the scoop: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22

Kimmy & Lleyton: Tennis' love couple splits up
Sharapova knocks off Venus in Zurich

By Ron Cioffi, TennisReporters.net

Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Kim Clijsters congratulates Lleyton Hewitt after his '02 Wimbledon victory.

There's no mixed doubles in the future for Kim Clijsters and Lleyton Hewitt as tennis' number one couple split up on Friday and called off their scheduled nuptials.

Clijsters' web site announced by "mutual consent" the couple had decided to end the relationship. "Like any other couple breaking up, Kim and Lleyton will not communicate about the split in the media. They will keep it a private matter," the web site reported. Their wedding was planned for February.

During the four-year relationship, Clijsters had endeared herself to Australian tennis fans. She was dubbed "Aussie Kim" and had been seen as a emotional stabilizer for the often feisty Hewitt.

To many tennis insiders, the former No. 1 players were always a personality mismatch. Hewitt was know for his combativeness, on and off the court. He went toe-to-toe with the ATP for months over a media commitment and voiced a comment during a US Open match against James Blake which seemed to have racial overtones.

Clijsters, on the other hand, is among the sweetest players on tour. Her gentle disposition has made one of the most popular women players. Tennis journalists have also wondered if her futility in Slam finals (0-4 record) could have been enabled by her lack of a killer instinct.

It's been an extremely tough year for Kim, who lost the Australian Open final to Belgian rival Justine Henin-Hardenne and has been sidelined with a left wrist injury for most of the 2004 season. Hewitt, the US Open finalist, had a spectacular summer and his best year since 2002.

The Australian quoted former Australian Davis Cup player John Alexander, saying he was shocked by the break-up. "It is sad because Australian tennis fans have come to love Kim and I think we will continue to, just as we do with Lleyton," said Alexander. "They are both very young and it is a long road and they might find their way back."

Sharapova knocks off Venus in Zurich
Maria Sharapova hadn't beaten a Top 20 player since her Wimbledon final win over Serena Williams. That is, until she defeated Venus Williams in the quarters of the Tier I tournament in Zurich on Thursday.

Venus again proved that 2004 has been her most trying year as she has won only two of her 31 career titles. Her ranking has slipped to No. 11, a harsh fall for a player who has had been a long-time No. 1 and the owner of four Slam titles.

Williams, who was No 10 in the year-long WTA Tour standings coming in to this tournament, has lost more ground. Sharapova will improve on her eight-place standing. Venus will need to make a strong showing in Philadelphia if she hopes to make the final eight in the WTA Championships.

Venus show some optimism after her straight-set loss. "A lot of my balls went long at the start of the match, and I was on the back foot from then on. Her balls have a lot of pace on them," she said "I definitely feel my game is at a better place than what it was at the US Open and in Moscow. I hope that in Philadelphia it's another level higher."

Sharapova knocked off her eleventh straight opponent. "I'm playing with a lot of confidence at the moment," Maria said. "I played a strong match today, I returned and served well. She's a great champion, so it was a good win for me." The Russian will face another Russian in the semis ® Elena Dementieva.