Mr. Ed is...The Line Judge (July 21, 2001)
by Ed Zafian



This week's column takes a look at the recent big news from tennis's power couple. Perhaps not since Melanie Molitor named her daughter after Martina Navratilova has a baby (or in this case an embryo) had so much pressure placed upon its shoulders! Next, we take a look at Meghann Shaughnessy. The normally press-shy American was the sports page cover story of her hometown newspaper this past week.

Tennis Royalty

With Venus Williams taking her second title and Goran Ivanisevic most improbably winning his first Grand Slam this year at Wimbledon, it would seem that it would be difficult to have a bigger tennis news story the very next week. But alas it happened as Andre Agassi and Steffi (or is it Stefanie these days?) Graf announced they are expecting a baby in December. While the pregnancy was not surprising, the fact that it was TRUE was newsworthy as Graf has been rumored to be "with child" for most of the now two- year relationship with Agassi. While Agassi said in a released statement "we are so happy to have been blessed with this gift" it was a spokesman who had to provide an answer for the next logical question "I do not know their plans are for marriage."

Rumors are already flying. Bild, a German newspaper, is reporting that Heidi Graf has said that the couple is expecting a boy. According to another report in the same publication, the couple plans a Las Vegas wedding in January. While I am sure the words will be flying, one wonders if Wimbledon is the last we will see of Graf in public. It is certain that paparazzi would be anxious to see the athletic Graf sporting maternity wear and a round belly.

Needless to say this will be tennis's answer to Prince William: the Agassi-Graf child will truly be tennis royalty. While there have been plenty of children among retired WTA players (and even a few active players) and fathers on the ATP Tour, one can not imagine a more high profile one. If you needed any proof, the A&P Tennis Classic, a popular pre-US Open exhibition tournament in New Jersey, has already offered the unborn baby a staggering $10 million guarantee for an appearance in the tournament in 2017. Yes, 2017! The only catch, the baby must be a girl. Tennis promoter, John Korff, stated "Might as well be first in line. I've always wanted to have the daughters of one of our former champs play." If you would like to make some money of your own, an English bookmaker has also offered 500-1 odds that "baby Agassi" will win a singles or doubles title at Wimbledon.


More on Meghann

Despite being in the Top 20, Meghann Shaughnessy for the most part is a mystery. Mostly it is on purpose, as Shaughnessy rarely speaks to the media voluntarily (more than once I have heard a TV commentator say she refused interviews). Likewise, the 22-year old is not a media magnet even when she is making news on the court. Shaughnessy was very monotone, inexpressive, and "serious" in the press conferences I attended during her run to the finals (losing to Lindsay Davenport) at this year's State Farm Tennis Classic. So it was quite surprising, when Shaughnessy was splashed across the cover of the sports section of her local newspaper, The Arizona Republic, this past week.

The article chronicled her steady rise up the ranks from #187 in 1996 to her current rank of #15. For those who have seen Shaughnessy in person, one wonders how she has been able to make that rise this year. While quite fit, Shaughnessy is waif-like when compared to the power players on the Tour. This is an area that she and her coach/fiancee, Rafael Font de Mora, are currently working on. Since Wimbledon, Font de Mora said "With her, she eats so much and doesn't seem to put on any weight. That has been the priority these two weeks, to lower the tennis and try to build up on the rest." Shaughnessy's diet focuses in on carbohydrates, protein, and other supplements.

Though hardly rare on the WTA Tour, much has been made of Shaughnessy's relationship with her coach. Eleven years her senior, Font de Mora has worked with Shaughessy since she was 13 years old. But Shaughnessy, as she is with her tennis, is very level-headed when speaking of the relationship: "I'm not going to say that it is easy, because it's not. It's hard to be together and have to work together every day, taking orders from him all the time. It's a hard thing to balance, but we do OK."

In some other news, Shaughnessy will be pairing up with Justine Henin in doubles at the US Open and potentially before that if their tournament schedules allow.


You may read previous Mr. Ed columns by clicking here.