Mr. Ed is...The Line Judge (October 13, 2001)
by Ed Zafian



This week's "Line Judge" takes a look at some of buzz surrounding the season-ending Championships of both Tours. Organizers of the Sanex Championships are probably a little more at ease with the return of most American players to tournament action while the Tennis Masters Cup is looking to which players will step up and fill the final spots in the eight-man draw.

Munich On Their Minds?

With many top American players withdrawing from tournaments as a result of the events of September 11th, the organizers of the Sanex Championships had plenty of reason to worry. Just a week or so ago, it appeard that the tournament, to be held in Munich for the first time, would be a watered down draw. An official stated that "ticket (sales) had not only gone to a standstill, they're being hit with cancellations and requests for refunds?The American girls are the players who sell tickets."

With Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport back in action this past week in Filderstadt, the tournament is probably breathing a little easier. Since the terrorist attacks, Meghann Shaughnessy has been the only top ranked American maintaining her tournament schedule. Monica Seles has also traveled to South America and the Far East but will not compete in the Championships due to her own decision not to return to Germany following her 1993 stabbing.

So with the other Americans somewhat accounted for, that only leaves the ever-questionable Williams sisters' status up in the air. The Sanex Championships tournament organizers should have a good indication of their intentions over the next two weeks. Serena is scheduled to play Zurich this week while Venus is on the entry list for Linz the following week. On the year-end Championships, Williams' attorney, Keven Davis, stated: "I asked Venus. 'Are you going?' and she said "That's my business. As long as it is safe and people are traveling, I'm going to go." We will leave the interpretation of that statement up to you, dear reader.

Nevertheless, Bill Dennis, co-owner of the tournament, appears to have realistic expectations: "All the players showing up in Munich isn't something that I'd bet a lot of money on, but I already have."


Setting Sights on Sydney

There appears to be little concern regarding the participation of the top players at the Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney. The five remaining spots in the ATP season-ender are being hotly contested for in the final weeks of the 2001 season. Gustavo Kuerten, Andre Agassi, and Lleyton Hewitt have already qualified. If Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic (currently placed 13th) finishes the season in the Top 20, as a Grand Slam champion he will automatically qualify the Cup.

Whether it is the lack of American men in the Top 8, or that Australia now seems to be one of the last safe havens in the world, the Cup is not experiencing the same concerns as the Sanex Championships. Patrick Rafter, Juan Carlos Ferrero, and Yvgeny Kafelnikov, currently fourth through sixth in the Champions Race respectively, are the next likely players to gain entry. However, Rafter's chances may diminish if his shoulder problems, which forced him out of this week's Tennis Masters Series in Stuttgart, continue for much longer. Ferrero seems particularly eager: "I want to play Tennis Masters Cup for the first time, so I have to play well in my next tournaments if I want to make it to Sydney." The Spaniard's performance this week in Lyon should be enough.

Jitters appear to be plaguing those competing for the final slots in the Tennis Masters Cup. Pete Sampras and Sebastian Grosjean, currently tied for 7th place in the Race, have left the door ajar for those behind them in the Race. Grosjean will likely move ahead of Sampras this week but probably would have liked to it better if he made it past the second round in Lyon. Sampras returns to the Tour this week in Stuttgart, his first tournament since making the finals of the US Open.

Tim Henman, currently 9th, just missed qualifying for last year's Masters Series Cup. Currently in 9th place, Henman is once again in a precarious spot. The Brit said "It's certainly a goal of mine (to compete in the Masters Series Cup. I'm going to trust my game for the next four weeks. I have some of my best results indoors." Henman's road to Sydney hit a snag with a second round loss in Lyon.

Roger Federer, currently in 10th place and just 39 points out of contention, is one player who did have a good result this week with a quarterfinal showing in Vienna. But will it be enough?

On the verge of becoming the #1 ranked player in the world last year in Lisbon, Marat Safin (currently #11) faces a stiff challenge to even qualify for this year's tournament. Nevertheless the Russian took a wildcard in Lyon this past week: "I'm here to win points. The aim is to make it to the Masters Cup but honestly, it looks very far away. At best, I'll finish the season in 7th place, at worst I'll be 15th." Safin made it into weekend play in Lyon, but without some assistance from the players ahead of him it just may be a little too late.


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