the men’s draw,
although it is the most likely story. It’s not only that Hewitt
is not all that popular with the media because of his too cocky
a persona, but it just isn’t as unique an outcome as the other
possibilities. After all, it’s kind of expected that the top
seed has the goods to go the distance and that doesn’t make
for the most excitement to read.
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