THE tennisreporters.net NEWSLETTER: TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, NO. 65

Bogomolov and Harkleroad: the other tennis lovebirds
Agassi lunches with the scribes

By Sandra Harwitt
Special to tennisreporters.net

FROM THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN – Tennis certainly seems to be blooming with young love these days.

Of course, there's Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt, who announced their engagement last month, reporting that a romantic proposal took place on the Sydney Harbor Bridge just before Christmas.

But they aren't the only coupling afoot on the tour these days.

Miami resident Ashley Harkleroad, 18, often dubbed the Britney Spears of tennis, is sporting a fashionable diamond ring that Miamian Alex Bogomolov Jr., 20, placed on her finger in November. And, according to Bogomolov, like Hewitt, he has a romantic bone or two in his body as far as making a classy proposal.

"We got engaged at the Biltmore Hotel," Bogomolov told tennisreporters.net, of his choice setting for the special occasion at one of Miami's five-star establishments. "We had a fancy dinner, there was a little fountain and candles – it was very romantic."

According to Harkleroad, whose name was also linked to Andy Roddick for a while when in the juniors, she and Bogomolov have known each other for eons. "I've known him since I was 12 years old, we were friends," Harkleroad said. "He's my best friend. (We've been dating) maybe a couple years, off and on."

YOUNG AGE MEANS LONG ENGAGEMENT
Both Bogomolov and Harkleroad confirm that they plan on having a long engagement. "It will probably be long because I'm young still," said Harkleroad, smiling. "We don't even really talk about it, when it will happen, because I'm only 18 still. I don't think my father would be too happy if it was soon."

While Bogomolov admits that the two are rather young to be contemplating marriage, he says it's not that surprising that they've officially committed to each other because they come from a different background than most people.

"We've known each other for so long and we grew up much different than other people in the world, on the road, and with more responsibility than other people, so I don't think age should matter," he said, confidently.

Unfortunately for both Bogomolov and Harkleroad, they drew the worst possible opening round draws at this year's Australian Open. And as an added bit of irony, they followed each other on to the Rod Laver Arena, possibly passing in the hall like two ships passing in the night, as Bogomolov headed to the locker room and Harkleroad headed to the court.

Bogomolov was first match up on a scorching hot summer day Tuesday. His opponent was none other than reigning Wimbledon champion and Tennis Masters Cup titlist Roger Federer. While Bogomolov hung close to the Swiss in the second set, in the big picture he was ushered to the door in a 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 loss.

"I'm feeling pretty good right now and it was just the unlucky draw," Bogomolov said. "I've been playing pretty well and I only lost nine games in the qualifying, so I was kind of on a roll. But, it was a great experience to play him and I got a lot out of it. I think from here on it's given me a little more confidence."

Harkleroad became the pigeon for Venus Williams's first test match on the tour since losing the Wimbledon final to baby sister, Serena, last July. Clearly, the time away from the game did not find Williams jittery as she made quick work of Harkleroad in a 6-2, 6-1 win.

Nevertheless, Harkleroad viewed the experience of playing Venus for the first time much the way her fiancée viewed his first outing against Federer – as a worthwhile adventure.

"I don't think that I played up to my potential, really," Harkleroad said. "I was a bit nervous. It was my first time on Rod Laver. You know, my first time to play her. I wasn't sure how she was gonna play, but I felt like she played really well, and I wasn't really as aggressive as I wish I could have been. I let her pretty much take over the points.

"I thought when I went out there that maybe since she hasn't played since Wimbledon, she's going to be a little rusty. But she really wasn't. You know, they are a little intimidating because they're big and they're the Williams sisters. I think I was just a little overpowered and I wasn't being aggressive like I could have been. It's a good experience because now I can learn what I need to work on a little bit."

While Bogomolov has plans to head out-of-town to play the Hawaii Challenger next week, he cautions that their Australian Open might not quite be over since the two lovebirds have requested a wildcard into the mixed doubles tournament.