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THE
SCOOP: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Say
it ain’t so, Serena; Aussies, French split first-day matches
By
Sandra Harwitt
tennisreporters.net
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Susan
Mullane
Camerawork USA, Inc.
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Word
from a November 27th Washington Post item in their “The Reliable
Source” column paints an unflattering picture of Serena Williams
playing the spoiled little rich celebrity role at a charity event
she agreed to take part in.
La
Serena signed up to be the feature star of the Fannie Mae Foundations
“Help the Homeless” Walkathon in the nation’s capital
on November 17. Post sources reported that after spending the
night before clubbing with the “beautiful people” crowd,
Serena feigned fatigue and only walked two blocks of the 25-block
walk and hopped into a waiting car and sped away.
Reportedly,
Serena made the club scene until the wee hours with fellow tennis
star Zina Garrison, supermodel Naomi Campbell and a number of
team members of the Washington Redskins. Serena has always been
far more interested in being part of the beautiful people crowd
than sister Venus so finding out she was making the DC scene was
no surprise. It was a little surprising, however, that the item
did not mention if Washington Redskins #57 Lavar Arrington was
a part of the group since Serena and the linebacker are frequently
mentioned in tennis circles as being a “hot item.”
While
the Post stands by the report that Serena failed to honor her
commitment to the event, Serena’s financial spokesperson
Larry Bailey from PricewaterhouseCoopers told the Post that “I
just spoke with Serena and she says that’s not what happened.
… If she disappointed people, all she can say is she’s
sorry.”
Also
Fannie Mat Foundation spokesperson Esther Rege insisted the organization
was pleased with Serena’s involvement, saying, “I wouldn’t
use the word ‘balked.’ Serena was great. She did everything
she was supposed to do. We did excuse her early.”
The
early flight was because Serena flew off to Las Vegas to honor
her commitment to the “Players That Care” fundraiser
benefiting ovarian cancer research and to attend the Hasim Rahman-Lennox
Lewis fight. And we shouldn’t forget that celebrities in
love with hanging out often like to be seen at prize fights.
DAVIS
CUP HARDER THAN THEY IMAGINED
With
the first two matches of the 2001 Davis Cup final finished, the
Australians are probably wondering why they are not leading France
2-0 instead of being even at one match apiece down under in Melbourne.
Surely
the Aussies were considered the odds on favorites – home
court advantage, speedy grass court, and the emotional desire
to send Pat Rafter off on his self-appointed sabbatical from the
sport with his first Davis Cup victory. But having everything
seemingly in your favor doesn’t mean smooth sailing as world
No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt found out when Nicolas Escude surprised him
by winning their opening match in five sets on Friday.
While
Rafter, who never has had an easy time of it in Davis Cup, was
pleased with his three-set victory over recent Tennis Masters
Cup finalist Sebastien Grosjean, he knows the road could have
further bumps in it before the Davis Cup final is over.
Rafter,
a two-time U.S. Open champion and two-time finalist at Wimbledon,
has been a great spokesperson for the sport. No one can deny that
seeing him head off into the sunset with a Davis Cup Championship
victory wouldn’t be great, especially since it is a distinct
possibility that his sabbatical could turn into permanent retirement.
But the French team cannot be taken lightly as Friday proved.
Having
just turned world No. 1 for the first time a couple of weeks ago,
the 20-year-old Hewitt is experiencing those all too familiar
"first-time at the top" jitters. He will have to calm
down a bit when he faces Grosjean in the opening reverse singles
on Sunday, especially if the team of Cedric Pioline and Fabrice
Santoro can bypass the Aussie duo of Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge.
Hewitt holds a 5-2 career edge over Grosjean, including the win
at the Tennis Masters Cup final in Sydney earlier in the month,
so he certainly knows how to beat the Frenchman.
In
the end, the Australians will most probably end up singing Waltzing
Matilda in honor of a Davis Cup win in Melbourne. But the French
are certainly capable of creating a bit of havoc before that time
comes and if the Aussies aren’t careful, the French could
have carte blanche on this final.
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