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THE
SCOOP: U.S. OPEN, DAY 4
Who's
got the champion's swagger?
Guga? Serena? Henin? Moya? Dokic?
By
Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net
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Susan
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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FLUSHING
MEADOWS, N.Y., AUG. 30 – It
was nice to hear Guga stop waffling on the subject as to whether
he needs a non-clay court Slam title to prove himself as truly
elite player and admit that it is important to his career. Last
month, when asked by the L.A. Times what Grand Slam title he desired
the most, he answered, Roland Garros. Four French titles would
certainly put the Brazilian in another hemisphere, but if he wants
to earn legend status, he has to grab a couple hardcourt Slam
titles.
"Nobody
wants to go away in the last Slam not doing well," Guga said
after overcoming Daniel Vacek. "I know I'm playing well enough
to doing well this year. Maybe this is the year I'll fight as
much as I can. I would like to win more Slams. I know how to play
on hard courts. Each year I'm getting closer. I have this challenge
for myself to see I can get there. It would be another stage in
my career to win a Slam on
another surface."
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Susan
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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SERENA
NOT SERENE
Serena
Williams is certainly strutting better stuff this week than she
has at any other Slam, blinding her opponents with her neon yellow
outfits and lightening groundies. The 1999 U.S. Open titlist said
that she ready to take her game to new heights.
"I've
always been serious about my game and I think now I'm a little
more serious. I'm really geared up to move up to the next level,"
she said. "I've been at the same level for a little too long
now. It's time to move on, let it go."
Williams
came out and declared that being the No. 10 ranked player isn't
good
enough. "The next level for me is top-3 and then the top
place," she said.
"Obviously, I haven't been able to reach that because I'm
not playing the
tournaments I need to play. If I played more, I would be better
ranked." So
why doesn't she pack another five tournament this fall? She'd
be a terror on
the European Indoor circuit.
HENIN
NEEDS SPARK TO SPANK SCHYNDER
Speaking
of slightly cocky players, Serena could possibly face Justine
Henin in the fourth round, who barely survived the nearly revived
Patty Schynder. Henin, who lost last week in New Haven to Venus
Williams on hardcourts, said with a sneer that she is capable
of taking anyone down this fortnight, including defending champ
Venus herself.
"I'm
not afraid [to play Venus]," she said. "I was very close
with her in New Haven and I had the possibility of winning that
match on a hard court. I was the only player to take a set from
her last week. Maybe I could have won, but she was a bit stronger
and that's OK." Henin wouldn't discuss her potential match-up
with Serena, who she has never played.
Without
question, Serena really needs to go deep here to salvage her year
but will have to play extraordinarily well to step on Justine.
MOYA
ON THE MOVE
Two
players who have stuck their chins out before both scored Wednesday
wins,
but aren't declaring their sights on the title.
Former
world No. 1 Carlos Moya pulled in young American Mardy Fish 6-3,
7-6
(3), 6-3 and appears to be close to the form that brought him
the semis here
in '98. The burly Spaniard was brilliant off the ground, getting
tremendous
depth off both wings.
But
Moya doesn't have his old swagger yet, saying that his immediate
goal is to merely reach the fourth round.
"For
all players, it's good to get to the first weekend, then you see
what's going to happen, how you are playing," Moya said.
"But at least that means you've won three matches, you've
got rhythm, your strokes are there, mentally you're there."
DOKIC
DOMINATES
Employing
a huge ground attack and significant flat first serve, Yugo-Aussie
Jelena Dokic repelled Lilia Osterloh in straight sets. Dokic will
play former Open champ Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in the third round
but won't go out on a limb and declare herself a contender for
the title.
When
tennisreporters.net
asked whether she viewed herself as a work in progress or a contender
for the title, Dokic replied, "I can go far in the Grand
Slams, depending on the draws. You are always going to have someone
tough with the Williams sisters, Lindsay and Martina, but I still
have a long way to go. I've improved my consistency, I'm playing
well and generally I've gotten better. There are still a lot of
things for me to work on but I'm happy the way it's going."
The
18-year-old Dokic believes that if she brings her "A"
game on court, every player is a potential victim. But whether
she can bring that game out in five more matches here against
elite competition is an open question.
"Before
I was scared to play the bigger players whereas right now I'm
seeded in a Grand Slam and if I get a few matches in I'd look
forward for the chance to play them. With my game the way it was
today I could beat them. It's a different story as to whether
I can win a Grand Slam. If I had that chance I think I'm ready
to win a Slam but I'm still young and there's a long way to go."
As
an aside, Dokic, who is now a citizen of Yugoslavia but primarily
lives in Florida, said that she doesn't think think she'll ever
reconsider moving back to Australia and playing Fed Cup for that
nation. "Australia is really different than the States and
I don't miss it. I really like where I'm living right now."
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