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THE
SCOOP, ROLAND GARROS DAY 4
Hingis
on Williams sisters' side in doubles controversy
By
Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net
While
the tennis world is in something of an uproar about the Williams
sisters withdrawing from the doubles draw here at Roland Garros,
world No. 1 Martina Hingis brushed aside all the fuss about the
maneuver.
 This
attitude is something of a departure for Hingis, who in the past
has been quick to criticize the sisters whenever an opportunity
would arise.
According
to Hingis, who made sure to note that the withdrawal announcement
came from Serena because she wanted to concentrate on playing
singles, it is also perfectly understandable why Venus would want
to hightail it out of town after her embarrassing first-round
loss.
"Well,
if you lose first round, I think you don't want to stay around
much longer," Hingis said, speaking from experience, recalling
when she was upset by Jelena Dokic in the first round of Wimbledon
in 1999. "I've done that at Wimbledon. I just went home because
you just want to leave. You don't want to stick around and just
watch everyone else."
Hingis
also said she believed Serena's strategy worked as the younger
Williams sister scored a relatively quick 6-0, 7-5 second round
victory over Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia.
Susan
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
"Serena
showed a better match today," Hingis noted. "I think it's difficult
if you haven't played that many matches, to go into a clay tournament,
just come basically out of nowhere, no match experience, then
play good tennis."
So,
clearly, tennisreporters.net thinks that Hingis at least wonders
with the rest of the tennis world why the Williams sisters are
two tennis players who barely remember to take the time to play
tennis.
IS
JENNIFER CAPRIATI COURTING A GOOD CATCH?
Looking
like a strong candidate for 2001 Roland Garros champion status
next weekend, Jennifer Capriati is already being asked about the
possibility of winning a second consecutive Grand Slam title.
The 25-year-old Capriati deflected the question meant to conjure
up images of victory, by laughingly suggesting that a good story
for her in 10 days time would be "Find My Prince Charming!"
YOU
CAN CALL DOMINIQUE VAN ROOST 'MOMMY' NOW
Last
year, on the first Tuesday of Roland Garros, Belgian Dominique
Van Roost posted her last big win at a Grand Slam, upending second-seeded
Lindsay Davenport in three tough sets. This year, on the first
Tuesday of Roland Garros, the now retired Van Roost was giving
birth to her first child, daughter Ines. Congratulations to the
Van Roosts on the new arrival!
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