THE SCOOP: WEDNESDAY, April 14

Ageless: Martina shows she’s competitive in singles
Justine drops out; Venus survives another scare

By Ron Cioffi
tennisreporters.net

Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

At 47, Martina is still improving her singles game.

Losing two tight sets to Amy Frazier is not a noteworthy accomplishment for most WTA Tour players.

Unless you’re 47 years old.

Continuing to prove she’s the Satchel Paige of tennis, Martina Navratilova battled Frazier and lost a close match 6-4, 6-4 in the first round of the Family Circle Cup. She also fell to lucky loser Milagros Sequera, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 last week at Amelia Island as she continues her revival as an ageless tennis player.

But today’s match is notable because Frazier is ranked No. 40 and continues to be a player who always brings a solid, reliable game. Although Frazier is 31 years old and way beyond her prime – she reached No. 13 in 1995 – she is a tour-hardened vet who made it to the third round of the last two Slams.

Navratilova showed consistency with 17 winners and 20 unforced errors on green clay. But, her downfall was her net play – winning only 33 percent of those points – and her mental game – converting only four of 11 break points. Frazier had 12 break points and converted six; that stat determined the match.

Martina said, “I played a tougher opponent, and so, I played better tennis today. I definitely improved from last week. Still, my forehand still goes off. I had some really good forehands and I had some really bad forehands.” She gave herself a “B-” grade, up from the “C” she gave herself for the defeat to Sequera.

Neither player served very well. Martina won only 50 percent of her first serves compared to 48 percent of her second serves. Frazier had but one ace compared to seven double faults. Navratilova said she felt her best service game was at 2-4 of the second set and Frazier still cracked three return winners.

BACK IN THE GAME

Siggi Bucher

Navratilova, with Leander Paes, has won two doubles Slams since her return.

This year’s return to singles for the winner of 18 Grand Slam titles was unexpected, considering she played a few singles matches in 2002 and then stopped. This is a sport where a female’s age is usually controversial because she is too young. Martina won her first tournament in 1974, before about 90 percent of her opponents were born. She was named Female Athlete of the Decade for the 1980s by the Associated Press, UPI and the National Sports Review. Her return to doubles action was shocking and her success in the last two years was as refreshing as a drink from the Fountain of Youth. She won seven doubles titles last year including Wimbledon and the Australian Open mixed doubles crown with Leander Paes.

The grand lady of the game complimented the adoring crowd. “It was great to be out there with the people really hanging onto every shot. They used to get so excited when I hit great shots. Now I hit a mediocre shot and they go crazy.”

While Navratilova will continue her doubles play (she will play in the second round with Lisa Raymond on Thursday), her singles plans are up in the air.

“I have no idea,” she said. “Just play it as it goes. Planning on playing on grass either one or two tournaments before Wimbledon. The summer: I don’t know.”

Martina said she didn’t want to take away too many wild cards from other players and may play qualifying brackets on some tournaments. “But most of the time I don’t have time to (qualify) the next week because I’m still in the doubles” in the previous week’s tournament.

Justine drops out; Venus survives another scare
Justine Henin-Hardenne withdrew from the competition citing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) causing lightheadedness. She said she’ll return to Belgium for tests. Henin-Hardenne said she had been experiencing the symptoms for two weeks.

“I have felt bad for two weeks now and that’s enough. I will now go back home and do everything I have to do in order to get better,” she said.

The loss of the tour’s top player just compounds the WTA medical woes. Excitement was growing at the possibility of a rematch of last year’s final when Henin-Hardenne knocked off Serena Williams and halted her 2003 unbeaten streak. Additionally, Amelie Mauresmo and Meghann Shaughnessy also pulled out.

Venus Williams’ comeback continues to inch forward. She needed three sets to defeat American Samantha Reeves 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Venus lost the first set to the No. 92 player and then plodded through two close sets. The underachieving Reeves has now won only one in nine matches this year.